Thirteen

Thirteen years old—and already the leader of a gang of street kids. Jorn knows only the night, the dilapidated train station as his refuge, and the harsh logic of the ghetto. By his side: Nala, who seems stronger than she feels; Boris, who silently hides his wounds; and Rosita, who holds the group together with a sharp tongue and even sharper courage. What begins as a dare and a petty theft quickly spirals into a cycle of power, fear, and false freedom. Amidst stolen mopeds, gangs, secret longings, and the bruises of everyday family life, the four learn how thin the line between unity and disintegration can be. Love, loyalty, and betrayal lie close together—and every decision comes at a price. "Thirteen" is an uncompromising, gritty, and emotional novel about childhood on the edge: about the hunger for recognition, about friendships that are stronger than any family—and about the truth that teenagers experience when they are forced to grow up too soon.

Thirteen years old—and already the leader of a gang of street kids. Jorn knows only the night, the dilapidated train station as his refuge, and the harsh logic of the ghetto. By his side: Nala, who seems stronger than she feels; Boris, who silently hides his wounds; and Rosita, who holds the group together with a sharp tongue and even sharper courage. What begins as a dare and a petty theft quickly spirals into a cycle of power, fear, and false freedom. Amidst stolen mopeds, gangs, secret longings, and the bruises of everyday family life, the four learn how thin the line between unity and disintegration can be. Love, loyalty, and betrayal lie close together—and every decision comes at a price. "Thirteen" is an uncompromising, gritty, and emotional novel about childhood on the edge: about the hunger for recognition, about friendships that are stronger than any family—and about the truth that teenagers experience when they are forced to grow up too soon.