Polls for Our Souls discussion

Learn German With Stories: Café in Berlin - 10 Short Stories For Beginners

You could start with something that you already know. If you have read Kerstin Gier's books in english, I would recommend them because then you get the German original (while Harry Potter is a translation).
I also liked Kai Meyer's books, fir ecample his Arkadien series (I don't know if they were translated into English) which is about shapeshifters and the mafia.

You know you could just get about any book translated into German but if you want an original German book I'd recommend 'Momo' by Michael Ende. It's a kids book so the language shouldn't be too hard but it's also a classic about a little girl trying to save time and with it the whole world. Cornelia Funke is also a really well known author who writes mostly middle grade and ya fantasy. My personal favourite German book is 'Die Mitte der Welt' by Andreas Steinhöfel. It's about a boy coming to terms with himself and his sexuality in the small town he lives with his exentric mother and twin sister. Andreas Steinhöfel also has a short story collection called 'Defender' which might be a little more accesible if you're just learning the language. Hope you have fun! German is not an easy language :D

Christina wrote: "You could start with something that you already know. If you have read Kerstin Gier's books in english, I would recommend them because then you get the German original (while Harry Potter is a tran..."

I agree with that :) That's how I did it when I started reading books in English, I read a book that I already knew in my native language and loved.
And in addition, I think it's awsome you're learning German, it's my native language and I don't see people learning it around often! Good luck!

I am also learning German and I have been reading Harry Potter. It starts out pretty difficult but gets better as you go. It's really fun to see the famous english phrases in another language!

I think picking up German language copies of books that are already familiar to you, especially children's books, might be helpful. Sometimes, you can find "parallel texts" which have one language on the left-hand page, and a translation of the same text on the right-hand page.

I recently picked up a German language student edition of the children's book Emil und die Detektive, with dicussion questions and a glossary in English. I found this interesting, because German is the original publication language, but I first read it in English.
I also found a French "Educational Edition" of Le Petit Prince, with notes and a glossary in English. This is another title that I originally read in English, not its original publication language.
Good luck in your studies!

Wrath of the dawn is a magnificent book that is translated into english!

into german

Hey as someone who's learning german and had read books in German, I would recommend you start with a book that wasn't originally written in German. I find translated books a bit easier to understand. Just start with something lighter, not a fantasy book with a bunch of made up words and overly complex world, it's easier if you start with an interesting, but simpler book just so you can get used to the language. (Also try a book that you haven't read before so you can see how much you can actually understand and not just remember from before)

Hi Claire!
Congrats! :D German is a great language. You've come to the right place.
Like everyone already mentioned. Choose I book you already read and enjoyed and get the translated copy.
Or pick an author you like and get the translated copy.
YA books are a great way to start!
Have fun <3