Chantal-Fleur Sandjon
Chantal-Fleur Sandjon was born in Berlin in 1984 and is the author of books for children and young adults, poetry, non-fiction, and numerous articles. Her literary work devotes itself in particular to the portrayal of black life in Germany. Her verse novel »Die Sonne, so strahlend und Schwarz« [2022; tr: The Sun, so Radiant and Black] tells the story of 17-year-old Nova, who has found protection from her violent stepfather in a women’s shelter with her mother and little brother. Now they move into their own apartment. A new everyday life begins – and Nova falls head over heels in love with hip-hop dancer Akoua. »By mentioning contemporary issues such as structural racism and police violence as well as historical events, the novel fills a gap in the canon of German youth literature. Black history is integrated as part of German history« said the jury of the German Youth Literature Award, which was awarded to the novel in 2023. It also received the Vielfalter Literature Prize and the Kranichstein Youth Literature Scholarship.
Her new novel »City of Trees« [2024] weaves African mythology into a setting of contemporary Berlin and tells the story of Lindiwe, or Lin for short, who is looking for her big sister Khanyi. It has been three years since Khanyi disappeared; she was last seen in a forest on the outskirts of Berlin. Lin is drawn there again and again, feeling close to her sister. But Khanyi’s disappearance remains a mystery, as do the changes that happen to Lin herself …
In addition to her work as an author, Chantal-Fleur Sandjon also works as an editor, spoken word artist, and works with institutioins in their anti-discriminatory development. After living in Johannesburg, London, and Frankfurt, she returned to Berlin in 2012.
Welt retten!
Fischer / Sauerländer
Frankfurt a.M., 2021
Die Sonne, so strahlend und Schwarz
Thienemann
Stuttgart, 2022
So leben wir – und wie lebst du?
ArsEdition
2023
City of Trees
Thienemann
Stuttgart, 2024