Maikäfer flieg!

"Maybug, fly!" is a moving youth novel by Christine Nöstlinger set in the final days of World War II. The story follows nine-year-old Christine, who loses her home in Vienna during a bombing raid. Together with her mother, she finds refuge in a villa on the outskirts of the city. The return of her father as a deserter brings additional challenges, as he must hide. Amidst this turbulent time, Christine develops a friendship with the soldier cook Cohn, which serves as a symbol of humanity and hope in a world marked by war and suffering. Nöstlinger skillfully portrays the perspective of a child in an extreme situation, illuminating themes of friendship, loss, and survival.