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 Car* ""[An] action- and emotion-packed story of surprise summer adventure . . . this alternately wild, sad, hilarious, and tender tale chronicles the development of a strange and beautiful friendship." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
* ""In his first novel translated into English, Herrndorf sits squarely and triumphantly at the intersection of literary tall tale and coming-of-age picaresque." —Kirkus, starred review
"Surprising, tender and deliciously absurd . . . [A] funny, poignant, and intermittently profane and raunchy novel." —The Wall Street Journal
"Buckle your seat belt. You're in for a bumpy, exhilarating ride . . . in this lively bildungsroman, rich with funny, poignant riffs on nicknames, boomerangs, Beyoncé, aging and the possibility of life on other planets." —The Washington Post
"A sharp coming-of-age journey, hilarious and heartrending in equal measure." —Horn Book
"[A] compelling coming-of-age tale. [Herrndorf's] authentic voice will resonate universally with teens and will draw some comparisons to Holden Caulfield and Huck Finn." —VOYA
* ""[An] action- and emotion-packed story of surprise summer adventure . . . this alternately wild, sad, hilarious, and tender tale chronicles the development of a strange and beautiful friendship." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
* ""In his first novel translated into English, Herrndorf sits squarely and triumphantly at the intersection of literary tall tale and coming-of-age picaresque." —Kirkus, starred review
"Surprising, tender and deliciously absurd . . . [A] funny, poignant, and intermittently profane and raunchy novel." —The Wall Street Journal
"Buckle your seat belt. You're in for a bumpy, exhilarating ride . . . in this lively bildungsroman, rich with funny, poignant riffs on nicknames, boomerangs, Beyoncé, aging and the possibility of life on other planets." —The Washington Post
"A sharp coming-of-age journey, hilarious and heartrending in equal measure." —Horn Book
"[A] compelling coming-of-age tale. [Herrndorf's] authentic voice will resonate universally with teens and will draw some comparisons to Holden Caulfield and Huck Finn." —VOYA