The Battle of Jericho by Sharon M. Draper is a young adult novel. It's the first book in the Jericho Trilogy. The book is set in high school and deals with the issues of peer pressure, acceptance, discrimination, sexual tension, and social interaction.[1][2][3]
The story takes place at Frederick Douglass High School. Junior Jericho Prescott and his cousin Josh, along with their friends Dana Wolfe and Kofi Freeman, decide to pledge for one of the most popular and prestigious organizations at school, the Warriors of Distinction. While the "Warriors" seem to be an upstanding organization that does a lot for the community, their governing is far more corrupt and plagued. Eddie Mahoney, the pledge master, sends the group through unnecessarily cruel tricks and task to humiliate and degrade them as they pledge for membership. From eating worms to being paddled, Dana receives the most harassment which crosses the line of sexual harassment. While they have the opportunity to quit, Josh and Jericho choose popularity and peer acceptance and it ends in a hazing accident gone wrong which cost Josh's life.
Characters
Jericho Prescott: Main character
Josh Prescott: Jericho's cousin and best friend
Kofi Freeman: Jericho's friend and Dana's boyfriend
Arielle Gresham: Jericho's girlfriend
Dana Wolfe: Kofi's girlfriend and Arielle and November's friend
November Nelson: Josh's girlfriend and Arielle and Dana's friend
Eddie Mahoney: Pledge master and main antagonist
Eric Bell: Jericho's classmate
Mr. Tambori: Jericho's music teacher
Mr. Zucker: School principal
Brock Prescott: Josh's father
Cedric Prescott: Jericho's father
Geneva: Jericho's stepmother
Mr. Boston: Jericho's teacher
Mr. Culligan: Faculty sponsor the Warriors of Distinction
Awards
This book has been critically acclaimed for tackling the issues of hazing, peer-pressure, sexual tension, and other social teen issues.[4][5]
↑ Knippenberg, Jim (October 28, 2003). "Teens Caught in 'Battle of Jericho' Hazing Tale Shows Former Teacher Knows How Students Think". Cincinnati Enquirer.
↑ Baer, Allison; Jacquline, Glasgow (July 2008). "Take The Bullies To Task: Using Process Drama To Make A Stand". English Journal. 97 (6): 79–86.
↑ Hinto, Kaavonia (October 2008). "Author Profile: Sharon M. Draper". Library Media Connection: 42–43.
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