Tales of the Madman Underground by John Barnes
September 1973: The beginning of Karl Shoemaker’s senior year in stifling Lightsburg, Ohio. For years, Karl’s been part of “the Madman Underground”- kids forced to attend group therapy during school. Karl has decided that he is going to get out of the Madman Underground for good. He is going to act-and be-Normal. But Normal, of course, is relative. Karl has two after-school jobs, one dead father, one seriously unhinged drunk mother . . . and a huge attitude. Welcome to a gritty, uncensored rollercoaster ride, narrated by the singular Karl Shoemaker.
Trigger & Content Warnings:
- Homomisia & homomisic slurs
- Racism & racial slurs
- Hate crimes
- Child sexual abuse
- Underage sex work
- Physical & verbal abuse
- Alcoholism
- Alcohol consumption & abuse
- Recreational drug use
- Medical treatment
- Needles
- Physical assault
- Animal death & death of a pet
- Animal abuse