Spy No. 9 and the Art of Not Being Noticed

“This debut novel by theatre director and playwright Jona Manow is quirky, humorous, and heart-warming. At the centre of the story is reserved eleven-year-old Estrich, who is constantly counting to nine. Nine is his favourite number because he is convinced that he has been sent to Earth from planet Okosha as »Spy No. 9« to document human behaviour in detail. Estrich records his observations and the resulting reflections in his logbook, which he hides in a secret place at school. When it suddenly disappears and various weird things occur, Estrich is certain that some other spies from his home planet must be on Earth. Frenetically, he hatches plans about how to get in touch with them without having to reveal too much about himself. Told without even a hint of paternalism, the novel skilfully allows readers to share in Estrich’s way of seeing the world: sensitive, imaginative, and clever.” – White Raven 2026 

“The unconventional protagonist, Estrick, asks many questions—of himself, of those around him, and ultimately of the readers. How did his swimsuit end up on the teacher’s desk? What are the best things in life? And what color jersey should he choose for roller hockey? For his team, this is a question of gender identity; for Estrick—originally Esther—there are no logical answers to such questions.
As Alien Spy No. 9, he is on a secret mission. He is firmly convinced that he must analyze humanity and meticulously documents his findings in a logbook hidden in the school restroom. When the logbook is stolen, a blackmail letter appears, and a classmate goes missing, Estrick’s already fragile world is thrown into disarray.
Jona Manow depicts the everyday life and adventures of a neurodivergent child in an innovative, unconventional, first-person narrative style. With great empathy and a natural ease, he highlights Estrick’s uniqueness, thereby fostering understanding of his perceptions and needs. The lively dialogues immediately draw readers into the action and hint at Manow’s experience as a theater director.” – The Jury of the German Children’s Literature Award

“With Estrick, Manow has created an extraordinary character who guides readers through the plot in a way that is both humorous and touching. From the perspective of a neurodiverse boy, the novel unfolds an exciting and profound quest for belonging, self-understanding, and one’s own place in an environment whose rules often seem puzzling. The novel’s special quality lies in its consistent internal point of view: The world is experienced through Estrick’s perception. His questions, his idiosyncratic systems of organization, and his habit of counting things in increments of nine shape the narrative just as much as his sense of not living up to societal expectations. In a compelling way, the book shows that neurodiversity need not be understood as a deficit, but rather as a special gift for perceiving the world.” – The Jury of the Korbinian Paul Maar Award

“With great sensitivity and subtle humor, Jona Manow explores neurodiversity without reducing his main character to diagnostic categories. Estrick is a headstrong, multifaceted, and endearing character. Manow has thus created a novel that not only entertains but also broadens his readers’ perspectives. In a striking way, the book shows that neurodiversity need not be understood as a deficit, but rather as a special gift for perceiving the world. In doing so, *Estrick* enriches children’s literature with a voice that is unmistakable and resonates long after reading.” – The president of the German Academy for Children’s and Young Adult Literature, Dr. Claudia Maria Pecher 

“A funny debut about friendship, the mysteries of everyday life and the big question of where you actually belong.” – 7 Best Books for Young Readers, Deutschlandfunk

“In literary terms, this is the absolute highlight of our list!” – Michael Schmitt, as part of the ‘7 Best 7’ (Deutschlandfunk Kultur)

“A plea for individuality and uniqueness!” – Mirjam Dauber, Eselsohr

“