I am well into Book III of Youth in Revolt by C. D. Payne. At the end of Book II, Youth in Bondage, the protagonist Nick Twisp is about to be arrested for 3 different instances. Also, Nick sold a faulty neon sign to a rich person; the rich person is no longer alive due to the neon sign and a hot tub. Nick is also in trouble for giving strong sedatives to Bernice to secretly administer to Taggarty. Taggarty found out about her near-death and is extremely mad at Nick. Bernice got caught with the drugs and swallowed the remaining pills. She slipped into a coma but eventually came-to. Nick is very guilt ridden at this point in the story. He only sees two ways out: suicide or India.
Book III, called Youth in Exile, begins with Nick running away. He takes a plane headed to India, sells his passport, and gets off the plane in San Fransisco. Luckily, he was able to find his sister's apartment and crash there. Nick befriends the elderly neighbor, Bertha Ulansky, and eventually moves back to Ukiah.
Nick already has the sociopathic alter ego of Francois Dillinger. Upon his return to Ukiah, he adorns a new alter ego, a more feminine version. Her name is Carlotta Ulansky and she wears the clothing of the late-occupant of Nick's hideout, the house of Fuzzy's Italian grandmother. Nick returns to the Ukiah school and dresses in Mrs. DeFalco's clothing and coats on makeup. His ploy works very well.
Eventually, Sheeni figures out that Carlotta is really Nick in disguise, but she does not let on until Christmas. Bertha Ulansky also has died and left most of her millions and possessions to Nick! There are about 40 tall pages left in this book and Nick's life is taking a turn for the good; definitely an opposite situation to his previous, in debt, rotten lifestyle under his parents' care.
You should read this book if you like reading about what a boy will do for the one he loves, revenge, strange occurrences, and diaries.
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