Franziska Gänsler’s novel ‘Orca’ shortlisted for German Book Prize

Franziska Gänsler’s third novel, ‘Orca’, has been shortlisted for the 2026 German Book Prize. The story follows the complex relationship between two friends, Cora and Olympia, whose lives diverge sharply due to socioeconomic differences.

Cora, who attends a private school through a scholarship for disadvantaged students, eventually finds herself working in a supermarket. Her life is upended when she sees news reports that Olympia, a former friend, has been arrested and is facing trial for murder and alleged involvement in terrorism.

The narrative explores themes of violence, social exclusion, and the search for belonging, tracing how years of accumulated anger can lead to explosive outbursts of violence.