Jemmy is a poor orphan boy who once lived on the streets but was plucked up and taken to the palace to be the prince's whipping boy. The prince, also known as Prince Brat, misbehaves constantly and is always in need of punishment, but because he is the prince he can't be whipped, spanked, or thrashed so instead Jemmy is whipped in his place.
When the prince decides that he wants to run away, he drags Jemmy with him and the two find themselves kidnapped and held hostage and must learn to trust and rely on each other. A Newbery Medal winner.
