Karl from the TV

The Austrian writer Christine Nistlinger masterfully combines imagination with the problems of modern children.
Twelve -year -old Anton feels lonely. Parents are busy with themselves, constantly find out the relationship and do not even remember about the birthday of their son. Their level of hostility to each other goes off scale. Contact with his own son is completely absent. Nobody communicates at school with Anton either, and the teacher completely calls him an “outsider”, that is, strangers, superfluous. The only person who understands and loves Anton is his grandmother. But she lives in another city, and they are not seen often.
The boy keeps a diary from which the reader learns about his gloomy life.
Fortunately, Anton accidentally met Karl - a man living on a TV. Their friendship fundamentally changed the life of a teenager. Karl turned out to be an amazingly interesting and attractive person. This is quite an adult uncle. He is kind and attentive, knows many languages, helps Anton with his studies, gives him tactful tips on what to do in this or that case. When troubles fall on Anton twice, Karl, without hesitation, leaves his television with a television way to help the boy, although the transition to the habitat of people is fraught with not only loss of height and weight, but even life.
The book is read easily, with an increase from page to page with interest - up to a paradoxical finale. All the events described literally appeal to the joint reading and comprehension of what happened by parents and children. Yes, modern children do not stick to TV screens, but to iPhones and iPads, but many of them probably lead the same as Anton, “stained” life from loneliness and misunderstanding from relatives.
The book was perfectly translated by Pavel Frenkel, sensitive to adolescence, who personally knew Christina Nodelinger and subtly feels her texts.
It is recommended for middle -aged schoolchildren, as well as their parents