Books and Writing: Exploring the World of Words - The Buxtehude Bull youth literature award is given to Reumschüssel.
This year, author Anja Reumschussel will receive the "Buxtehude Bulle" youth literature prize. The 40-year-old writers is being recognized for her young adult book "Over the Roofs of Jerusalem" (published by Carlsen Verlag). On Wednesday, the city of Buxtehude in Hamburg made this announcement. Reumschussel, originally from Dresden, was elated by the news, saying, "It's exciting because you don't win a book prize every day." She currently lives near Stendal in Saxony-Anhalt.
In her book, Reumschussel explores the Middle Eastern conflict through a multi-generational story. The novel, written before the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel, takes place on two time levels: 1947/1948 and 2023. It centers around a conversation between four people on the rooftops of Jerusalem.
The official award ceremony for the 5,000 euro-funded youth literature prize will take place on November 7. The winner will also receive a stainless steel bull sculpture. The "Buxtehude Bulle" has been awarded annually since 1971, with a jury of 11 youths and 11 adults selecting the honoree.
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Reumschussel's hometown is Dresden, which is located in the Eastern German state of Saxony. The "Buxtehude Bulle" award, with its annual tradition dating back to 1971, is a prestigious honor for young authors in Lower Saxony, specifically the city of Buxtehude, which shares a border with the state of Hamburg. The inaugural winner of this award, like Reumschussel, was also recognized for their work representing different generations and cultures, echoing themes found in contemporary literature spanning Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt, as well as farther afield in Israel. Carlsen publishing house, a renowned name in the German and European literary scene, has published Reumschussel's celebrated novel. The city of Jerusalem, itself a symbol of literary and cultural richness, serves as a prominent setting in her book.
