The book: How Angel Peterson Got His Name: and other outrageous tales about extreme sports (Random House; $12.95; ages 10 and up ).

The author: Gary Paulsen, best-selling author of a zillion books for young readers, including Hatchet, The Winter Room and Dogsong (all Newbery Honor Books).

The plot: A collection of autobiographical anecdotes about the dumb antics of teenage boys, such as shooting a waterfall in a barrel, hang gliding on an Army surplus kite and jumping a bike through a hoop of fire. It is set in Minnesota in the 1950s when "we were quite dumber" and "there wasn't any safety gear."

The signing: 7 p.m. Monday, Walnut Hills High School Auditorium, 3520 Victory Parkway. Free, but line numbers are required to get books signed. Numbers are available with purchase at Blue Manatee Children's Bookstore, 3054 Madison Road, Oakley, 731-2665, or at www.bluemanateebooks.com.