Mike Klingenberg has no friends. He believes this is because he is boring, which is cemented in his mind when he never receives an invite to the party of the year being held by the most popular girl in school (and the love of his life). With his alcoholic mother in rehab and his father on a business trip, Mike has the whole holidays to himself. That is until the new, slightly odd kid from school, Tschick, turns up at his house and makes himself comfortable.

With nothing to do but sit around and play video games, Mike and Tschick decide to take a road trip with no destination, no map and no mobile phones. They will take wrong turns, commit a couple of crimes and meet some eccentric people. But one thing is for sure: if they return, neither of them will be boring anymore.

Why We Took the Car is a heart-warming coming-of-age novel about two boys who form a beautiful, caring friendship that doesn’t judge or ridicule. In a world where male friendships are often portrayed as tough and blokey, Why We Took the Car does the opposite. Brilliant.

Ages 14 and up.

Katherine Dretzke