Asche is young. Though he dreams of a future, he doesn't really do anything about it. He hangs around on the street with Kalle and Bodo or sits in front of the television. Eventually he finds himself caught up in a spiral of violence and dependence and drags his parents down with him as well as Sonja, the girl he loves.

With a great sense of humour and reality, Into the desert (Tot in de woestijn) illustrates how a lack of structure makes the young Asche a hanger-on. Written by author Jean-Michel Räber in 2006, Bis in die Wüste has won a number of prizes.