On the Road

Maik’s mum is an alcoholic, his father a bankrupt real estate agent off on holidays with his secretary. Girls at school ignore him. Wrangling through the drab monotony of everyday life has utmost priority when suddenly everything changes with a new classmate.

Tschick – a mysterious Russian kid who rarely speaks – turns Maik’s world upside down. Instead of staying at home the whole summer, Tschick convinces Maik to join him on what turns into a wicked road trip through the German countryside in a nicked car. Maik and Tschick have the most bizarre encounters but also find out what true friendship means before ending up in a hospital in the middle of nowhere.

Wolfgang Herrndorf’s novel has been widely considered as an instant masterpiece “as relevant as ‘Die Blechtrommel’ by Günter Grass” upon its release in 2010. Critics praised “Tschick” as “great fun” and a book children should buy for their parents and parents for their children.

Herrndorf’s debut “In Plüschgewittern” was released in 2002. The author killed himself in 2013. “Tschick” developed into a long seller. A movie based on the book starring Tristan Göbel and Anand Batbileg hit the screens last year.

Tschick
By Wolfgang Herrndorf
Published by rororo (www.rowohlt.de)