by Ursula Hegi
First published 2004
Hanna Malter watches her mother dive into storm-tossed waters while thunder crashes overhead. In 1950s Burgdorf, a small German town, Hanna learns to see the world through her unconventional mother's perspective. Her mother defies expectations at every turn, swimming when others seek shelter. Hanna encounters the son of an American GI, a boy searching for answers about his absent father. She shares what she knows about his heritage, bridging the gap between his questions and the truth. The town librarian, Trudi Montag, becomes another guide for Hanna. Trudi's dwarfism gives her a unique vantage point on Burgdorf's secrets and stories. Through Trudi's eyes, Hanna discovers her hometown holds more complexity than she imagined. Each relationship shapes how Hanna understands her place in a community still recovering from war's aftermath. Her mother's fearless spirit, the GI's son's longing, and Trudi's wisdom combine to show Hanna that courage takes many forms.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, family-drama
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Burgdorf, Germany
Period: 1950s
192 pages · Paperback · Umbriel