The Battle of Jericho

Rating:
Summary: Kept feeling something was missing.
Review: Even though the book started out fresh and interesting it soon developed into too much and not enough. Too much going on and not enough resolution.
A group of 15 high schoolers are asked to pledge the Warriors of Distinction. The club has been thought of as a do good character building club for 50 years but something has gone terribly wrong. Bad choices are made and the initiation activities turn quickly into cruel hazing without any supervision.
Some of the characters are poorly developed, left you feeling like something was missing. Author just happens to throw in a boy in a wheelchair and a girl who tricks her way into the pledging. Very little emphasis on the consequences of Jericho choosing the Warriors of Distinction over the chances of a scholarship to Juliard.
I wasn't impressed that high schoolers would think the characters or the plot were authentic.

Rating:
Summary: The Battle of Jericho
Review: Extracurricular clubs are usually good things, right? They boost self-esteem, promote lifelong friendships, and look good on a college application. But what happens when club initiation rites go beyond fun and games and become deadly serious? That's the question Sharon Draper explores in her new novel, THE BATTLE OF JERICHO.

Jericho seems to have it all together --- he has a tight group of friends, he does OK at school, and he loves playing the trumpet. In fact, his music teacher is talking about Juilliard if he does well at his upcoming music contest. But Jericho is insecure, too --- he's carrying around a few extra pounds, and he sure would like to have a girlfriend. So when he, his cousin Josh, and his best friend are invited to pledge the Warriors of Distinction, Jericho should be thrilled, especially when a fine girl like Arielle starts showing interest in him because of his soon-to-be Warrior status. All the adults seem to think the Warriors, with their community service projects and commanding presence at school, are just great. Jericho's uncle, a former Warrior himself, is so proud of Jericho and Josh. So why does Jericho get an uneasy feeling about the club?

Readers will start feeling uncomfortable, too, when they read about the club's intense hazing rituals. Bound by a code of secrecy, the pledges are forced into disgusting, demeaning, and dangerous situations. Especially vulnerable is Dana, the first girl ever to attempt Warrior membership, who is practically terrorized by some of the Warrior members. Readers will keep turning the pages to find out to what lengths Jericho and his friends will go in order to become Warriors.

When events turn tragic at the novel's end, readers won't be surprised, although they may feel let down by the lengthy discussions of "what it all means." A more powerful closing might have just ended with the tragic event, letting readers ponder its significance for themselves.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl


Rating:
Summary: Great Book
Review: I didnt think I would like this book, but after i read it, I really liked it. I would recommend this book along with all the other Sharon Draper books. She is a great author and even visited my school!

Rating:
Summary: Popularity at a Price
Review: Sharon Draper's THE BATTLE OF JERICHO is an interesting story that examines the cost that sometimes comes with popularity. In the book, Jericho and a few of his friends have been invited to join the illustrious group, The Warriors of Distinction. The group, modeled after a fraternity, has been around for decades and is known not only for the far reaching community projects they sponsor but for their clout as well. Jericho, his cousin and several of his friends are invited to join the group but first they must make it through the initiation process. As the initiation process continues, Jericho feels more and more uncomfortable with some of the things the pledges are required to do and must decide when enough is enough. There are more than a few surprises in the story that help keep things interesting. In addition, there are several subplots in the story that address issues such as surviving a physical handicap, teen dating, and dealing with neglectful parents. As the story develops, the drama continues to heighten until the story reaches its dramatic climax.

The book's biggest strength is in its realism; I felt the characters could have easily been real teens. I also liked the fact that for the most part, the author let the characters and plot show messages rather than incorporating a lot of preachiness. On the other hand, it seemed as if Draper tried to incorporate too many social issues into the various subplots, many of which were rather underdeveloped. The issues the secondary characters faced were quite serious; yet, the author spent just enough time talking about them to make you want to know more. While Jericho's story had sufficient closure, there were simply too many loose ends left untied. THE BATTLE OF JERICHO is a well-paced story with lots of twists and turns, and as a result it is hard to put down. The book will not only make readers think, but it will also remind them of how quickly things can spiral out of control. (RAW Rating: 3.5)

Reviewed by Stacey Seay
of The RAWSISTAZ™ Reviewers


Rating:
Summary: How far would you go to join a group?
Review: Winner of a Coretta Scott King Honor Award

Jericho's school has a great club that all boys long to be a part of: The Warriors of Distinction. It's been around for years (Jericho's uncle was even a part of it), and it's known for it's good deeds and the closeness of the members. Every year new members are inducted into the group, and this year Jericho has been invited to join. Before they can be called Warriors, though, they must go through an initiation process, which lasts a week. At first the tasks seem harmless and only a little demeaning, but as the week progresses, the things the initiates (called Pledge Slime) are asked to do border on hazing. Jericho struggles with staying in the group--if he drops out, then all the initiates suffer. He also would lose the girl he loves, and any confidence the group would provide for him. But he does wonder about lowering himself for this, and he also has a conflict with a musical contest--should he continue with the initiation or go to the contest, where he could win a full scholarship to Julliard?

This book is gripping, and the reader finds himself/herself caught up in all the action, wondering where the plot will go. Draper skillfully takes twists and turns, carefully developing the tension to keep interest high. Her characters are likeable, and readers will sympathize with Jericho. I also liked that though the main characters in the story are African American, you weren't blinded by their race--it could have been anyone wanting to join the Warriors. And the topic of school clubs and hazing is a good angle for a novel--pair this with The Chocolate War.

Where this book fell flat for me was in dialogue and underdeveloped plot threads. Draper wasn't consistent with her dialects and slang, and much of the language felt forced out of the characters. A major plot line that I felt got shoved under the carpet was Jericho's trumpet playing--it was a very big deal at the beginning of the book, but I didn't feel the tension by the end, when he needed to make the decision about continuing with the Warriors or going to the contest. Another plot line that felt stunted and stereotypical was Kofi's (another Pledge Slime) home life. Here is the typical teen character who's parents don't care, but Kofi felt a little forced on the issue, and that whole situation worked out a little too neatly in the end.

Overall it's a fast read (because you really want to know what happens), and a good topic, but it's not the best written book I've encountered.

Rating:
Summary: How far would you go to join a group?
Review: Winner of a Coretta Scott King Honor Award

Jericho's school has a great club that all boys long to be a part of: The Warriors of Distinction. It's been around for years (Jericho's uncle was even a part of it), and it's known for it's good deeds and the closeness of the members. Every year new members are inducted into the group, and this year Jericho has been invited to join. Before they can be called Warriors, though, they must go through an initiation process, which lasts a week. At first the tasks seem harmless and only a little demeaning, but as the week progresses, the things the initiates (called Pledge Slime) are asked to do border on hazing. Jericho struggles with staying in the group--if he drops out, then all the initiates suffer. He also would lose the girl he loves, and any confidence the group would provide for him. But he does wonder about lowering himself for this, and he also has a conflict with a musical contest--should he continue with the initiation or go to the contest, where he could win a full scholarship to Julliard?

This book is gripping, and the reader finds himself/herself caught up in all the action, wondering where the plot will go. Draper skillfully takes twists and turns, carefully developing the tension to keep interest high. Her characters are likeable, and readers will sympathize with Jericho. I also liked that though the main characters in the story are African American, you weren't blinded by their race--it could have been anyone wanting to join the Warriors. And the topic of school clubs and hazing is a good angle for a novel--pair this with The Chocolate War.

Where this book fell flat for me was in dialogue and underdeveloped plot threads. Draper wasn't consistent with her dialects and slang, and much of the language felt forced out of the characters. A major plot line that I felt got shoved under the carpet was Jericho's trumpet playing--it was a very big deal at the beginning of the book, but I didn't feel the tension by the end, when he needed to make the decision about continuing with the Warriors or going to the contest. Another plot line that felt stunted and stereotypical was Kofi's (another Pledge Slime) home life. Here is the typical teen character who's parents don't care, but Kofi felt a little forced on the issue, and that whole situation worked out a little too neatly in the end.

Overall it's a fast read (because you really want to know what happens), and a good topic, but it's not the best written book I've encountered.