Title:

Battle of Jericho                                                          YA #1

Author:

Sharon Draper

Publisher:

Atheneum

Date:

2004

ISBN:

0689842333

# of Pages (Readership):

352 pp. (YA)

Genre

Realistic fiction

Diversity

African American

Plot Summary:

Jericho and cousin Josh are juniors; "Pledge Slime" for the Warriors of Distinction, a 50-year-old club that Josh's father belonged to when he was in high school. The W of D perform service projects including a Christmas toy drive. The pledges take a vow of silence and loyalty and long to wear the black silk jacket of a Warrior.

Things heat up when Kofi's girlfriend Dana sneaks into the pledge initiation - to be the first female pledge. Warrior Eddie, in particular, has it out for Dana. During pledge week, they wear pink "Pledge Slime" shirts and perform helpful projects for students, faculty, and staff by day and endure hazing each night: eating spit, sucking toes, a dumpster treasure hunt that includes a gun, swirlies, and the final Leap of Faith from a 2nd-story window.

When Josh breaks his neck in the fall, the consequences of their actions devastate his family and friends and the Warriors of Distinction.

Theme(s):

Decisions made under peer pressure can have lifelong negative consequences.

Personal Response:

This fast-paced story with well-drawn characters gives a realistic portrayal of high school junior Jericho and his friends' internal struggles with peer pressure and fear and choosing to do "the right thing." From the very first small crime, shoplifting, the Warriors of Distinction "Pledge Slime" begin to question the value of their choice to pledge the club. Still, the lure of being cool, wearing the black silk jackets of the Warriors, being more attractive to girls, all contribute to the pledges "all of us or none of us" quest for membership. Draper builds the suspense and readers feel the tension, all the time knowing that this will not turn out well for these teens.

Curricular or Programming Connections:

Character education

Peer pressure

Bibliotherapy for similar situations

Morality