A touching novel about the immense hardship of a growing schoolboy. Thirteen-year-old Grégoire doesn't like school, he doesn't feel accepted there, he has no friends and he is very unhappy. He only feels good in his grandfather's workshop, among the tools, when he creates something new, repairs it. Just as Grégoire is disappointed with school, his father and mother are disappointed with his failure. Their family is not happy, and not only because of Grégoire's grades. Fortunately, the boy has a grandfather who can see him for who he is: sensitive, kind-hearted and skilled with his hands. He helps Grégoire come to terms with what he wants in life and what truly makes him happy, and how to find the right path for himself.
This short but important novel was written by the popular French writer Anna Gavalda (1970). As a former teacher, she paid tribute to her students "who were stupid at school but were actually wonderful people." A book that reminds us that academic achievements are not the only measure of success in life. (taken from emka.si)