The Mushroom Girl: From Hitler's Germany to Today's Texas

In the aftermath of a devastating war, Dagmar Grieder and her family flee the advancing Russian Army. Her father, conscripted into the German military, has not been heard from in months. With her mother and her younger brother, the family learns to improvise every aspect of their existence. With supplies scarce, Grieder and her relatives forage for food in the local forests, with Grieder herself becoming an expert at finding the tastiest mushrooms -- a special treat for a hungry family.

Grieder's story is vivid and deeply personal, a tale of loss and belonging, that offers a new perspective on post-war refugees amid Europe's rebuilding. Grieder is a natural storyteller, and her life story is truly a Cinderella tale: riches to rags to riches again. Grieder has a keen eye to see meaning, beauty, and humor in daily life. Originally intended for her children and family, these recollections of growing up in post-war Germany will appeal to a wide audience.

Now in her ninth decade, Grieder has witnessed profound changes in the country of her birth and its transformation from a nation of sheep, led astray by a charismatic madman, to one of the strongest democracies in the world.