German / Germany
Spion Nr. 9 und die Kunst, nicht aufzufallen
(Spy No. 9 and the art of not attracting attention)
Manow, Jona
(text)
Dürr, Julia
(illus.)
München: Mixtvision, [2025]. – 168 p.
ISBN 978-3-95854-251-8
Alien | Observation | Neurodivergence
Reading age: 10+
White Ravens issue: 2026
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. [IG]