First published 1980
Barry finds himself pulled into a hidden realm that exists far below the familiar world above. The underground kingdom operates by different rules, with its own people and customs that challenge everything he thought he knew. As Barry navigates this strange civilization, he must learn to survive in a place where the surface world feels impossibly distant. The deeper he ventures into this subterranean society, the more he questions whether he belongs above or below ground. His journey becomes one of discovering not just a new world, but understanding his place within it. The underground kingdom offers Barry possibilities he never imagined, but also forces him to confront what he truly wants from life.
Genres: fiction, science-fiction, adventure, fantasy
Vibes: atmospheric, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Plum Lake
136 pages · Hardcover · Alfred A. Knopf