Tales of a Madman Underground (An Historical Romance 1973) is a wonderful novel.
Protagonist, Karl Shoemaker, just wants his senior year in high school to be normal. He especially wants out of in-school therapy (the Madman Underground) and into the mainstream. He wants his drunk mother to sober up and stop stealing his money. He wants the many cats living in his house to stop pooping on his bed. He wants to get laid and to join the army and to get as far away as possible from his small Ohio town. Not much to ask for a kid who works at least 5 jobs a week and manages to survive honors classes as well.
In trying to be normal, Karl risks losing his friendships with the other Madman Underground members–his only real friends.
Heartbreaking, hilarious, a joy to read. A 2010 Printz Honor Book. TWO THUMBS WAY UP.
Tags: TWO THUMBS UP, YA
