Representation of Refugee Children in the German Children’s Books “Zahira, Ein Mädchen aus Syrien” and „Neben Mir ist noch Platz“

Refugees particularly those coming from countries embroiled in conflicts like Syria have posed problems for European countries and in particular for Germany as a country that has opened its borders to them. The problems are related to not only relocation but also integration into German society. While suffering from quite severe trauma due to wars and long treacherous journeys, refugees are required to adjust to new conditions and situations that are unfamiliar. Furthermore, many of these refugees are children who do not fully comprehend their new situations. The identity of refugee children is often described as a deplaced identity so that they are expected to leave the old identity and acquire a new identity voluntarily.This is demonstrated in German children’s books which were written for integrating the children into the host country, namely „Zahira, Ein Mädchen aus Syrien“ (hereinafter ZEMS) and „Neben Mir Ist Noch Platz“ (hereinafter NMNP). These books build on identity constructions of refugee children, and this paper will further in a close reading method will show that the identity of the refugee children is considered as a social construction and could be altered by the new aquired language and culture. Through the concepts of representation by Hall this paper will shows that identity of children refugee in the books is constructed.