Gary Paulsen’s slapstick tales capture the “wonderful madness” of growing up in a small town in northern Minnesota, when high spirits, showing off for girls, and general idiocy led Gary and his pals to attempt some amazing stunts, including:

• Shooting a waterfall in a barrel
• Breaking the world speed record on skis
• Hang gliding with an army surplus target kite
• Inventing the skateboard
• Jumping a bike through a hoop of fire
• Wrestling – with a bear?