Andrej Tschichatschow, known as Tschick, is the new kid in class who makes a bad impression from the very first second. Reserved and reeking of alcohol, he greets his classmates, who suspect him to be a member of the Russian mafia. Maik observes the newcomer with a mix of disgust and fascination, but he has his own problems. His mother has to go to a rehabilitation clinic for the umpteenth time, while his father takes his mistress on business trips. When Tschick shows up in a borrowed light blue Lada, Maik doesn’t hesitate for long. What’s keeping him here anyway? Herrndorf speaks the language of his protagonists without desperately trying to keep up with the times. Maik's perspective on life is touching, honest, and unspoiled. He impressively demonstrates that you don’t need to give the protagonists a face to make them relatable.