Why We Took the Car (Hardcover)
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Staff Reviews
Mike Klingenberg’s summer is off to a bad start. His father is on a “business trip” with his assistant. His mother is in rehab. The girl he likes has invited everyone but him to her party. So when Tschick—the class reject and possible son of a Russian mobster—pulls up in a stolen car and asks if he wants to go on a road trip, what else can he do? He hops in. A terrifically fun and moving story of love, friendship and growing up.
Chris
— From Why We Took the CarDescription
Mike Klingenberg doesn't get why people think he's boring. Sure, he doesn't have many friends. (Okay, zero friends.) And everyone laughs at him when he reads his essays out loud in class. And he's never invited to parties - including the gorgeous Tatiana's party of the year.
Andre Tschichatschow, aka Tschick (not even the teachers can pronounce his name), is new in school, and a whole different kind of unpopular. He always looks like he's just been in a fight, his clothes are tragic, and he never talks to anyone.
But one day Tschick shows up at Mike's house out of the blue. Turns out he wasn't invited to Tatiana's party either, and he's ready to do something about it. Forget the popular kids: Together, Mike and Tschick are heading out on a road trip. No parents, no map, no destination. Will they get hopelessly lost in the middle of nowhere? Probably. Will they meet crazy people and get into serious trouble? Definitely. But will they ever be called boring again?
Not a chance.
About the Author
Wolfgang Herrndorf (1965-2013) was born in Hamburg, Germany, and studied painting before turning to writing later in his career. He wrote several award-winning novels for adults, and WHY WE TOOK THE CAR was the receipient of the German Youth Literature Award.