by Ursula Hegi
Part of Burgdorf Cycle, book 1
First published 1997
Trudi Montag arrives in the world during World War I in Burgdorf, a small German town. Born a dwarf, she spends her childhood wishing she could grow tall like other children. Years pass and Trudi becomes the town librarian, collecting stories and secrets from everyone who visits. She watches neighbors and friends, gathering their whispered confessions and hidden truths. When the Nazis rise to power, Trudi faces a choice that will define her life. She begins sheltering Jewish residents in her cellar, risking everything to protect them from deportation and death. Through these acts of courage, Trudi discovers that her physical difference mirrors the hidden differences carried by everyone around her. The town's secrets run as deep as stones beneath river water, visible only to those willing to look closely.
Genres: literary-fiction, historical-fiction, 20th-century, world-war-i
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: found-family, hidden-identity
Setting: Burgdorf, Germany
Period: World War I
800 pages · Hardcover · G K Hall & Co
Content warnings: war