White Bird: A Graphic Novel

White Bird opens with Julian, the boy who treated Auggie badly in'Wonder', speaking to his Grandmother via FaceTime. As part of his Humanities work, Julian has to write about someone he knows and he wants to write about her and her time in German-occupied France and a boy affected by polio she knew known as Tourteau, who helped her hide from the Nazis. Reluctantly, she agrees, sharing poignant memories from her childhood, starting with her idyllic family life and moving to the horrors of loss and isolation. The story returns to the present for its conclusion, showing scenes of Julian protesting in America about the treatment of refugees. Deeply moving, White Bird is a graphic novel labelled 'A Wonder Story' which develops a story from 'Auggie and Me'. R J Palacio does not shy away from the darker side of humanity and the events of this period of history, yet the story is one of hope and compassion, encouraging empathy and understanding.'Tourteau' is, at best, ignored by his classmates, including Sara (Julian's grandmother) and tormented by some. His nickname means 'crab', cruelly mocking his sideways walk. In return, he shows great courage and kindness to Sara as he and his family offer her shelter at great personal risk. The illustrations add greatly to the tale, highlighting emotions and the 'white bird' of the title carries a thread through the story, linking past and present, love and hope. Notes enabling the reader to find out more about this period are included along with author's notes, suggested reading and a bibliography. This is a compelling read with much to recommend it. Perfect for starting discussions about the past and the present. 224 pages / Ages 12+ / Reviewed by Sue Wilsher, teacher

Suggested Reading Age 11+