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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:
Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 12:17

mummymummymummummum · 19/05/2022 12:13

I remember (though maybe not accurately) that quite a lot happened before he stumbled into the Underground (I think he was running/hiding when he ended up down there). And that the book suddenly completely changed and became solely about this underground world.

I also remember him having to learn to keep out of the way of trains. One time there wasn't enough space to get to one side so he/they ended up lying between the rails.

We are definitely talking about the same book!

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ChickenGotLegs · 19/05/2022 12:20

Hobbes8 · 19/05/2022 11:29

Junk was a gritty story about a teenage runaway. Not sure about the underground element though?

This was a brilliant book. Tar and Gemma, runaways who get hooked on drugs. All kids should read it imo! It's an eye opener!

Shinyandnew1 · 19/05/2022 12:24

I was thinking Neverwhere as well-that was a great book.

bookworm14 · 19/05/2022 12:38

It sounds very like this one, but this is presumably published too late to be it? www.penguin.co.uk/books/109/1091284/caged/9780552565226.html

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 12:43

bookworm14 · 19/05/2022 12:38

It sounds very like this one, but this is presumably published too late to be it? www.penguin.co.uk/books/109/1091284/caged/9780552565226.html

Thanks, but I definitely read it while I was at school. So, the very latest it could've been was 2001, but I am sure it was earlier than that.

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BaconMassive · 19/05/2022 12:48

Was it Darkside by Tom Becker?

BotCrossHuns · 19/05/2022 12:49

I'm pretty sure I read this too - the bit about hiding from the trains or lying on the tracks etc seems familiar - but in my mind it was New York subway.

i've tried googling with NYC instead, and found this, but not sure if it's the one I am thinking of either

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slake%27s_Limbo

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 13:08

BaconMassive · 19/05/2022 12:48

Was it Darkside by Tom Becker?

No, but I'd love to read this one. So, thanks!

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Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 13:10

BotCrossHuns · 19/05/2022 12:49

I'm pretty sure I read this too - the bit about hiding from the trains or lying on the tracks etc seems familiar - but in my mind it was New York subway.

i've tried googling with NYC instead, and found this, but not sure if it's the one I am thinking of either

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slake%27s_Limbo

Thank you but it was definitely the London Underground. The reason I picked the book up and decided to read it in the first place was because I'd seen some flashes of disused tunnels whilst traveling on the tube and this book sparked a curiosity about it all.

OP posts:
salviapages · 19/05/2022 13:17

Could it be by Philip Ridley? I read his in the 90s and they are adventures about a teen boy

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 14:03

salviapages · 19/05/2022 13:17

Could it be by Philip Ridley? I read his in the 90s and they are adventures about a teen boy

None of these are it, thank you.

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mummymummymummummum · 19/05/2022 14:13

I would have read it in the 90s

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.

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 16:47

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.

Nope, not this either. Sorry.
If it wasn't for @mummymummymummummum I'd be starting to wonder if I'd dreamed this 😂

OP posts:
Neilsfavouritechilli · 19/05/2022 17:32

This is seriously bugging me now. I can almost see the front cover in my mind.

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 18:32

No bites on my Goodreads thread yet either....

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Winterfellismyhome · 19/05/2022 18:35

Try r/whatsthatbook on Reddit. Usually very helpful :)

Neilsfavouritechilli · 19/05/2022 18:37

I have been googling all evening. I keep getting either fantasy novels or true life stories from WW2.

Ladyglittersparkleseriously · 19/05/2022 18:37

Empty world by John christopher??

WishingWell5 · 19/05/2022 19:18

Could it be dark cities underground by Lisa Goldstein

Neilsfavouritechilli · 19/05/2022 19:36

I'm not the OP (obv) but unfortunately neither of those are it (for me).

Neilsfavouritechilli · 19/05/2022 19:39

From my memory it wasn't post apocalypse, just a kid that either fell on hard times or was in trouble that ended up living in abandoned tunnels with others.

Greensleeves · 19/05/2022 19:41

The Borribles?

Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 19:49

Neilsfavouritechilli · 19/05/2022 18:37

I have been googling all evening. I keep getting either fantasy novels or true life stories from WW2.

This has been me for the last ten years, off and on 😆

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Original poster
ZimZamZoom · 19/05/2022 19:49

Winterfellismyhome · 19/05/2022 18:35

Try r/whatsthatbook on Reddit. Usually very helpful :)

I will try there too, thanks

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