Bookfiler: kids in drains kill people

March 16, 2007 8:32 PM

Bookfilter: When I was a kid, I read a book or series of books about a lost tribe of children who lived in sewers, were at war with the adult world (or parts thereof) and made effective use of slingshots. There was one scene in particular I recall in which someone - a baddie presumably - was killed with a shovel that had been slowly sharpened through digging in silt for something. There might have been something odd about the children's ears as well. I know it's vague, but if I could remember more I probably would have found it without having to ask the hive mind!
posted by tim_in_oz to Media & Arts (8 answers total)

Best answer: The Borribles?
posted by iconomy at 8:37 PM on March 16, 2007

That's totally the Borribles, I keep meaning to re-read those books, they really stuck in my head.
posted by crabintheocean at 8:53 PM on March 16, 2007

Well, I think maybe your question was answered, but it also reminded me of War Between the Pitiful Teachers and the Splendid Kids.
posted by inigo2 at 8:55 PM on March 16, 2007

Response by poster: Mefites: you rock. That was bothering me for months.
posted by tim_in_oz at 10:45 PM on March 16, 2007

Wow, inigo2. I've been trying to remember what that book was since the fifth grade. I have no idea what the Borribles is, but I clicked this question just because it sounded like a book once read, and you nailed it. Right on.
posted by duende at 5:19 AM on March 17, 2007

If you want to reread the first one (The Borribles), I got it for free a year or so ago and I'm done with it. Email in my profile and I'll send it on.
posted by OmieWise at 5:47 AM on March 17, 2007

The second in the series is quite good, too.
posted by jtron at 8:24 AM on March 17, 2007

duende: Are you me?
inigo2: Thanks!
tim_in_oz: Thanks too, because I may read the Borribles because it sounds so similar to the other book.
posted by lostburner at 6:54 PM on March 17, 2007