Adolescents and young adult readers of "Underground Man" may perceive that they have already experienced young Josh Bowen's America of the 1830's, through participating (if only via TV newscasts) in the social and civic disorders of the 1960's. In writing an absorbing story of a young Yank's adventures as a "nigger stealer" for the Underground Railroad, Milton Meltzer has written a contemporary novel. The cultural, political, moral and ethical issues that troubled young Joshua Bowen are those troubling today's youth. We hear them say so.

The familiar generation gap is dramatized in the opening chapters. It is not the expected brouhaha between a rebellious kid and his mean old man. Nowhere in the novel does Meltzer deal in stereotypes or resort to cliché situations….

After serving a term in a Kentucky jail for "nigger stealing" Josh returns to New England and becomes an effective and popular speaker at...