YA fiction from 80s or 90s: Boy transported to alternate universe where everyone is of below-average intelligence

[Jeff]

I read the book in the early to mid 90s. It centered on a single boy who finds himself in an alternate universe populated by dim-witted people who are astounded by the boy's average intelligence.

[SamSpayedPI]

It sounds a little like The Marching Morons by Cyril M. Kornbluth, but that was much earlier (1951), and the MC was an adult.

It also sounds a little like the movie Idiocracy, but there's been no novelization as far as I'm aware.

[Jeff]

It might have been published earlier than the 80s but definitely well before 2000. Similar theme to The Marching Morons though the MC was a teen/young adult who finds himself in a pre-industrial society.

[Rainbowheart]

Was the boy high school age?

[Jeff]

Yes that sounds about right as far as his age.

[Kris]

Jeff, what's the genre - YA science fiction or fantasy?

How is the boy transported to this alternate universe? How else is this universe different from his world?

[Jeff]

I have been racking my brain to remember more details and I will add them here if I can think of any.

[Rainbowheart]

Kinda reminds me of The Forgotten Door, but maybe it's a little too far off.

[Jeff]

That's amazing! From reading the synopsis I'm about 90% confident this is the book I was thinking of! I just ordered a copy to confirm but I remember now the boy was transported to the alternate world by falling through a door or passage and he arrived in an injured state.

Rainbowheart wrote: "Kinda reminds me of The Forgotten Door, but maybe it's a little too far off."

[Rainbowheart]

Oh, seriously?? That was a total guess. Fingers crossed!