“You see, Julian, it always takes courage to be kind. But in those days, when such kindness could cost you everything – your freedom, your life – Kindness becomes a miracle. It becomes that light in the darkness that Papa talked about, the very essence of our humanity. It is hope.”
White Bird by R.J. Palacio is a Wonder story. It tells the story of Julian’s grandmother Sara (grandmère, as Julian calls her). She was a young Jewish girl during World War II. She lived in Nazi-occupied France and was hidden away for her survival. This book is told in graphic novel form, unlike the other Wonder books.
I was skeptical of this book, going in. because I’m not a big fan of graphic novels. But, I read it because it was the book for a book club I’m in, and also my friend recommended it. So, I went outside of my comfort zone and tried it. What did I discover? It’s a good book, for what it is. It wasn’t my favorite, mainly because, as I mentioned before, I’m not a big fan of graphic novels. But, the story was good, as was the plot. I read a lot of historical fiction, and this was a good book. I just don’t love graphic novels.
All of that considered, I would give it 3.5 stars. That opinion is a little biased, and if I liked graphic novels then I would probably give it 4-4.5. Overall, I would recommend this book because of its plot and storyline, but it wasn’t a personal favorite.