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Original poster

Please help me remember this YA book from the 90s

113 replies

ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 10:27

I have been trying to remember/find this book on and off for about ten years.

When I was at middle school (mid 90s) I read a book about a community of people who lived in secret tunnels in and around the London Underground. I think it began with a teenager running away from home and ending up joining this secret underground community. I cannot remember anything else about the plot though.

I suppose there is a chance it was written/published earlier than the 90s.

I would dearly love to rediscover this book.

Thanks in advance for any ideas.

OP posts:
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FloopyGal · 15/06/2024 03:59

Thank you! I've been looking for this on and off for decades! Now I just need to find a film I've been looking for since I was 8 and I can sleep easily finally! Lol

MrsVeryTired · 16/11/2023 14:17

@CallsHerselfAFeminist glad you found it anyway Smile

Katmig · 14/11/2023 23:17

Thanks so much for posting this and for sharing what the answer was, I now have book 1 and book 2 on order! It’s been driving me mad 🙈

mummymummymummummum · 09/11/2023 12:49

DuneFan · 09/11/2023 07:23

Brilliant! I really did think it felt like Underworld but was sure I had read this other book . . .

I remember being a bit disappointed with the sequels as the first was so well done, so would recommend approaching without high expectations.

Thanks for the warning!

DuneFan · 09/11/2023 07:23

Brilliant! I really did think it felt like Underworld but was sure I had read this other book . . .

I remember being a bit disappointed with the sequels as the first was so well done, so would recommend approaching without high expectations.

CallsHerselfAFeminist · 08/11/2023 19:52

mummymummymummummum · 08/11/2023 14:56

@CallsHerselfAFeminist

Hurrah! So glad you’ve found it. I’ve been rubbish at reading since having kids (managed 2 books so far this year 😬). But am now on Amazon ordering a copy. Hopefully it won’t disappoint.

Have you got your hands on the rest of the trilogy? Looks like 2 is also on Kindle Unlimited and 3 is £2.23

Thank you. I'm about halfway through the first one. I'll most likely get the others too :)

bookworm14 · 08/11/2023 17:47

So glad you found it after all this time!

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 08/11/2023 16:53

Oh darn it - only read the OPs - I see you’ve found it!

Underthemagnificentbeechtree · 08/11/2023 16:53

Me and my Million? Is about a boy who can’t read and gets tangled up in couriering a stolen painting. Hides in the underground and meets loads of people. Maybe ends up at London Zoo?

PictureOfFlorianTray · 08/11/2023 16:47

Great update and glad you found it.

I love it when threads end like this.

mummymummymummummum · 08/11/2023 14:56

@CallsHerselfAFeminist

Hurrah! So glad you’ve found it. I’ve been rubbish at reading since having kids (managed 2 books so far this year 😬). But am now on Amazon ordering a copy. Hopefully it won’t disappoint.

Have you got your hands on the rest of the trilogy? Looks like 2 is also on Kindle Unlimited and 3 is £2.23

CallsHerselfAFeminist · 08/11/2023 14:25

Hi, I'm the OP of this thread 👋

I come here today (under a different username) to humbly apologise to you all.
The book I was searching for was, indeed...

Underworld by Peter Beere

I am not sure now why I so quickly dismissed @MrsVeryTired 's suggestion. As well as @Neilsfavouritechilli and @mummymummymummummum 's.

I have spent the time since I posted this thread reading some of the 'possibles'. I only recently got my hands on a copy of Underworld because it popped up on my KindleUnlimited for free! I downloaded it and, with every page, my heart sank further. This title had been suggested here and, because I was utterly convinced that the MC was definitely a lone young man, I had dismissed it. (I had completely forgotten the young woman he was with - and I call myself a feminist!!)

I guess I didn't dismiss it entirely as I had added to the TBR list of possibles.

But, thank you all who commented on this thread. I am very grateful to have finally found "my" book after all these years 🤗

ShermansSherberts · 07/10/2023 00:39

pollyhemlock · 19/05/2022 15:44

The Secret Line by William Corlett? www.amazon.co.uk/Secret-Line-Young-Adult-Books/dp/0099371413/ref=monarch_sidesheet
A bit of a long shot as the protagonist is a girl, but she does have a young male friend.

This was the one I was thinking of when I saw the OP.

DuneFan · 27/08/2023 16:09

Just seen this thread, I've read this too. Marking my place in case I can remember more about it.

Kmi17 · 20/06/2023 21:47

I am also looking for this book!! Please do let me know if you find it, I have the same recollections, not six fi, not horror, early 1990’s, set in London, focused on one boy

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 25/05/2022 11:53

PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 25/05/2022 11:16

Hilo and Ben are two young people trying to survive on the streets of London. Each of them running from trouble at home. They meet while looking for work and decide to make a go of it together, finding unexpected warmth and comradeship among the other homeless people sleeping rough.

This is the plot of Home Street Home

Thanks. I did find it on Goodreads. I am not sure that this is the correct book. It's now out of print. It's not in my local library service at all.
The summary sounds promising. But, I remember the tube system being such a large part of the plot and it's not mentioned in the summary.

Anyway, as I said upthread, I have searched for "my" book periodically for at least the last ten years, so I'm sure I'll find it eventually!

OP posts:
PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 25/05/2022 11:20

There’s a picture of the front cover on Amazon but annoyingly can’t post a picture

PammieDooveOrangeJoof · 25/05/2022 11:16

Hilo and Ben are two young people trying to survive on the streets of London. Each of them running from trouble at home. They meet while looking for work and decide to make a go of it together, finding unexpected warmth and comradeship among the other homeless people sleeping rough.

This is the plot of Home Street Home

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 25/05/2022 10:54

ConfusedBear · 24/05/2022 21:52

This makes me think of Slake's Limbo. Although that is set in New York so probably not that one.

Did it involve a train driver who wanted to farm sheep?

It doesn't ring a bell at all. Although, I can only really remember the first chapter or so to be honest.

OP posts:
BestIsWest · 25/05/2022 09:24

You won’t regret it, Barbara Vine is excellent.

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 25/05/2022 08:42

Theatrefish · 24/05/2022 14:59

It's not YA but King Solomon's Carpet? A community of "under group train surfers".

I'm going to read this book. I'm 99% sure it's not the one I'm after but, as it has so many parallels, I can't discount it entirely without reading it first. Thanks.

OP posts:
Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 25/05/2022 08:41

repeatplease · 24/05/2022 15:01

sorry - should be Rachel Anderson The Scavengers tale?

It's definitely not this one, but it sounds like an excellent book so I've added it to my 'to read' pile, thank you

OP posts:
ConfusedBear · 24/05/2022 21:52

This makes me think of Slake's Limbo. Although that is set in New York so probably not that one.

Did it involve a train driver who wanted to farm sheep?

repeatplease · 24/05/2022 15:01

sorry - should be Rachel Anderson The Scavengers tale?

Theatrefish · 24/05/2022 14:59

It's not YA but King Solomon's Carpet? A community of "under group train surfers".

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