***NO SPOILERS***

White Bird is proof that a story about suffering is not only not held back by the graphic-novel format but could actually be at its best, most powerful told this way. Author R.J. Palacio used the format’s magic pairing of text and illustration to tell the story of Sara and how the Holocaust triggered her personal transformation when it upended her carefree life. Palacio put her exhaustive research to phenomenal use here, as Sara’s account could easily pass for a nonfictional survivor account. White Bird is actually a spin-off character story from Palacio’s acclaimed [b:Wonder|11387515|Wonder (Wonder, #1)|R.J. Palacio|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1545695751l/11387515._SY75_.jpg|16319487], in which Sara is the grandmother of Julian, one of that book’s main characters. However, the happenings in White Bird don’t reference the happenings in Wonder, so fortunately readers can understand and enjoy this on its own.

Sara’s story is an absorbing, intensely emotional journey with many moments of tension as one surprise after another pops up. As is to be expected for anything Holocaust-themed, it’s also unbearably sad. It opens with her as a teenager, recounting details of her comfortable life pre-Holocaust. Her biggest concerns are those typical of a child her age—friends, school, and material possessions. By her own admission, she’s a little spoiled and, in her immaturity, sometimes uncharitable. Her life takes a sharp downturn when the Nazis occupy the Free Zone in France, where she lives. In an inventive touch, Palacio had Sara’s vanity work in her favor when her desire to keep her favorite red shoes pristine saves her life. Later, a life-changing, unexpected friendship matures her and teaches her the importance of charity.

In these pages humans are shown at their worst but also at their best and White Bird is a tear-jerker as much for its moments of sorrow as for its moments of loving kindness. Emphasis is on really showing the importance of never hesitating to speak up against injustice and helping others in need. That may sound maudlin, but White Bird balances the sweetness with enough grit to keep scenes from feeling emotionally manipulative. Nevertheless, for accounts about cruelties that humans inflict on other humans, capturing the emotion is paramount, and Palacio did that.

In an engaging note at the end, Palacio explained that this graphic novel resulted from her fascination with the Holocaust, starting just after learning about it as a young girl. Informed by her research, White Bird reads like a synthesis of some of the best parts of the most dramatic Holocaust accounts, strung together with an ample dash of her own imagination and expressive illustrations. The influence of Anne Frank’s diary is easy to see. Sara is a blend of three different women, and Palacio based some characters on specific people, whose photos she included at the end.

As time passes, and especially as the last of the Holocaust’s eye-witnesses die, the likelihood increases that this horrific event could be forgotten—or more easily denied—and subsequently repeated. In its accessible format, White Bird educates and brings this event to life for young readers especially, an essential first step in keeping the memory alive. But it also transcends the limits of its genre, and even topic, to appeal to readers of all ages who simply want stories that are well-told and pack a gut-punch. It’s impossible not to be touched by it. ( )

I heard this in the audio version and now I'm so tempted to actually go and get the graphic novel. It's an absolutely beautiful story. Must read! ( )

I could not put this down. The story felt so incredibly real, and I really enjoyed reading from the perspective of Sara, who is a young Jewish girl. Vive l'humanite. ( )

The story takes place in occupied France during WWII. Narrated told as a story of a grandmother to her grandson currently about her life during Nazi occupation of France. There is heartbreaking sadness, despair, lights of hope, and redemption. The story is well written. The artwork is simple and helps the story, but could have been much better.

While this story begins to reveal the horror of the Holocaust, it does so in an introductory fashion that is appropriate for young readers. It also points towards more resources for those that want to learn more about the Holocaust, the resistance in France, and more. ( )

La abuela de Julian le cuenta cómo ella, Sara, fue acogida por una familia en pueblo frances, ocupado por los nazis, durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial.


Le explica cómo fue perseguida por ser judía y cómo el niño al que todos rechazaban se convirtió en su salvador y mejor amigo.
Esta desgarradora y conmovedora experiencia demuestra el poder de la amabilidad para cambiar corazones, construir puentes e incluso salvar vidas. Como su abuela le dice a Julian: "Siempre se necesita valor para ser amable, pero en aquellos tiempos, esa amabilidad podía costarte todo." ( )