This first novel by Barbara Wersba was originally published in 1968 and is now considered to be a teenage classic. It describes a young man, Albert Scully, who depressed and frustrated by his suburban upbringing, considers himself a failure preferring gardening, Shakespeare, long walks and collecting sandwich recipes to more conventional teenage pursuits, which makes him something of a loner and outsider. The novel follows his friendship with the eccentric Mrs Orpha Woodfin and the discovery that there is nothing wrong in refusing to conform to values he does not believe in. Barbara Wersba is an award-winning writer of books for children and teenagers. Other books for teenagers published by Bodley Head include "Tunes for a small harmonica", "Crazy vanilla" and her "Fat" trilogy.
- ISBN10 0582158206
- ISBN13 9780582158207
- Publish Date June 1969
- Publish Status Out of Print
- Out of Print 18 October 2003
- Publish Country GB
- Imprint Prentice Hall Press
- Format Hardcover
- Pages 178
- Language English