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MartyParty23
Since: Dec, 1969
MartyParty23
Since: Dec, 1969

I cannot for the life of me remember the name of a science-fiction young adult novel I read, but never finished in middle school (around 2003). I believe it was the second novel in a series, and was very post-apocalyptic. The main character was a boy who had gone blind by staring into the sun after escaping from a massive labyrinthine sewer system populated by dangerous creatures. While in the sewers, he was accompanied by intelligent fish/tadpoles who eventually grew into humanoids and served as the protagonist's protectors when they escaped to the surface. On the surface, I think he joined a group of survivors who lived in a boat town in the middle of a lake. Going to land was dangerous, because carnivorous mutants populated the wasteland. These mutants were highly adapted to ride black metal bicycles. They're skulls were sloped like the helmets cyclists wear, and they had natural visors over blue eyes. I do not remember much besides that, but I think the fishfolk allowed the boy to have political strength in the town do to the amphibian's physical prowness and their dedication to their blind leader. I have scoured google, and nothing useful has shown up.