White Bird

White Bird
R.J. Palacio
Knopf, Oct. 2019 224 pages
Grades 3-8
Graphic Novel/Historical Fiction

A story within a story. Present day Julian, as seen as the bully in the Wonder stories, interviews his grandmother, a former hidden child during WWII, about her experiences during the war. Sarah lived in the free area of France during the occupation of the Nazis during WWII and is secure in the knowledge that she and her parents are safe. This proves not to be the case as the long arm of the Nazi regime extends to Sarah's small town and gathers up all of the Jewish residents. Sarah hides in the attic of her school and it is here that Julian, a boy stricken with Polio and often bullied for his crooked walk, finds and transports her to his family's barn. Julian and his parents hide Sarah for the duration of the war and eventually come to consider her family. She and Julian become close friends and as they grown up, evolve into something more. The worst happens when the school bully and Julian's tormentor, who now works for the Nazis, discovers the barn and decided to inflict even more torture on Julian. What can Sarah do? Will her hiding place be discovered? And what will become of Julian at the hands of the enemy? The novel ends back in modern times as present day Julian is affected by the sacrifices and courage shown by his namesake and vows to live a life protecting the persecuted.

This new title, both written and drawn by widely popular author R.J. Palacio, is subtitled "a Wonder Story". It is part of the world of Wonder in that Julian, a minor character in the original, is featured and the main themes of bullying and choosing kindness, are also prevalent. The story, based on the real-life experiences of Palacio's mother-in-law, is gripping, powerful, and historically researched. The Holocaust is a terribly disturbing chapter of modern history, yet Palacio manages to deliver its sorrowful tale both honestly and age appropriately. By threading the past and the present together, readers will recognize the need to fight for justice and give voice to the voiceless within today's political climate, making the lessons from the Holocaust still relevant today. Julian, who formally was a nasty character, finds redemption through his grandmother’s story, demonstrating that bullies can change their ways. I was unaware that Palacio has a background in graphic art. I was both surprised and delighted to see the illustrations that she personally contributes. The full color drawings are less cartoonish than the usual fare for this age group, adding a touch of sophistication to a serious tale. The book is beautifully designed and the pages are luxe, begging to be read. Palacio offers much back matter, including historical background. The fans of Wonder are the obvious audience for this new graphic novel, yet it is a stand-alone volume that needs no knowledge of the original book to make a full and moving impact, reminding us to never forget the atrocities of the past in order to best walk towards the future.