White Bird is a beautifully told tale about a young girl in Nazi occupied France and her experiences in hiding during the Holocaust. With a connection to RJ Palacio’s book, Wonder, this story is told from the perspective of Julian‘s grandmother. It intertwines a tale of friendship, acceptance, and learning about who you are, with the historical perspectives of the Holocaust, and the lives affected. Adapted from RJ Palacio’s graphic novel of the same title, Erica S. Perl helps to bring the story to life with beautifully written prose. In addition, there is a wonderful section at the back that is full of historical facts, a glossary, additional reading, and other resources for teachers to use in support of units on the Holocaust. In a day and age where we seem to be susceptible to repeating the past, this is a must read to engage students in conversations about this important topic, as well as a book that all historical fiction lovers will enjoy.
– Kimberly M. Language Arts, CT