CONTEMPORARY HISTORICAL ASPECTS IN ROMANIAN-GERMAN CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE: THE CASE STUDY OF KARIN GÜNDISCH
CONTEMPORARY HISTORICAL ASPECTS IN ROMANIAN-GERMAN CHILDREN’S AND YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE: THE CASE STUDY OF KARIN GÜNDISCH

Summary/Abstract: This study examines the representation of contemporary historical aspects in Romanian-German children’s and young adult literature, focusing on the works of Karin Gündisch as a case study. Situated at the intersection of minority literature, memory culture, and post-socialist transformation, Romanian-German literature for young readers offers a unique perspective on identity, migration, and cultural heritage. The analysis explores how historical experiences such as World War II, the communist regime in Romania, and the post-1989 migration of the German minority are narratively mediated for younger audiences. Through close readings of selected texts by Karin Gündisch, the paper highlights narrative strategies, thematic patterns, and the pedagogical potential of literature in conveying complex historical realities. Particular attention is given to the ways in which personal and collective memory are intertwined, and how concepts of belonging, displacement, and intercultural dialogue are articulated. The study argues that Romanian-German children’s and young adult literature plays a crucial role in preserving minority memory while making it accessible and meaningful to contemporary young readers.

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