When an AI seeks out young people as victims
2.12.2024
Translation: machine translated
I'm looking for reading material for my daughter. To do this, I looked at the current bestsellers in children's and young adult literature in Switzerland and Germany. There are an incredible number of series, but also some books that are completely unknown to me that sound exciting - and my favourite classic is also included.
If my family doesn't have anything planned for a Sunday, we plan something anyway. Just in the comfort of our own home. Then we add things to the to-do list like: Playing board or card games, making music, playing Mario Jamboree (or Mario Kart ...), cooking together - and always a reading hour. We make ourselves comfortable in the children's room, on the balcony (less so at the moment) or in the living room and everyone reads their book, perhaps with a cup of tea. Mum, dad and daughter (9 ¾).
Ergo, we're all always on the lookout for the next book, because of course we don't just read during those rare Sunday reading sessions, but actually every day. If your family and especially your children are similarly inclined, then you might be interested in the following list. For the next round of Christmas gift inspiration, I'm compiling a selection of the children's and young adult bestseller list from Switzerland, from the Swiss Booksellers and Publishers Association, and from Germany, from the Spiegel bestseller list.
I specifically ignore books from series because:
But: If you are looking for book series for your children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews or godchildren, you will definitely find what you are looking for.
If you're looking for something to read yourself or to give as a gift, you might find something here:
Bestselling children's books
The little smart arse by Marc-Uwe Kling
Marc-Uwe Kling made a name for himself with the Kangaroo Chronicles and the NEINhorn, the third volume of which is also presented below. Things are just as anarchic in the Theufel family home as they are in these stories. Because it's not just the parents and both children who are literally smart arseholes, there's also a real smart arsehole living in the attic.
Recommended for ages 6 and up
Biscuit Crumbs in Space by Dagmar and Heino Falcke
Children's books
Biscuit crumbs in space. How big is infinity?
German, Heino Falcke, Dagmar Falcke, 2024
If there's one thing parents love most, it's their children's existential questions. "Why is the banana crooked?" for example. Or "How big is the sky?". Jana, known as Kekskrümel (because that's how small she feels), asks her father this last question. Luckily, he is an astrophysicist - just like the author Heino Falcke, by the way - and can answer this and all other questions about the universe for Jana.
Recommended for ages 5 and up
Happy Winter Night by Lorenz Pauli
Things get wild here. When the big (dangerous?) bear finally goes into hibernation, first a little mouse and later a squirrel, a woodpecker and a badger make themselves comfortable in the warm, soft fur. Cosy quickly turns into fun and a veritable animal party - until the bear wakes up ...
Recommended for ages 3 and up
The NEINhorn and the birthday of Marc-Uwe Kling
As mentioned above: Das NEINhorn is one of Marc-Uwe Kling's best-known creations - and this is already the third book (one before the series ...). As usual, things get chaotic between NEINhorn, KönigsDOCHter, WASbär and the other friends when a birthday party is coming up.
Recommended for ages 3 and up
Why not? A story about discovering our bright sparkling possibilities by Kobi Yamada
Children's books
Why not? - A story about discovering our brightly sparkling possibilities
German, Kobi Yamada, Gabriella Barouch, 2024
Little text, lots of pictures and therefore a lot of message. That's what Kobi Yamada's book conveys. Why not be amazed? Why not make the world a better place? Why not dream? Rather than telling a story, Yamada turns readers young and old into the protagonists and gives them ideas, inspiration and courage for life.
Recommended for ages 4 and up
You must be crazy by Kai Pannen
Kai Pannen has created an Advent evergreen. First published in 2015, "Du spinnst wohl" appears in the bestseller lists every year before the Advent season. On 1 December, spider Karl-Heinz catches Bisy the fly, who is to become his Christmas feast. For 24 days, Bisy does everything she can to get on the spider's nerves so much that he releases her again.
Recommended for ages 5 and up
Bestselling books for young people
A spark of time - A date with Mr Darcy by Kira Licht
The German author aims for the hearts of her young readers. This is also the case in the second part of "A spark of time". If you haven't read part one, you should do so before jumping into "A date with Mr Darcy", because the story picks up seamlessly where part one ended. A romantic time travel fantasy novel.
Recommended for ages 14 and up
The reappearance of Rachel Price by Holly Jackson
Fiction
The Reappearance of Rachel Price (German edition)
German, Holly Jackson, Sabine Schilasky, 2024
The British author is known for her "A good girls guide to murder" series, which was made into a film and can currently be found in the ZDFMediathek. "The reappearance of Rachel Price" is Jackson's most recent work. In it, a woman who disappeared 16 years ago, Rachel Price, suddenly reappears during the filming of a true crime documentary about her case. Daughter Bel's world is turned upside down.
Recommended for ages 14 and up
Erebos by Ursula Poznanski
"Erebos" was published in 2011. The fact that it has now climbed the bestseller lists again is probably due to the novel's highly topical mix of themes: Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Play Games, MMORPG for short, artificial intelligence and the question of who is actually in control when dealing with it, the player or the game.
Recommended for ages 14 and up
Wolf by Saša Stanišić
The multi-award-winning author Saša Stanišić has written his first book for young people, "Wolf". In "Wolf", he deals with bullying, friendship, empathy and puberty. At the centre of the story are Jörg, a victim of bullying and exclusion, and Kemi, who initially observes the events from the outside until he overcomes his fear, the symbolic wolf, and takes action.
Recommended for ages 10 and up
A thousand heartbeats - The call of destiny by Kiera Cass
Children's books
One A thousand heartbeats - The call of destiny
German, Kiera Cass, Cherokee Moon Agnew, 2024
Author Kiera Cass does in "A thousand hearbeats" what she has always done and does best: Fantasy meets RomCom. A princess and a simple soldier, who couldn't be more different, fall in love against all odds and have to overcome all kinds of obstacles to - perhaps (?) - find their happy ending in the end.
Recommended for ages 14 and up
The Neverending Story by Michael Ende
My personal highlight. In my opinion, "The Neverending Story" is one of the greatest books ever. I read Michael Ende's story about Bastian Balthasar Bux, Atreyu, the Childlike Empress and the attempt to save Fantasia every three to four years. Apparently I'm not alone in my enthusiasm, as the book, which was published in 1979, is currently back in the top 10 of the bestseller list for young people.
Header image: Photomontage: Oliver Fischer
Oliver Fischer
Teamleader Editorial
Oliver.Fischer@digitecgalaxus.chGlobetrotter, hiker, wok world champion (not in the ice channel), word acrobat and photo enthusiast.