SOLVED. YA - Ruins of tiny people society with snake fangs [s]

[Mark]

I remember that there was a socially awkward kid at a boarding school. Some frat-type guys at the school picked on him frequently, and pinned him down in his room, pulled off his pants, and poured beer over his genitals.

Later, he walked off schools grounds into some cave or sewer or something, where he discovered the ruins of a civilization of tiny snake worshiping people who built stonehenge-like circles of cobra fangs. At some point or other, he pricked a finger on a fang.

[Luann]

I don't know what book this is, but now I want to know. What happens after he pricks his finger on a fang? Does he turn into one of the tiny snake-worshiping people? Does anyone know this book?

[Jackie "the Librarian"]

I think that's a Rosemary Wells book, Through the Hidden Door, I remember the cobra fang part. Here's the summary:

Barney's life is a mess. Everyone thinks he's a snitch. His former friends want to kill him. Even the headmaster of his school wants him gone. No one but secretive little Snowy Cobb will speak to him. But after Snowy and Barney discover the hidden cave deep below the earth, the promise of ancient treasures wipe away the threats from above. And when they uncover strange artifacts untouched for centuries, a web of unknowable danger begins to unravel-and Snowy and Barney may not survive.

[Luann]

Well, it wasn't my question originally, but that looks like the book to me - based on the original details given. It let me read quite a few of the pages using the Amazon "Look Inside" feature. Very interesting! I'll have to see if it is available at my library. Their website is down right now or I would already know. :(

[Mark]

Yup, that's definitely it! Astounded that you dug up this thread, Luann, and thank you Jackie!

[Luann]

Once in a blue moon I like to go back and read old threads. Yours piqued my interest, so I'm glad Jackie knew the answer!