Penrod

by Booth Tarkington

"Penrod" by Booth Tarkington is a collection of comic sketches published in 1914. The book follows eleven-year-old Penrod Schofield through a series of misadventures in pre-World War I Midwestern America. From suffering through a pageant as "The Child Sir Lancelot" to organizing backyard shows, feuding with local tough kids, and navigating the perils of dancing class, Penrod embodies boyhood mischief and imagination. His escapades—involving tar, birthday parties, and hero-worship gone wrong—paint a humorous portrait of childhood rebellion and the gap between adult expectations and youthful reality.