Customer Reviews

The Battle of Jericho

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

This story will grab you at the beginning. You learn about the teenage mind and how it is to be pressured into being "cool". Josh, the main character, is sucked into a world of wanting. Wanting to be with the so called Warriors. The truth is they aren't the easiest group to get into. Everyone thinks they are so great, all the boys want to be like them, the girls love them, and they are like the kings of the high school. But to get in to the group you must attempt unbelieveable stunts.

Dana, female character who wants to be in the group even though it is a boys one, secretly joins. They make her get the worst oo it and her life is put in danger. Over all it is suspenseful, keeps you guessing on the next task they might have to go through. All through the book you think about what a teen has to go through because "cool" is in.
Nice book, should be read.

The Battle of Jericho was a novel assigned by the reading coach in my high school. I had no idea how much I would enjoy the book until I picked it up and read its introduction. It teaches a lesson about the importance of self-confidence and the realities of hazing, acceptance, and consequences of the choices we make. I feel that reading this novel has challenged me to rethink my motives for doing things and to think less of what others think of me and learn to satisfy myself. I would recommend this book to anyone!

The Battle of Jericho is a very terrific story.The Battle of Jericho is bout 3 friends who got invited to join the club.They were forced to do stupid things, that was hazing, that was illegal but the pledge masters made them do it any way. They had a meeting everyday after school around 7 or 7:30. At every meeting after school during pledge week they did something different.They had to run around the warehouse were they meet or about 15-20 minutes,they had to dig around in dumpsters,they had to crawl around on the floor like dogs with collors tied around their necks and in the mud,and on the last day of pledge week they had to do something called the leap of faith, but something went wrong while they were doing the leap of faith.I encourage everyone to read this book to find out what happend during the leap of faith.It tell some of the things that kids do to get in clubs and to gain all the attention of students and their class mates.Read The Battle Of Jericho.

Battle of Jericho
The battle of Jericho is a book about a boy named Jericho that is asked to help in the winter drive that's sponsored by the warriors of distinction. After the drive Jericho and his friends were asked to join the group and go threw a hazing. Threw the hazing he gets noticed by the girl of his dream and they go out. In the end of the hazing Jericho finds out that the trumpet contest that gets you a scholarship and the hazing ritual that you have to go to is the same day. What shall he do and the choice he makes will affect him forever.
My opinion of the book is that the characters where badly described and did not give enough detail on them. Also the book had a very good story line but it was not always straight forwards. Some exciting parts in it where the leap of faith, garbage can of crap, and human dogs. One thing I think they should add is Jericho relationship with his mother, his father, and Arielle. I think the story was not explained in some parts like Eric's crash or Eric with Arielle. Finally, I would like to know what happens after the book because it left us hanging.

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

This book was, I have to admit, thought-provoking and interesting. But, very very unrealistic. I don't know about you, but I've never heard of kids who are so obsessed with wanting to be "warriors". Most teens today aren't going to put their head in a toilet or suck a big toe or jump out of a window just to be in some warrior club. Yes, some teens will go through agony to be accepted, but when it comes to nasty stuff like that, most automatically say no. Also, the dialogue seemed fake to me for some reason. Teens don't really use such corny language. This book was pretty interesting, but the whole warriors of distinction thing kinda threw me off. Basically, the theme is: Wow, some kids can be real desperate!!

The Battle of Jericho is exciting. Unfortunately, what began as a book with a lot of potential has a disapointing ending, poorly developed characters, and heinously bad writing.

Josh, who we are obviously supposed to like, has no depth--his only role is the main character's cousin. Arielle, as Jericho's girlfriend, is similarly undeveloped; she's nice, she's funny, she's pretty...boring. The only character I felt sympathy for was Dana, who is not all that realistic--too much of a super-heroine--but at least is more developed and interesting.

Draper doesn't pursue a lot of loose ends in the plot, either. Jericho turns down a scholarship to Julliard in favor of the Warriors of Distinction--how does that make him feel? What are the consequences? Apparently, this major life decision has none, or maybe Draper's just too lazy to tell us what they are.

Her writing is terrible; some of the dialogue literally made me wince. Her use of slang feels canned and fake; her descriptions of the characters' thoughts are similarly artificial.

Although I realized long before the end that the book did not deserve the Coretta Scott King award which it won, the one thing that kept me going was hope of a good ending. I was once again disappointed. Draper gives laughably obvious clues as to how it will turn out...they're drinking whisky, they're going to take "a leap of faith"--let's guess how this is going to end. I admit I was surprised at who the victim was, but I found that I really didn't care--Draper never did anything to make me feel sympathetic to him.

This book has a lot of potential; the plot is not terribly realistic, but it is exciting. If only it could have been rewritten and developed into something more than a good idea.

This book is AMAZING. You never lose intrest. It keeps you going. It is also very touching. It tells about the things that kids will go through just to be cool under peer pressure. But what you have to realize is the danger you could be putting yourself into. It is the best book that you will have read ever or in a very long time. Sharon Draper is a wonderful author. i would recommend this book to anyone as my first choice. It is also great for any teen looking forward to get into reading. This book is definitely a good way to get started.I give this book 10 stars!!!!!