Published in 1994, Stones from the River is a novel that follows the story of main character Trudi Montag, who has to live life as a dwarf. Daughter to a mentally-challenged mother, Trudi is despised because of her appearance by her mother until she is a toddler.
The rest of her German village still looks down upon her, however, and growing up being teased is very hard for Trudi. Yet, as an adult, Trudi eventually realizes the positive impacts that she has had on other people.
Ursula Hegi is an American writer that was born in Germany in 1946, just after the end of World War II. Her involvement with World Wars is reflected in this novel, as Trudi's father is told to be a World War I veteran.
Moving to the United States in 1965, Hegi likely wanted to forget her German heritage because of what happened in the war. However, she has lived a successful life, teaching creative writing and contemporary literature at Eastern Washington University shortly after she graduated from the University of New Hampshire. Her best selling book is Stones from the River, which has sold over two million copies.
