White BIrd is a graphic novel for middle school age students. However the content may be too mature for the younger ones. The book is by R J Palacio who wrote Wonder and other similar books. I am very impressed with the book and the thoughtful presentation of the Holocaust within the storylines.
The book begins with Julian calling his grandmother, who he calls Grandmere, for the story of how she survived during WWII. After a bit of a discussion, Grandmere tells the story of herself growing up as a Jew in France during the occupation. Her resilience and story open the readers eyes to how a country can be taken over and pushed in a new direction.
The story’s overarching theme of courage and kindness is quite appropriate for this period of time and is well conveyed in the novel. The graphics highlight the story beautifully and make the story more realistic than mere words could for young people.
White Bird by R J Palacio is a marvelous read and gives the reader a retelling of the Holocaust in a very relatable way.
