The Battle of Jericho

In The Battle of Jericho, Sharon Draper explores extracurricular clubs and the often-devastating effects they have on youth. The novel’s protagonist, Jericho, is a garden-variety teenager. He has a close-knit group of friends, maintains an acceptable grade point average, and excels at playing the trumpet. There are prospects for matriculation at Julliard if he continues to perfect his craft. However, Jericho, like many high school teens, is insecure. He is a few pounds overweight and wishes he had a girlfriend. So when he, his best friend, and his cousin Josh are invited to join the elite club, the Warriors of Distinction, Jericho jumps at the opportunity. With membership in such a prized organization on the horizon, things slowly begin to improve for Jericho. He catches the eye of fellow classmate Arielle and garners the respect of teachers who are impressed with the Warriors’ reputation for community service. Even his uncle, a former Warrior member himself, is proud of Jericho for his accomplishment. But that doesn’t keep Jericho from feeling uneasy.

Despite his misgivings, Jericho decides to sneak out of the house to participate in the initiation rituals. From the moment he begins to pledge, Jericho discovers he is in morally ambiguous territory. Although he wants very much to join the Warriors, he begins to realize some of the group’s activities are questionable, causing ethical dilemmas he hadn’t anticipated. In the midst of the process, a girl, Dana, infiltrates the group and tries to become a member, causing an uproar within the group. The Warriors decide to let her continue pledging given she has already been exposed to many of the group’s secrets. However, the group’s leaders warn her that the road will not be an easy one. Eddie, the pledge master, makes it his mission to humiliate Dana, hoping the unwelcomed attention will cause her to quit. As the first girl to ever pledge for the Warriors, Dana finds herself in the precarious position of having to prove herself, more so even than her male counterparts.

As the pledging ritual continues, Jericho finds himself alarmed by the group’s disturbing hazing rituals. Bound by a vow of secrecy, the recruits are subject to disgusting, demeaning, and dangerous situations. These activities are even more detrimental to Dana who struggles to attain Warrior membership. She is at times terrorized by some of the of the more malevolent Warrior members. Yet, Dana, Jericho, and his friends will go to almost any lengths to secure their spot in the group, even if it means performing dangerous, demeaning tasks.



Draper’s novel speaks to young audiences about the power of peer pressure and how one’s decisions can have far-reaching consequences that could affect the rest of one’s life. Jericho is constantly called upon to evaluate his decisions. Does he sacrifice his educational pursuits by partaking in the brutal hazing rituals of the group? Or does he put his future first and attend tryouts for college? The novel also highlights the concept that appearances can be deceiving. On the surface, the club seems like a wonderful idea. The Warriors contribute to many charitable causes, such as organizing a toy drive during the holiday season to help less fortunate children. Underneath it all, however, the group partakes in more questionable practices, relying on the vow of secrecy required by each member to hide its more detrimental objectives, thus saving face to the public.

In addition to peer pressure, the author uses the novel as a catalyst for teens to find comfort in the fact that they are not alone when dealing with issues of hazing, bullying, and other questionable practices. Jericho’s struggle to make the right choices despite overwhelming negative influence illustrates the struggle teens often face when it comes to standing up for what they believe in, as well as speaking out when they observe practices that are not beneficial to the wellbeing of themselves and their peers. Furthermore, Draper sheds light on the specific struggle of teenaged girls and the importance of becoming independent and confident decision makers. The author depicts the character of Dana as headstrong and motivated. She is confident in her abilities and harbors no doubt that she can perform the initiation rituals as well as her fellow male initiates. And although Dana is a shining example of confidence, the author presents her with situations she could have handled better. Despite the inevitable shortcomings, the author uses Dana to encourage young girls to reflect on their own decision-making. Despite how attractive a course of action appears on the surface, The Battle of Jericho encourages young people to take a deeper look before determining how to proceed.

Draper’s novel addresses topics that are both current and timely. The lessons illustrated in The Battle of Jericho can be applied to life in practical ways. She depicts real-life situations that, while not always the most pleasant, encourage teenagers to ponder their current predicament, and possibly avoid the pitfalls Draper’s characters are forced to endure.