三民網路書店whipping boy最初指的是，於封建時代裏，為王子或貴族伴讀的男孩，只要王子或貴族做錯了事, 他就必須代為鞭打。而書中Jemmy即扮演這樣的角色, 他一度曾經是一個流浪街頭的可憐兒, 但是他現在卻住在城堡裏, 陪伴王子Brat唸書, 這兩個小男孩起初並?有什麼共通處, 也不喜歡彼此；但直到有一天他們找到他們的替身, 而相偕遠走高飛, 而在逃跑的道路上, 他們選擇相信彼此…。此書獲1987年Newbery金牌獎。
Jemmy, once a poor boy living on the streets, now lives in a castle. As the whipping boy, he bears the punishment when Prince Brat misbehaves, for it is forbidden to spank, thrash, or whack the heir to the throne. The two boys have nothing in common and even less reason to like one another. But when they find themselves taken hostage after running away, they are left with no choice but to trust each other.
