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Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier.
Am Anfang glaubt Niklas kein Mensch. Fast hätte er es selbst nicht für möglich gehalten, daß Karl, der Neue in der Klasse, der ihn nachmittags besucht um gemeinsam Hausaufgaben zu machen, einfach eine CD bei ihm einsteckt -- auch noch eine, die seiner Schwester gehört. Vielleicht ein Versehen?
Beim nächsten Besuch "leiht" sich Karl kurzerhand Vaters CD-ROM Laufwerk. Für Niklas gibt das mächtig Ärger, denn als er zusammen mit seinem Vater bei Karl vor der Tür steht, behauptet dieser felsenfest, Niklas habe ihm das Laufwerk verkauft. Der Vater ist ratlos? Lügt sein Sohn?
Und es kommt noch besser: Karl dreht die Spirale des Terrors weiter -- er bestiehlt Niklas, er tyrannisiert ihn, schlägt ihn zusammen, läßt tagelang das Telefon bei Niklas klingeln ohne sich zu melden. Und Karl ist schlau: Nie gibt es Beweise seiner Ungeheuerlichkeiten. Die Familie von Niklas ist fassungslos: "Kein Mensch ist einfach nur böse. Einfach nur so. Es kann Karl nicht geben."
Kirsten Boies Roman liest man atemlos, man schüttelt den Kopf und weiß sofort, daß ihr Plot nicht phantasievoll ausgedacht, sondern der Realität abgeschaut ist. Sehr feinfühlig und genau beschreibt sie die Hilflosigkeit der Opfer, die solchen Schikanen ausgesetzt sind. Wenn man weiß, daß an deutschen Schulen mindestens eines von zehn Kindern von dieser dreisten Tyrannei der Gewalt betroffen ist, dann wird es höchste Zeit
120 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
About the author
Kirsten Boie
294 books110 followersKirsten Boie was born in Hamburg in 1950. She studied German and English literature and wrote a doctoral thesis on a topic in the field of literary research. She worked as a secondary school teacher in Hamburg from 1978 until 1983. When she adopted a child she had to stop teaching and began to write. Her first book "Paule ist ein Glücksgriff" (1985) was very well received and won several awards.
Since then she has published more than 60 books for children and teens that have been translated into many languages. Special mention must be made of her novels for young adults that critically examine social issues and display literary innovation. In addition to the many awards she has won, her complete works have been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award three times (in 1999, 2001 and 2003).
Kirsten Boie lives with her family near Hamburg.
Since then she has published more than 60 books for children and teens that have been translated into many languages. Special mention must be made of her novels for young adults that critically examine social issues and display literary innovation. In addition to the many awards she has won, her complete works have been nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award three times (in 1999, 2001 and 2003).
Kirsten Boie lives with her family near Hamburg.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews
April 29, 2017
Kirsten Boie's 1999 young adult novel Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. (Not Chicago. Not Here. would be the title in English) is for all intents and purposes a very much controversial story. And indeed, that MOST of the online reviews I have read regarding Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. are negative and often even quite vehemently so, this in my opinion proves this point, but also makes me personally think that it is mostly and likely politicians, caregivers, parents, teachers etc. (in other words adults and actually not the intended audiences) who have the tendency to take umbrage at and freak out regarding Boie's relevant topic of abuse and bullying and that Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. does not have a happily ever after, but a rather hopeless and very much open ending, considering this all difficult to digest and to accept (and as suitable reading material), albeit with regard to bullying and the results, the consequences of the same, Kirsten Boie does indeed textually paint a devastating portrait with and in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. (but sadly also seemingly one that many of us still do not and cannot readily accept and consider as being realistic and something that should not be hidden away and ignored).
So did I actually enjoy reading Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier.? No, to be perfectly truthful and honest, I did not much if at all enjoy Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier, as what Kirsten Boie narrationally presents has been a personally painful and in many ways horrifying reading experience, but that Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. nevertheless was and remains a reading experience I for one do indeed massively appreciate for its realism, for its courage and that quite frankly, I also wish that more writers for children would be as brave as Boie has been (is being) 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).
Now the main protagonist of Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier., thirteen year old Niklas, faces constant, unrelenting harassment and ever increasing nastiness from Karl (from the new boy in class), whose original emotional coldness and unfriendliness towards Niklas soon become both verbally abusive and even physically violent. And at first, Niklas is much too afraid to confide in anyone, since Karl seems popular (or rather increasingly popular) and Niklas is thus (and unfortunately with some justification as well) 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 is shown by Kirsten Boie as trying in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. (from trying to be friendly towards Karl to ignoring him and his cohorts) fail miserably (and actually even increase the campaign of terror against Niklas, embolden Karl and make him even more vicious). But when Niklas finally realises that he has to speak out, to his surprise and consternation, his parents at first categorically refuse to believe that Karl is as cruel and as violent as Niklas is claiming (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 happening in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. as trifles and as unremarkable, unproblematic cases of school-yard roughhousing).
A tragic and yes, massively painful tale (with as already mentioned, an ending that while a bit open ended, does also 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. and Kirsten Boie's presented text do indeed and thankfully confront the all important issue of bullying/mobbing, 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 that not being believed is actually often just the tip of the iceberg).
But indeed and as already mentioned, albeit I did not find much if any reading pleasure and entertainment value in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier., I am still giving Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. a solidly four star rating, as what Boie has penned is NOT really a story to be enjoyed (is not something to entertain), but features a slice of terrifying and dangerous school reality to be meticulously read, discussed and debated by the intended audience (children, or rather teenagers above the age of twelve or thirteen onwards) and also with their teachers, parents etc. And as such, I do in fact highly recommend Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. (but with the additional caveat that Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. is penned 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 in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier., of 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).
Finally, I do have to say that as much as I appreciate the novel and Kirsten Boie's penmanship, the book title (Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier.) is rather 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 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 book title.
So did I actually enjoy reading Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier.? No, to be perfectly truthful and honest, I did not much if at all enjoy Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier, as what Kirsten Boie narrationally presents has been a personally painful and in many ways horrifying reading experience, but that Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. nevertheless was and remains a reading experience I for one do indeed massively appreciate for its realism, for its courage and that quite frankly, I also wish that more writers for children would be as brave as Boie has been (is being) 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).
Now the main protagonist of Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier., thirteen year old Niklas, faces constant, unrelenting harassment and ever increasing nastiness from Karl (from the new boy in class), whose original emotional coldness and unfriendliness towards Niklas soon become both verbally abusive and even physically violent. And at first, Niklas is much too afraid to confide in anyone, since Karl seems popular (or rather increasingly popular) and Niklas is thus (and unfortunately with some justification as well) 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 is shown by Kirsten Boie as trying in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. (from trying to be friendly towards Karl to ignoring him and his cohorts) fail miserably (and actually even increase the campaign of terror against Niklas, embolden Karl and make him even more vicious). But when Niklas finally realises that he has to speak out, to his surprise and consternation, his parents at first categorically refuse to believe that Karl is as cruel and as violent as Niklas is claiming (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 happening in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. as trifles and as unremarkable, unproblematic cases of school-yard roughhousing).
A tragic and yes, massively painful tale (with as already mentioned, an ending that while a bit open ended, does also 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. and Kirsten Boie's presented text do indeed and thankfully confront the all important issue of bullying/mobbing, 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 that not being believed is actually often just the tip of the iceberg).
But indeed and as already mentioned, albeit I did not find much if any reading pleasure and entertainment value in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier., I am still giving Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. a solidly four star rating, as what Boie has penned is NOT really a story to be enjoyed (is not something to entertain), but features a slice of terrifying and dangerous school reality to be meticulously read, discussed and debated by the intended audience (children, or rather teenagers above the age of twelve or thirteen onwards) and also with their teachers, parents etc. And as such, I do in fact highly recommend Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. (but with the additional caveat that Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier. is penned 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 in Nicht Chicago. Nicht Hier., of 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).
Finally, I do have to say that as much as I appreciate the novel and Kirsten Boie's penmanship, the book title (Nicht Chicago. Nicht hier.) is rather 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 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 book title.
March 22, 2018
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.
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.
March 28, 2013
Dieses Buch war in der siebten Klasse Schullektüre (als ich elf/zwölf war) und ich hatte, schon lange vor der Mitte des Buches, einfach nur noch Angst davor. Meine Mutter musste es für mich fertig lesen und mir das Ende erzählen, damit ich mich traute, das auch selbst zu tun.
Ich weiß nicht mehr wie es ausgeht, aber der Titel scheint mir das Stoßgebet der Mutter zu sein, dass "das böse Chicago" doch nicht tatsächlich auch vor ihrer Haustür liegen kann; dass es doch nicht wahr sein kann, dass "das Böse" ihr Familienleben beeinflusst. Obwohl Chicago selbst nach meiner Erinnerung nicht ein einziges Mal erwähnt wird.
Kurz gesagt: Dieses Buch hat mich damals 1. veränstigt und 2. verstört.
Ich weiß nicht mehr wie es ausgeht, aber der Titel scheint mir das Stoßgebet der Mutter zu sein, dass "das böse Chicago" doch nicht tatsächlich auch vor ihrer Haustür liegen kann; dass es doch nicht wahr sein kann, dass "das Böse" ihr Familienleben beeinflusst. Obwohl Chicago selbst nach meiner Erinnerung nicht ein einziges Mal erwähnt wird.
Kurz gesagt: Dieses Buch hat mich damals 1. veränstigt und 2. verstört.
April 23, 2023
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.
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.
August 14, 2019
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.
June 24, 2023
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.
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.
January 8, 2022
Nach dem ich das gelesen habe, bin ich auch nicht mehr ganz hier gewesen.
December 20, 2022
Ik heb hier niks op te zeggen🧍♀️
May 28, 2026
Wat voorn feverdreams zijn duits boeken
Read
August 29, 2020Sehr 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)
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)
January 8, 2022
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...
December 30, 2023
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.
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.
June 3, 2018
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.
March 4, 2023
Es war sehr kurz und leider deswegen auch ein wenig unvollständig aber im großen und ganzen versteht man gut das Thema und die Problematik mit der sich dieses Buch befasst. Es war leicht und verständlich und dazu auch spannend, auch wenn mir persönlich gewisse Details oder eine Fortsetzung fehlten.
September 3, 2023
"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.
Die Handlung an sich wird authentisch dargestellt und es löst auch genau das aus, was es auslösen soll, aber es hat mich nicht abgeholt.
July 16, 2021
geeignet für Jugendliche, die Interesse in Kriminalität und Jugendprobleme haben
April 28, 2023
I didn’t really liked this book, it wasn’t catchy.
Read
August 20, 2025Trotz wichtigem Thema verstörend und werde ich mit den 6ern nicht lesen 🥲
November 17, 2025
reread the book sometime last year and i dont know how to explain it but it was really interesting for me
October 16, 2020
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.
May 18, 2012
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 :/
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 :/
September 2, 2013
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
October 7, 2011
aus diesem buch sollten wir etwas lernen als wir es in der6. klasse waren naja ich fands irgendwie nicht. ich mag diese buch nicht!
June 22, 2021
Schlimmes Buch. Ich mag Kirsten Boie total gerne
January 11, 2022
I did not like this book. There were some okay parts but overall I didn’t like it.
March 13, 2009
Das Buch war mittel gut. wir haben das buch als klasse gelesen.
i felt like writing german!
i felt like writing german!
October 8, 2011
Das hier ist das schlimmste Buch das ich je gelesen habe.
War ein Schulbuch in der 6. Klasse.
War ein Schulbuch in der 6. Klasse.
Read
October 23, 2011Boah. Das haben wir nur in der Schule gelesen, voll langweilig, verdient gar keinen stern!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 30 reviews