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| The Battle of Jericho |
Summary:
What would you be willing to do to gain acceptance by the most popular group of kids at school? Would you do what you know is right, or would you do the things that would make you popular? Jericho Prescott, a junior at Frederick Douglass High School, is offered the opportunity to pledge the most popular club at the school--the Warriors of Distinction. On the surface the club seems to be wonderful--it's been around for almost fifty years and is highly respected by the community. The club even conducts a toy drive at the holiday season to help needy children. But under the surface, the club has many undisclosed activities, known only to those who go through the secret initiation rituals.
The Battle of Jericho is about the power of peer pressure, and making decisions which might affect the rest of one's life. Should Jericho go to the pledge night activities, or go to the tryouts for college? Should he humiliate a friend in a wheelchair or obey the pledge captains? Should he leave the club and lose his girlfriend?
I wrote this book at the suggestion of a ninth-grade student. She said, "Why don't you write a book about what they make us do to be accepted around here?" I asked her what she meant and she just shrugged and said, "Oh, you know, just stuff." I was intrigued and started asking young people around the country what they thought about the idea. Students offered suggestions about activities, clubs, and sports teams that involved activities that could be classified as hazing, which is illegal in all states. Other students told me about dealing with the kind of peer pressure that is unspoken, but very, very powerful.
Jericho's battle is with himself, his friends, and his future. What decisions will he make? What would you do in the same situation?
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Introduction:
"Do you really want to be a Warrior of Distinction?" Rick asked. Jericho nodded. He thought of the prestige of having one of those black silk jackets, the admiring glances in the halls at school, but mostly he thought of Arielle. He tried not to think of the rain and the mud and the stink of Rick's feet. "Are you willing to do anything to be a Warrior of Distinction?" Rick demanded. "You have permission to answer." "Yes, Sir! Yes, Master Senior Sharp, Sir! I am willing to do anything to be a Warrior of Distinction, Sir!" Jericho repeated the words that he and the other pledges had been chanting automatically since the whole process began. But he wasn't sure if he meant them any more. "Are you willing to do anything to help the others become Warriors of Distinction?" Rick demanded. "Anything, Sir." Jericho just wanted it to be over. "Then suck my big toe." "sir?" Jericho wasn't sure if he had heard correctly. "If you want to be a Warrior of Distinction, you must suck my big toe. Now!" Jericho looked around desperately; he had no idea what the others were being forced to do. As he lowered his head close to the mud and closer to Rick Sharp's foot, Jericho wondered miserably how he could have sunk so low.
General Questions:
1. In THE BATTLE OF JERICHO, you address a number of complex social issues facing teens today, including the influence of peer pressure and the importance of "fitting in" socially. What are some suggestions that can help teens combat these pressures in their day-to-day lives?
Young adults need to know that they are not alone, that many teens feel exactly the same as they do. It is easy to feel isolated and pressured by the larger group, but when young people learn to express their true feelings to friends and family, the pressure and immensity of their problems can be lessened. Good friends are powerful allies. Many teachers at school are available for counsel, and most parents are willing to listen as well. If Jericho had been willing or able to talk over his doubts and fears, tragedy may have been averted.
2. High school hazing is a subject that is often ignored or underestimated. What should young people know about the dangers of hazing?
I did a great deal of research into the problem of hazing on college campuses in preparation for writing The Battle of Jericho, but I found that very little research had been done on high school hazing, not because it did not occur, but because peer pressure is so strong during adolescence that teenagers simply refuse to tell. According to one study, more than 1.5 million high school students in the United States are being subjected to some form of hazing each year. If the choice must be made about whether to do what is right, or do what is necessary to be accepted, most teens will choose peer acceptance, even though data shows that most high school students don't perceive even the most dangerous initiation activities as hazing. Remember, however, that anything that makes a person feel uncomfortable, or that they are forced to do in order to be accepted into a social group can be defined as hazing.
3. Dana Wolfe's character in THE BATTLE OF JERICHO is an important figure for young teenage girls to examine as she is both strong-willed and confident, yet often puts herself in precarious situations in order to prove herself to others. What lesson(s) do you hope to teach young women about growing up female and how do you think Dana can help girls make healthy choices in their own lives?
Teenaged girls today need strong, positive role models that can show them how to be independent thinkers and confident decision-makers. Dana is proud and self-confident, which is good, but she does not always make wise decisions. Rather than make her a super woman, I balanced her with difficult situations that could have been handled better. Her strength, however, shines through. This way, a young woman can read the book, discuss Dana's actions, and reflect on the decision-making in her own life.
4. What is the role of music in THE BATTLE OF JERICHO and in Jericho's life in particular?
Jericho's love for his music influences his decisions throughout the book. It helps him express his complicated feelings about his home life, his girlfriend, as well as his self-esteem. When he plays his trumpet, he is more than the pieces of his life--he is whole. I strongly encourage young people to find a musical or creative outlet, for creativity is what helps us see the beauty in life. Music helped save Jericho's life.
5. Did you have a particular connection in mind for your characters and plot in relation to the Biblical Joshua fighting the Battle of Jericho?
I don't purposely plan "morals" or religious symbolism when I write. Sometimes these things just appear. If a student finds a particular meaning or theme and can develop that idea with specifics from the text, then it's valid. I think that's wonderful. But if they don't, that's OK too. Jericho's "battles" developed over time. Remember that what you have in front of you is a finished work, but, like layers of paint on a house, went through many chances before it got to that point. It's always a work in progress.
6. What is the significance of Eric's character in THE BATTLE OF JERICHO and how do you think his handicap affects his outlooks on life? The way others see him?
Teenagers with disabilities are just like their peers. They want to be accepted, to have friends, to be included in the social life of the school. Eric understands the pain of being ignored and overlooked, and I've given him a voice to show his humanity. He represents all those young people, who have feelings as well as dreams. I wanted to give those kids, who are often treated as if they are invisible, a chance to be heard, to be seen as the individuals they are, not the machines they ride in, or the disability that defines them.
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