The Mushroom Girl

A vivid and deeply personal tale of loss and belonging, Dagmar Grieder's memoir of life as a refugee in the aftermath of World War II sheds light on a seldom-discussed struggle during Europe’s long road to recovery.

In the aftermath of a devastating war, Dagmar Grieder and her family fled an advancing Russian Army. With her conscripted father missing and supplies scarce, a young Dagmar learns to support her mother and her younger brother by foraging for food in the local forests. Over time, Grieder became an expert at finding the tastiest mushrooms — a special treat for a hungry family.

Originally written to tell her story for her children and family, the recollections of growing up in post-war Germany have transformed Mushroom Girl into essential reading for history aficionados everywhere. With her keen perspective on meaning, beauty, and humor in daily life, this incredible story of survival deserves a place in our current-day conversations about immigration and refugees.