Not Chicago. Not here.

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Not Chicago. Not here. is a youth novel by the German writer Kirsten Boie (* 1950). The book was first published in 1999 by Verlag Friedrich Oetinger, Hamburg. It was later published by Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag .

It is used in Germany in lower secondary education to address violence among schoolchildren and to raise awareness of bullying .

content

Karl is new to Niklas class. From the beginning Karl is strange, cold and withdrawn. Someone from whom the cautious Niklas would rather stay away, although he exerts a strange attraction. Ms. Römer, the two's history teacher, assigns them to a school project. After Karl was with Niklas, a CD is missing. Niklas is soon sure that Karl stole it. He quickly realizes that that's not all Karl is capable of. Later Karl “borrows” the drive from Niklas' father Thomas. But when Niklas is at Karl's home to pick it up, Karl attacks him with CS gas. Niklas has to buy the drive back and stands there as a liar because his parents don't believe him. Karl assaults Niklas several times. But then he goes too far: he steals Niklas' rabbit Rex. It was only when the violence took on such a dire exception that Nikla's parents believed him and went to the police. But when they want to file a complaint, they only get to hear that this is a minor case because they have no real evidence. It's one word against the other. The desperate Niklas cannot expect any help against Karl from the police. Now the family can't do anything about Karl and Rocky, the fellow traveler. The only "friend" of Niklas is Hendrik, but he is a marginal figure. Niklas' anger with Karl increases in the course of the novel. In a phone call between Thomas, Niklas father, and Ms. Römer, she suggests that Niklas should switch to secondary school. The novel ends with Niklas' family receiving a letter from the court. Whether they won or lost is left open.

Narrative

The novel is written on two time levels. In the first one (bold), in which the past is portrayed, the focus is on Karl, his violence and the suffering of the protagonist Niklas. In the second time level (normal pressure) the focus is on the present, the reporting of the parents to the police and the development in the family. Both timelines alternate continuously. The plot begins with the theft of the rabbit, which is very important to Niklas, Rexo. This point forms the boundary between the two narrative levels. This structure means that you get to know the perpetrator right from the start and that the main focus of the entire novel is on Niklas' feelings.

The whole novel is told by an omniscient narrator, only at the very beginning and at the very end does the narrator briefly switch to a first-person narrator. Kirsten Boie uses many different stylistic devices, e.g. B. the narrative report and the experienced speech. In addition, the novel has an open ending and nobody knows what will become of Niklas and Karl.

characters

Niklas

Niklas is actually a completely normal seventh grader. Maybe he's still a little childlike, as he likes to play with Lego technology. His academic performance is poorer than right and he has few friends. When the new student Karl enters the school, they have to prepare a history lecture at the request of Ms. Römer, who puts the two next to each other. From then on Niklas is brutally bullied by Karl and Rocky. Niklas withdraws further and further, appears strongly introverted and helpless and does not initially confide in anyone. His school performance continues to decline; only the presentation with Karl leads to a good grade. Niklas doesn't actually correspond to a cliché of a typical victim of bullying, as he has no physical or social abnormalities. Boie might want to show that bullying can affect anyone

Karl

Karl is cold and rude to the new class and his fellow men. He bullies Niklas by stealing, insulting and beating him. He is supported by Rocky, who becomes a typical follower. The motive for Karl's deeds is unknown and it quickly becomes clear in the novel: Karl is a power and lust bully. He seems to be intelligent, however, because he gets along well in school and is able to portray all of his deeds as if Niklas were to blame for them, or that they did not take place at all. So at the end of the novel is testimony against testimony.

Rocky

The character Rocky looks like it is divided. On the one hand, he immediately believes Niklas Karl's deeds and keeps him from the worst in a fight with Niklas. On the other hand, he lures Niklas into a trap and testifies to the police for Karl and thus against Niklas. It is implied in the novel that Rocky is forced to do these things by Karl. Rocky is characterized as a follower.

The choice of the name "Rocky" could have something to do with the English meaning of the word (English: rock stone). This suggests that Rocky is a tough guy. In addition, the name can come from the music genre rock, which is also a hard variety. But nothing in the name indicates Rocky's positive side.

Others

Cologne named the book "A Book for the City 2008". It also received the German Youth Literature Prize .

literature

Web links