According to the Luts Museum in Tartu, which is opening an exhibition devoted to the nostalgic novel, the  publication notice was posted in Postimees on November 5, 1912, and reported that the book had been printed at Luts's own expense and that it was on sale at the Postimees bookstore on Rüütli street in Tartu. It retailed for 60 kopecks, which in those days could buy 10 loaves of bread or half a kilogram of butter.

The work, detailing scenes from school days in early adolescence, has today gone through 21 editions. The obvious comparison for English language readers is Tom Sawyer, and the Luts book also features a mischievous antihero, Toots.   

It was first produced for the stage in 1937. Fourteen other productions followed, including a ballet and musical.

A movie version was picked the country's most popular film in a public poll earlier this year.

It has been translated into nine languages. Aino Jõgi and Melanie Rauk's 1983 translation remains the only English one to date.