Molly is twelve years old and is moving in with her new foster parents. She has lived in several foster homes before, but it has never gone particularly well. Molly knows that this is her last chance, and she wants to do everything to make it work this time. But her past keeps coming back, making it more difficult than she thought to start afresh with a new family, new friends and a new school.

We follow Truls and Molly, each from their own point of view. Both are driven by love and fear. Both must confront their fear of exclusion and betrayal in order to be able to trust their love of themselves and the world. They have each learnt their own survival strategy shaped by the environment from which they came.

This is a book about identity. Two twelve-year-olds finding out who they are.

Stikk! is about daring to trust and to love yourself and others.

The book is based on a TV series shown by NRK in the autumn of 2011. The TV series was nominated for the French Prix Jeunesse.

‘Stikk! is an excellent novel… it is tremendously entertaining, well-written, and explores interesting problems, such as how to help those who don’t want help.’
Barnebokkritikk.no

‘...I became so consumed with the story that I had difficulty taking a break from reading. … I have read quite a few young adults novels throughout my life, in recent years too. Morten Hovland’s Stikk! is one of the best.’
Gudbrandsdølen Dagningen

‘… Hovland creates a young adults novel that moves you – and opens up for a great emotional registry – yes, as a matter of fact, emotions so strong that tears are forcing their way out. Stikk! takes a difficult youth seriously, and deserves attention.’
Gjengangeren

‘… the story about the two youngsters’ difficult lives will quite certainly grab young readers. … The story has kept the tight, scenic composition, where the dramatic peaks come fast.’
Dagbladet