White Bird: A Wonder Story (a Graphic Novel)

Soon to be a major motion picture, starring Helen Mirren and Gillian Anderson! R. J. Palacio's unforgettable graphic novel debut is a story about the power of kindness and unrelenting courage in a time of war.

SYDNEY TAYLOR AWARD WINNER - A NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR - NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

In R. J. Palacio's bestselling collection of stories Auggie & Me, which expands on characters in Wonder, readers were introduced to Julian's grandmother, Grandmère. Here, Palacio makes her graphic novel debut with Grandmère's heartrending story: how she, a young Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during World War II; how the boy she and her classmates once shunned became her savior and best friend.

Sara's harrowing experience movingly demonstrates the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives. As Grandmère tells Julian, It always takes courage to be kind, but in those days, such kindness could cost you everything. With poignant symbolism and gorgeous artwork that brings Sara's story out of the past and cements it firmly in this moment in history, White Bird is sure to captivate anyone who was moved by the book Wonder or the blockbuster movie adaptation and its message.

Praise for White Bird:

At once expressive and chaste, an elusive but ideal combination. --New York Times

A story that shows the impact of the Second World War and the rise of fascism on what had been a pastoral, fairy-tale childhood, with White Bird pulling no punches in connecting that historical moment to what's happening in the world today. --The Hollywood Reporter

"Extraordinarily powerful.... White Bird does not shrink from depicting the terror and violence of the Nazi occupation for younger readers, and respects the ability of those readers to handle strong material." --Forbes

A must-read graphic novel that is both heart-rending and beautifully hopeful. --Kirkus Reviews, starred review

R.J. Palacio brings to life the nature of heroism and the real risks we face today. --Meg Medina, Newbery award-winning author of Mercy Suarez Changes Gears

Rare, superb, timely, and timeless. --Mark Siegel, author of the 5 Worlds graphic novel series

Author: R. J. Palacio
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers
Published: 10/01/2019
Pages: 224
Binding Type: Library Binding
Weight: 1.80lbs
Size: 10.40h x 7.30w x 0.90d
ISBN: 9780525645542
Audience: Ages 9-12

Accelerated Reader:
Reading Level: 3.5
Point Value: 2
Interest Level: Middle Grade
Quiz #/Name: 504917 / White Bird: A Wonder Story


Award: Sydney Taylor Book Award - Winner


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2019 pg. 174

About the Author
R. J. Palacio lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For more than twenty years, she was an art director and graphic designer, designing book jackets for other people while waiting for the perfect time in her life to start writing her own novel. But one day several years ago, a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store made R.J. realize that the perfect time to write that novel had finally come. Wonder is her first novel. She did not design the cover, but she sure does love it. Her other books include 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Book of Precepts, Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, and We're All Wonders. Learn more about her at rjpalacio.com or on Twitter at @RJPalacio.