Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier. by Kirsten Boie

Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier. Reviews

• 
  Manybooks

  Kirsten Boie's Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier (Not Chicago. Not Here in English) is for all internets and purposes a very much controversial novel (the fact that MOST of the online reviews I have read are negative and often even vehemently so, proves this point, but also makes me personally think that it is mostly and likely caregivers, parents, teachers and the like who have the tendency to find the relevant topic of abuse and bullying and that the novel does not have a happily ever after, but a rather hopeless and open ending inappropriate and difficult to digest, difficult, if not impossible to accept, although with regard to bullying and the results, the consequences of the same, Kirsten Boie does indeed paint a realistically devastating portrait, but seemingly one that many of us still do not and cannot readily accept and consider). Now did I actually enjoy reading Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier? No, I did not much if even at all enjoy the novel, as it was a painful and in many ways horrifying reading experience, but it was and remains a reading experience that I, for one, massively appreciate for its realism, its courage and frankly, I wish that more writers for children would be as brave as Kirsten Boie has been with Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier (tackling bullying, mobbing and the painful, inconvenient truth that often the bullied are not believed and even blamed, and that parents, teachers etc. also more often than not still attempt to shield and coddle the perpetrators or at least trivialise the horror and yes, the terror they foist on their hapless suffering victims).
  
  The main protagonist of Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier, thirteen year old Niklas, faces constant, unrelenting harassment and ever increasing nastiness from Karl (the new boy in class), whose original emotional coldness and unfriendliness soon become both verbally abusive and even physically violent. At first, however, Niklas is much too afraid to confide in anyone, as Karl seems popular (or rather increasingly popular) and Niklas is thus (and unfortunately with some justification) much too worried about being labeled a tattle-tale (a Petzer in German) if he would choose to approach either his parents or his teachers about the bullying he is experiencing (because in school culture, tattle-taling is considered a major no-no). However, any and all strategies that Niklas tries (from trying to be friendly towards Karl to ignoring him and his cohorts) fail miserably (and actually increase the campaign of terror against Niklas, embolden Karl and make him even more vicious). Niklas finally realises that he has to speak out, but to his surprise and consternation, his parents at first categorically refuse to believe that Karl is as cruel and as violent as Niklas has claimed (and when they finally do believe their son and approach Karl's parents, the latter shield their son and even Niklas' teachers and the police consider the bullying, the taunts, the verbal and physical violence as trifles and as unimportant normal cases of school-yard roughhousing).
  
  A tragic and yes, devastating tale (with as already mentioned an ending that while a bit open ended, does also majorly indicate that Karl has both expanded his level of cruelty towards Niklas and will continue with this, with his bullying, relentlessly and continuously), Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier is visceral, uncomfortable and most definitely not an easy, pleasurable and in any way entertaining read. But as difficult and as potentially horrifyingly hopeless, as gut and heart-wrenching as the novel is, Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier does indeed and thankfully confront the all important issue of bullying, of school and peer based verbal and physical abuse and that many many children and teenagers do experience the latter regularly and often with little to no help or recourse from parents, from teachers, from the authorities (and not being believed is just the tip of the iceberg).
  
  While indeed and as already mentioned, I did not find much if any reading pleasure in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier, I am still giving it a three star rating, as this is NOT really a novel to be enjoyed (a story to entertain), but a slice of terrifying and dangerous school reality to be meticulously read, discussed and debated by both the intended audience (children, or rather teenagers above the age of twelve or thirteen) and with their teachers, parents etc. And as such I do highly recommend Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier (with the additional caveat that the novel is in German and as far as I know, no English language translation exists to date, and thus a decent level of fluency is both suggested and required, especially since there are also some instances of youth based German vernacular presented, so-called Jugendsprache, which does make Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier considerably more authentic in scope and feel, but could also prove difficult to and for readers not all that fluent or perhaps not yet all that fluent).
  
  EDITTED TO ADD: Now I do have to say that as much as I appreciate the novel, the title (Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier) is a bit strange and puzzling, as the story does in no way take place in Chicago. Yes, when Niklas is at first not given credence by his parents that he is relenlessly being bullied, being tortured by Karl, the father does make some vague allusions to Germany, to Niklas' school not being Chicago (as I guess in Germany, Chicago still has the image and reputation of being the so-called gangster capital of the world), but I doubt that most modern German children (or anyone, really) would consider the comparisons either logical or worthy of appearing as the title.
• 
  ėglis

  This book is about bullying and this book is disturbing. It's a fiction book, but it reads like a bit exaggerated retelling of real events (mostly because such things can happen and do happen everyday and for some people it's really hard to believe shit like this happens, because „it can happen in Chicago, not here“).
  
  As a work of literature, it would probably work better for readers if it had more plot besides the bullying part and if it had a clearer ending. But that's exactly why this book is such a great account on bullying. It doesn't even try to be an enjoyable read and that's why it disturbs you so much - you are left with a hundred questions (what would you do in this situation? what would you do if it happened to your kid? if you raise your kid to be kind and obedient, is it your fault that he or she is more vulnerable to bullying? how do you teach them to defend themselves? what if your kid is bullying others? how do you know if your kid is lying or telling the truth?) and a feeling that this hell can never end and there's really not much you (or anyone) can do.
  
  It's definitely not a book to enjoy, it's a book to make you think. And hell, it makes you think. And it makes you worry, and it makes you feel helpless and hopeless and powerless and angry and sad. And that's why the book is so good, because it's exactly how you feel when you or a person you care about is bullied for no reason and cannot defend themselves, and that's why this book is being read at schools in Germany, and that's why it's rated so low - because no one wants to feel like that, even if it's only while reading a book.
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  Kadyofbooks

  Wow, ich weiß nicht, was ich von dem Buch halten soll.. Es hat mich sehr sauer gemacht und ich war mehrfach kurz davor, es abzubrechen. Aber genau das soll es meiner Meinung nach auch bei den Lesenden auslösen. Denn diese Betroffenheit und die Beklemmung, die man im Laufe des Buches fühlt ist auch vergleichbar damit, was man als betroffene Person fühlt. Auch, wenn ich immer wieder hoffe, dass so etwas im wahren Leben nicht passieren kann, weiß ich es doch auch besser. Und das ist auch der Grund, warum mich das Buch so mitgenommen hat... Man kann für Betroffene immer nur hoffen, dass sie ein gutes Support-System habe, das ihnen auch glaubt.
  Ein echt schweres Thema, das mich immer wieder ziemlich mitnimmt, wenn ich darüber lese..
  Ich hab in vielen Rezensionen gelesen, dass das Buch eine Schullektüre war und da musste ich einmal ziemlich schlucken, denn als Schullektüre finde ich das Buch nicht so geeignet. Da würde ich mir ein etwas sensibleres Herangehen wünschen und nicht ein Buch, das einem so unverblümt Niklas' Seite zeigt, ohne dass es ein zufriedenstellendes Ende gibt.
• 
  Jangyvee

  My god how I hated having to read this book back in 7th grade. So much that I'm even writing a review about this. It's disturbing, it's obviously written to be discussed with a bunch of 7th graders to talk about mobbing and violence, and it fails miserably at the above because its such an unpleasant experience to read.
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  Gaja

  Nach dem ich das gelesen habe, bin ich auch nicht mehr ganz hier gewesen.
• 
  Jelka

  I'm sorry, but what devil possed Kirsten Boie to write this book? This was the most unpleasent reading experience. And I can't imagine it was fun to write.
  Does this book have some pedagogical value maybe? But then why this ending?
  I can see a lot of teachers reading this with their students, but this book is so disturbing.
• 
  Leni.Spoe

  3,5⭐️
• 
  Giovanna

  Ik heb hier niks op te zeggen🧍‍♀️
• 
  Fürstin der Finsternis

  Sehr einnehmend und aufwühlend.
  Im Rahmen eines Uni-Seminars behandelt und erst nachträglich selbst gelesen.
  Wurde als Schullektüre (im Didaktik-Seminar) aufgeführt und überwiegend positiv als solche vermerkt. Ich bin mir nicht sicher, ob ich da meiner Dozentin und den Kommilitonen zustimmen möchte, auf jeden Fall nicht ohne weitergehende und tiefgreifende Aufarbeitung des Themas mit den Schülerinnen und Schülern. (und teilweise veraltet)
• 
  SwagggerLove

  Męczyłam się czytając "To nie Chicago". Niby cienka, ale jednak dużo czasu jej poświęciłam. Nie było warto. Jestem kompletnie zawiedziona, książka miała omówić problem, ale nie wniosła nic nowego do mojego życia - więcej konsekwencji wyciąga się u mnie w szkole niż przeczytałam w tej pozycji. Nie polecam - strata czasu...
• 
  sonia (adachi lover)

  this book confirmed that i will never read young adult, because the language is too simple and plot is always full of cliches. but i didn’t mind to try german young adult.
  
  in this small story the author highlights a problematic of how dealing with bullying can be so difficult. well, i can say nothing more, i like more complicated stories.
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  Jule

  Das Buch ist nicht per se schlecht, aber einfach zu veraltet dafür, dass es tatsächlich noch immer in Schulen gelesen wird. Zum Thema Mobbing/Jugendgewalt gibt es inzwischen wahrscheinlich (hoffentlich) aktuellere Bücher.
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  Isabelle

  "Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier." ist ein Buch, was ich nicht in der Schule lesen musste, zum Glück, wie ich jetzt sagen kann.
  
  Die Handlung an sich wird authentisch dargestellt und es löst auch genau das aus, was es auslösen soll, aber es hat mich nicht abgeholt.
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  Vytea

  I didn’t really liked this book, it wasn’t catchy.
• 
  Kadri

  Millise näo võib võtta kurjus? Niklase uus klassikaaslane Karl muudab poisi elu põrguks ilma igasuguse põhjuseta. Lihtsalt mõned inimesed naudivat teiste kiusamist. Heast kodust pärit poiss on väljakujunenud psühhopaat ning tema vanemad panevad silmad kinni, et seda mitte näha. Õigusriik ei paku tuge ja abi, sest kõigil on õigused, ka sisemiselt haigetel inimestel. Lisaks on Karl ka võrratu manipulaator, kes suudab teisi enda sõrme ümber mähkida ning jätta mulje, et kannataja on hoopis tema.
• 
  Martine

  Still for uni. Curious to see if it's as bad as a friend told me or not.
  
  No clue what the author thinks a kid would take from this book. Expect that you can get away with being a mobbing douchebag. What a lovely message :/
• 
  Alice

  Ein dünnes buch was sehr schnell spannung auf baut und wieder verliert man wusste genau wie es endet und Aktion Scenen waren leider nur kurz und vorher seh bar,zu dem mochte ich die art des buches mit der vergangenheit und der momentaren situation
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  Little Fairy

  aus diesem buch sollten wir etwas lernen als wir es in der6. klasse waren naja ich fands irgendwie nicht. ich mag diese buch nicht!
• 
  iris

  I did not like this book. There were some okay parts but overall I didn’t like it.
• 
  Aayushi

  Das Buch war mittel gut. wir haben das buch als klasse gelesen.
  i felt like writing german!
• 
  Vanessa

  Das hier ist das schlimmste Buch das ich je gelesen habe.
  War ein Schulbuch in der 6. Klasse.
• 
  Anna

  Boah. Das haben wir nur in der Schule gelesen, voll langweilig, verdient gar keinen stern!