The Secret Stealer: Trudi's Role in 'Stones from the River' Anonymous 12th Grade

In Stones from the River by Ursula Hegi, the protagonist, Trudi Montag, takes the form of a dwarf, or zwerg. Trudi's dwarfism makes her an outsider and she is ridiculed by the people in her community as they view her as less than human and look down on her. Their treatment of her contributes to her insecurities and forces her to have a negative view of life. Trud is portrayed by others as weak due to her small stature; however, she proves to be very strong as she overcomes her hardships and grows inner strength. The more Trudi is rejected by the townspeople because of her difference, the harder she tries to fit in. She even attempts to stretch her body by hanging from a door. As much as she tries to rid herself of her short stature, she is not able to and eventually must learn to accept herself the way she is. Trudi finds that the pay library is a great place to uncover people’s stories and she becomes a stealer of secrets. She uses their secrets and stories to make her own difference seem less important and to gain a sense of acceptance from others. Although they still do not accept her, it makes her feel more a part of their lives as she is able to uncover all of their secrets.

Trudi meets people who help her learn to accept...