Johnny's in the Basement

Johnny's in the Basement by Sachar, Louis. paperback edition. ISBN: 9780380834518.

Johnnys in the basement where his parents wont bother him, sitting on top of The Worlds Greatest Bottle Cap Collection. Hes just turned eleven and his parents have decided that its time for him to grow up. Suddenly he has to wash the dishes and take out the garbage. And get rid of his bottle caps! His birthday presents are grown-up junk like socks and underwear and -- worst of all -- social-dancing lessons. Growing up certainly doesnt seem worth it -- until he meets Valerie Plum, who hates dancing school even more than Johnny does, but doesnt hate Johnny at all.