Youth literature prize for novel about GDR tunnel escapes

A book for young people about tunnel escapes from the GDR has been honored with the "Buxtehuder Bulle" youth literature prize. The author Maja Nielsen from Hamburg is being honored for her novel "Der Tunnelbauer" (Gerstenberg Verlag), announced the city of Buxtehude near Hamburg. Nielsen tells the story of Achim, a boy from East Berlin who helped with tunnel escapes from the GDR.

"The book is an invitation to leave the comfort zone in order to defend freedom and democracy," said Nielsen according to the press release. Her story, which begins in Berlin in 1961 shortly after the Wall was built, is based on true events and people, it said. Nielsen was born in 1964. The book convinced both the youth and adult jury of the youth book prize, the city of Buxtehude announced.

The official award ceremony for the 54th "Buxtehude Bull", which is endowed with 5,000 euros, is planned for the fall. The youth literature prize has been awarded since 1971. Every year, a jury of eleven young people and eleven adults decides who will be honored.