German doesnāt currently have any book clubs in the forums, so letās change that!
As a book club for beginners, we would probably be reading fiction up to about L26. Since German Natively is still in beta, there arenāt many books that have a non-temporary level, but generally most childrenās books should fall into this level, as well as easier YA and perhaps even some novels aimed at adults.
Copy and paste the text below into a reply, and fill out the information for your nomination.
Cover image (optional)
**Title**: Put the Natively link here.
**Book type**: (novel, children's book, etc)
**Available formats**: physical / ebook / audiobook (delete as appropriate)
[details="Summary - German"]
Copy and paste the German summary from whichever source you prefer.
[/details]
[details="Summary - English"]
There may be an English summary on the Natively page; if not, you can use a machine translator like DeepL or Google Translate.
[/details]
[details="Content Warnings"]
If you know whether the book contains adult content or potentially triggering topics, include the information here.
[/details]
**Reason(s) for nominating:** Share the reason you are nominating this book - it might persuade others to vote for it!
Poll
The number of German learners on Natively is still quite small, but hopefully we can gather a handful of people and start reading together.
I would definitely join as well!
But not as learner, since I am a native speaker. But I would like to help everyone who wants to learn the language
I am not sure whether I should vote in the poll anyways?
Since there are already a number of people showing interest, letās open up the nominations!
Nomination Template
Copy and paste the text below into a reply, and fill out the information for your nomination.
Cover image (optional)
**Title**: Put the Natively link here.
**Book type**: (novel, children's book, etc)
**Available formats**: physical / ebook / audiobook (delete as appropriate)
[details="Summary - German"]
Copy and paste the German summary from whichever source you prefer.
[/details]
[details="Summary - English"]
There may be an English summary on the Natively page; if not, you can use a machine translator like DeepL or Google Translate.
[/details]
[details="Content Warnings"]
If you know whether the book contains adult content or potentially triggering topics, include the information here.
[/details]
**Reason(s) for nominating:** Share the reason you are nominating this book - it might persuade others to vote for it!
Zwei Jungs. Ein geknackter Lada. Eine Reise voller Umwege durch ein unbekanntes Deutschland.
Mutter in der Entzugsklinik, Vater mit Assistentin auf GeschƤftsreise: Maik Klingenberg wird die groĆen Ferien allein am Pool der elterlichen Villa verbringen. Doch dann kreuzt Tschick auf. Tschick, eigentlich Andrej Tschichatschow, kommt aus einem der Asi-HochhƤuser in Hellersdorf, hat es von der Fƶrderschule irgendwie bis aufs Gymnasium geschafft und wirkt doch nicht gerade wie das Musterbeispiel der Integration. AuĆerdem hat er einen geklauten Wagen zur Hand. Und damit beginnt eine unvergessliche Reise ohne Karte und Kompass durch die sommerglĆ¼hende deutsche Provinz.
Summary - English
Automatically translated:
Two boys. A cracked Lada. A journey full of detours through an unknown Germany.
Mother in rehab, father away on a business trip with his assistant: Maik Klingenberg will spend the big summer holidays alone by the pool of his parentsā villa. But then Tschick shows up. Tschick, actually Andrej Tschichatschow, comes from one of the rough high-rise buildings in Hellersdorf, somehow made it from special school to high school, yet doesnāt exactly seem like the epitome of integration. Plus, he has a stolen car at hand. And thus begins an unforgettable journey without a map or compass through the summer-glazed German province.
Content Warnings
Not sureā¦maybe someone who may have read this knows?
Reason(s) for nominating: This is a classic recommendation for German learners that Iāve just never gotten around to reading. Iāve heard from some people that they had to read it in Gymnasium, so it seems like one of those books everyone would know (someone please confirm or deny ). It looks like there is a graded reader version that is easier that I linked above, but there is also a normal version that doesnāt appear to be on natively yetā¦ That would make it accessible for a lot of different level learners, since there are two difficulty modes available.
Die kleine Hexe ist mit ihren 127 Jahren viel zu jung, um mit den groĆen Hexen in der Walpurgisnacht auf dem Blocksberg zu tanzen. Doch das ist ihr egal: Sie springt auf ihren Besen und feiert den Hexentanz mit. Dass sie dabei erwischt werden kƶnnte, damit hat sie allerdings nicht gerechnet. Zur Strafe muss sie alle ZaubersprĆ¼che auswendig lernen und versprechen, eine gute Hexe zu werden. Aber wie soll sie das nur schaffen? Zum GlĆ¼ck hilft ihr der Rabe Abraxas, ihr bester Freund.
Summary - English
At 127 years old, the little witch is far too young to dance with the big witches on Walpurgis Night on the Blocksberg. But she doesnāt care: she jumps on her broom and joins in the witchesā dance. However, she didnāt expect to be caught. As punishment, she has to memorize all the spells and promise to become a good witch. But how is she supposed to do that? Fortunately, her best friend Abraxas the raven helps her.
Content Warnings
None known.
Reason(s) for nominating: This seems to be a well-known childrenās book, and having an audiobook available is a big plus. Thereās also a simplified version: Die kleine Hexe: Deutsch - leichter lesen | L15??
Anton just moved to Berlin. He is new in school and doesnāt know anyone. He has a problem. Who can help him? He sees Heidi ā a girl from biology class. He is nervous, but he walks over and asks her for help.
With Heidiās help and friendship, Anton adjusts to his new school. As he meets new classmates, he is befriended by Felix and Lena ā but what are their true intentions? As their relationships grow and change, Anton and his new friends face new realities and challenging decisionsā¦
Content Warnings
None
Reason(s) for nominating: I read this series a while back. Theyāre very well done and definitely worth reading as a beginner. The only read downside is that thereās no audiobook.
I will join especially if a kids book is chosen, Iām not a beginner but I enjoy kids books. Iād like to recommend some but most from my childhood donāt seem to be easily availableā¦
I think Iāll leave the nominations open for a couple of weeks so people that donāt visit the forum as often get a chance to add their suggestions, and we can start voting at the end of the month.
Iām also thinking of maybe nominating Momo | L27 (learnnatively.com) or Emil und die Detektive | L22?? (learnnatively.com), but what Iām more interested in reading is Krimis and contemporary fiction, which would probably be more of an advanced club? Of course I have no idea if we have enough German learners (we do native speakers, I think) for two book clubs, nor whether I should even be considering this on top of my multiple Japanese book clubs, but here I am
If itās indeed a L29, then itās a bit difficult for a beginners. If the level isnāt accurate (since German is still in beta and lacks enough gradings), then itās fine to nominate if it seems to really be L26 or below.
Iād probably attempt higher level books if you are planning to make an intermediate/advanced club. More book clubs are always good!
ETA: I think Momo and Emil are probably fine to nominate, since theyāre childrenās books.
I read Die Verwandlung a few years ago and found it to be surprisingly simple language wise, I feel like itās current 29 is a bit too high. But as I am not a traditional learner I hesitate to say for sure, especially without a reread
I have no idea what consitutes a L26 in German to be honest, neither whether Die Verwandlung would be a 26 or higher (Iāve read it and didnāt find it hard, but this was ages ago). However itās free and short. Itās also been widely translated, and there are even editions of parallel text I think.
Nomination List 
Maybeā¦)
). It looks like there is a graded reader version that is easier that I linked above, but there is also a normal version that doesnāt appear to be on natively yetā¦ That would make it accessible for a lot of different level learners, since there are two difficulty modes available.
