Middle Grade Monday: White Bird by R. J. Palacio

Image: Wonderthebooks website

White Bird by R. J. Palacio. 224 p. Knopf/ Random House Children's Books, October, 2019. 9780525645535. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Middle Grade Monday features White Bird by R. J. Palacio. Did you know that Palacio is also a artist? She was an art director before she wrote Wonder and all its companion novels. She illustrated her picture book, We are All Wonders and makes her debut as a graphic novelist in, White Bird. Julian now attends a new school and must interview someone for a homework assignment. He chooses his beloved grandmère and asks her to tell him about his namesake, Julien. He was a classmate of Sara's who was afflicted with polio and a cruel nickname, "Tourteau," for the crab-like way he walked with crutches. 

Even Sara was complicit in this awful treatment of Julien. While she felt badly for him, she never stood up for him. In fact, she never learned his real name despite sitting next to him in class for years. That doesn't stop Julien from saving Sara when the Gestapo arrive at their school to round up the Jewish children. Julien's parents hid Sara in their barn at great peril to their own safety. 

If you loved Wonder, you will enjoy this graphic novel. Graphic novel fans looking for more serious fare will also enjoy White Bird.