Lifeguard without sky

A gentle novel about life, death and friendship

Linda is fifteen. She has a traumatic childhood behind her and no promising prospects ahead. She sees her way out vividly: to end her life with a spectacular jump in front of a car. But there are people around her who make her hesitate to carry out her plan—her mum, Kevin, and Hubert. Kevin is Linda's only friend, a thirteen-year-old brainiac who is deeply convinced that the world is on the brink of collapse because of the indifference of adults towards climate change. Hubert is a retired lifeguard of advanced age who barely leaves his flat and persistently waits for his long-dead wife. Linda spends three afternoons a week with Hubert to give his carer a break, dealing with his progressing dementia with sensitivity and humour. Sometimes she's more successful, other times less so. Trivial things turn into heated dramas. And then, quite unexpectedly, Linda's plan almost comes to fruition, and life takes a completely different turn. But what if Linda has since changed her mind about death?

A tender story with a balanced combination of melancholy and humour, and on top of that, a splendidly crafted conclusion.
— Ewald Arenz

Petra Pellini has managed to season the novel with humour from real life in such a way that it will draw you in, make you laugh and make you cry.
— NDR

It is truly remarkable with what effortless elegance Petra Pellini transforms her story into a firework display of empathy and imagination.
— Tagesspiegel.de

A fresh and radiant book, imbued with a fragile joy and witty dialogues that make you smile inwardly.
— Stern