THE LOVE LIFE OF MOON BIRDS by Elias Wagner

Original German title: Vom Liebesleben der Mondvögel

Max is fifteen, lives with his father on Lake Starnberg, and is far more interested in butterflies and beetles than in girls.

At the beginning of the summer holidays, his life becomes more than he can handle. Since his mother disappeared, nothing has been the same for Max. He buries himself in his book, Wonderful Insects, or retreats to the ‘Island of the Blessed’ in the lake. But at the beginning of the summer holidays, urgent problems force him to face up to life. His best friend wants to win the favour of the class beauty and makes Max the accomplice of a crazy plan. Most of all, Max is worried about his architect father, who has recently been painting over his wife’s artworks in fits of mania.

There’s nothing for it – if he is to find peace again, Max is going to have to disturb a closely guarded family taboo.