Literature from Germany
Books for young readers

Young adult literature has seen a remarkable surge in popularity in Germany, a trend that began during the pandemic. Young readers are sharing their reading experiences on social media, which is driving growth further. We take a look at the most popular genres in young adult fiction today.
 

By Roswitha Budeus-Budde

For a number of years, young readers have been stimulating growth in the book market. The “young adult” and “new adult” genres with their dark romance, romantic and fantasy titles are particularly popular. To cater to the demand, some young adult book publishers have even created imprints – secondary brands dedicated exclusively to these genres.

Forerunners of this trend were Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series and Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games. But the hype really gained momentum during the coronavirus pandemic, when social media became a vital channel for young people to connect over literature. Under the hashtag #BookTok on the TikTok app, a powerful online community for book recommendations emerged. Lovelybooks, a social network for literature enthusiasts, owned by a subsidiary of Hugendubel Medien since 2021, also experienced significant growth. Platforms like these enable readers to engage with a peer group, discuss popular new publications and even take on the role of critics or authors themselves.

Enemies-to-lovers

The “enemies-to-lovers” trope is a particularly popular theme in these novels. Despite all the challenges faced by the protagonists, a happy ending is almost always guaranteed. In her new fantasy novel, Moonlight Academy, author Julia Kuhn tells a tale set in the mystical world of Irish fairies. Elanor and Elijah’s love is destroyed by an ancient prophecy and a long-standing feud between their families. Reunited at the “Moonlight Academy”, they are forced to fight a dramatic battle – not just for their future together but also for the survival of their school.

In Mechthild Gläser’s Jane and the Secrets of Branwell Hall, 18-year-old Jane leaves Germany to live in her late Irish grandmother’s cottage, only to find herself entangled in the dangerous and mysterious world of the magical Fae. Their sinister influence threatens not only Jane but also the Branwell family, where she works as an au pair. To protect the family’s captivating adult son and his young sister from a dark fate – and from vanishing into the fairy world forever – Jane has to rely on her own magical abilities.

Both books fall under the young adult book category, typically recommended for readers aged 13 and over. Like most fantasy novels, they will quickly attract a devoted fan base. New adult literature, on the other hand, targets slightly older readers, and the characters are often navigating the early stages of adulthood. Here too, the search for true love is a key theme, but the explicit sexual content characteristic of this genre’s narrative style has drawn growing criticism from adult literary mediators.

All-age literature and literary fiction

Bookstores have responded to the wave of new teen customers with special displays and dedicated reading spaces – the German government has even come up with a financial gift. Since 2022, the Minister of State for Culture Claudia Roth has awarded an annual culture pass to all young people turning 18, initially worth 200 euros, currently 100 euros. Experience in bookstores shows that young readers often browse other all-age titles while shopping, which leads to them discovering more sophisticated literature.

One example is Lena Hach’s young adult novel Sweet-Salty Popcorn, which offers a refreshing take on the classic theme of jealousy, blending quirky romance with a satirical look at the light fiction business. The story revolves around 15-year-old Ruby, whose mother is a successful writer of bestselling books published under different pseudonyms – erotic historical novels, crime thrillers full of steamy sex scenes and hospital dramas with even more sex. Facing a creative crisis, Ruby’s mother decides to base her next book on the real lives of teenagers, secretly using Ruby’s weird fake dating scenario as inspiration. Alongside engaging dialogues, the young female readers – sometimes aspiring writers themselves – enjoy insights into “tropes”, “fake dating” and “stuck together”.

In Fucking Fucking Schön, Eva Rottmann captivates readers with an unconventional literary style, using raw, direct teenage slang to explore the complexities of young love. Through ten unique encounters, the young characters experience love and desire as a challenge, source of joy, frustration or even danger. The stories are interspersed with brief interludes that address questions about sexuality and love – openly and free of taboos and romantic idealisation.

For Ina, the central character in Alexandra Helmig’s beat vor der eins, growing up is so overwhelming that she can only express it in fragmented, free verse poetry. Her emotional crises and the struggles of growing up in a home devoid of support and security are further intensified by experiences of abusive sex. With the rawness and intensity of a poetry slam, Ina channels her pain into her writing, determined to find a way out.

Suspense and dramatic heroes

Other young adult novels focus less on emotions than on unexpected challenges and dramatic moments that push protagonists to their limits.

In the gripping plot of Scandor, Ursula Poznanski turns the world of a battle royale-style computer game into reality. The company VeriTech is looking for participants to try out its new lie detector test Scandor. Whoever manages to survive a set time without lying will receive a prize worth five million euros. At the centre of the story are two teens who soon realise that it’s not just about avoiding lies but about confronting their true thoughts and feelings. A psychological thriller full of unexpected twists and turns, Scandor shows that humanity and compassion can ultimately triumph over greed and cruelty.

Filiz Penzkofer’s Berlin Weirdos. Or How I Broke the Chain of Crappiness tackles complex themes and marks the transition to literary fiction. The novel centres on three teenagers who live together in a supervised housing project in central Berlin. There’s Musti, a Syrian refugee who’s learning peculiar German from a dusty old book, Queen Tiger, who sells “black magic from a voodoo priestess” on eBay classifieds and Rabea, who mimics birds to overcome her panic attacks. When their landlady suddenly falls down dead in their apartment, the trio realise they must get rid of the body, fearing no one will believe their innocence. Their wild escape through the city is full of absurdly grotesque scenes that offer a distorted yet insightful picture of German society. Ultimately, their newly discovered camaraderie and mutual understanding play a crucial role as they strive to break free from the “the crappiness” of their lives.