Daniel Pinkwater can always be relied upon for slightly surreal, totally brilliant fiction, and The Education of Robert Nifkin is no exception.
I don't consider The Education of Robert Nifkin "surreal" in the slightest, though perhaps high school is surreal enough that any depiction thereof can be referred to as such.

Recent Car Talk Appearance (slight note: I have a revulsion to that show and those guys, but if you're into them, as apparently Pinkwater is, bully for you.), Pinkwater's quest for a wide car-seat.

Yggysey Review from an Eva.

Chile Pepper information, which is prefaced by what appears to be the most quoted Pinkwater quip.