STUXX

Stefan Uwe Max – she had turned it into “Stuxx”,  ‘the woman who was his mother’. She ran away four years ago, and Stuxx has no idea why and no longer wants to know. Since then, his father has been taking care of him and his little sister on his own. Without the always cheerful Lila, there would be little sunshine in the small flat.

Will Gmehling’s hero is almost 14 and he is at odds with himself and the world. Because he has to share a few measly square metres with a little girl, he rides his junk bike for hours through the dreary neighbourhood. He has no friends and school bores him. What he likes – cool old cars – leaves the others cold. And he finds himself unattractive, even though he would so much like to be desirable, because Stuxx is in love! As if by itself, his bike rides into the street where Luzie Karsunke lives.
And then suddenly a lot happens at once when Stuxx – sometimes voluntarily, sometimes involuntarily – gives up his old role as an observer, becomes active and realises that he is being seen. By someone in his class whom he likes. And then: by Luzie Karsunke!

With Stuxx, Will Gmehling has created a touching young character who is defined by the experience of being abandoned and by a longing for closeness, love and reconciliation with himself and the world.