Max and Jonah lernen sich mitten in der Pandemie kennen. Wie schwer es ist, zusammenzuführen und welche Abstriche Jugendliche in dieser Zeit machen mussten, wird realistisch dargestellt. Für meinen Geschmack gab es vielleicht zu viele Handlungsstränge, die dadurch teilweise nur oberflächlich beleuchtet wurden (stepmom, anxiety, Arlo, moving houses, dad in Spain, mum's death, so it's quite packed...) Ein Jugendbuch, das trotz seines realistischen Plots trotzdem Hoffnung macht, dass alles gut wird: "Max, if there's one thing I was born to do, it's to spread happiness is flannel waterfowl " (p. 228)

It really couldn't cut it for me. It sort of frames the pandemic but not in a way that feels right to me. Also, Jonah is a really annoying character and the whole side story of Arlo isn't thought through. It comes together somewhat nicely in the end but doesn't make up for the rest. In conclusion: The author seems to desperately want to transfer the whole Corona atmosphere but fails at it. Maybe due to the length of the book.