White Bird: A Novel (Based on the Graphic Novel)

What a story! I kind of wish it was a little longer and went into a little more detail but overall really enjoyed how the story was told and the exquisite art. This is the story of Julian's grandmother. We first meet Julian as the main bully in Wonder. Here we learn his grandmother's story and Julian learns not only where his name comes from but also how much hatred and bullying can affect the world. Julian wants to tell his grandmother's story for school so she tells him her story of being a Jew in France during WWII. She documents being hidden during Nazi reign and just how much the kindness of strangers saved her while the hatred of the country raged on. This book not only tells her story but also reminds Julian and the readers about the importance and power of kindness and standing up for what's right. Definitely a great story for kids to read about the holocaust but also a wonderful book to show the power of kindness, generosity, and the golden rule!Quotes: Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it - George Santayana"Just remember that we are not defined by our mistakes but by what we do after we've learned from them" pg. 4"I try not to think in terms of good and bad. I prefer to think in terms of light and dark. I believe that all people have a light that shines inside of them. This light allows us to see into other people's hearts, to see the beauty there. The love, The sadness. The humanity. Some people, though, have lost this light. They have darkness inside them, so that is all they see in others: darkness. No beauty. No love. Why do they hate us? Because they cannot see our light. Nor can they extinguish it. As long as we shine our light, we win. That is why they hate us. Because they will never take our light from us." pg. 39"You might forget many things in life, but you never forget kindness. Like love, it stays with you forever" pg. 185"You see Julian, it always takes courage to be kind. But in those days, when such kindness could cost you everthing - your freedom, your life - kindness becomes a miracle. It becomes the light in the darkness that Papa talked about, the very essence of our humanity. It is hope" pg. 186What is done cannot be undone, but one can prevent it from happening again - Anne Frank