Penrod Schofield was neither overwhelmingly bad nor the complete little gentleman.  He was an ordinary twelve-year-old boy growing up in the early 20th century America: mischievous, adventurous, and irreverent.  In the Penrod stories, Tarkington created realistic boys' stories not unlike the adventures of Tom Sawyer.  With his friends and fellow gang members-Sam, Herman, and Verman-and his long-suffering dog, Duke, Penrod romps through adventures and misadventures.  He endures the embarrassment of school plays and dance classes, escaping when he can to his secret hideaway to write gory adventure stories.  With the help of the gang, Penrod stages his own theatrical featuring Duke (the Indian Dog) and the Michigan trained rats.  His escapades have delighted generations of readers.  The stories in this Indiana classic will captivate still another generation of young readers and awaken fond memories in many an adult.