White Bird by R.J. Palacio, with Erica S. Perl - ADVISABLE

White Bird by R.J. Palacio, with Erica S. Perl, 264 pages. Knopf (Random House), 2022 $18. 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Physical assault, characters shot at, murder, not graphic) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

13yo Sara lives in Vichy, France with her parents. It's the 1940s and the Nazis have taken control of the region. One day, at school, the Jewish children are captured. Sara manages to escape and is rescued by 13yo Julien, a young boy who uses crutches, as he had polio and his legs are crippled. He takes her home and hides her (with his parents' consent) in the family's barn. For the next 2+ years, Sara must remain a secret, nevertheless, she grows close to the family who is caring for her, and especially this boy, who is sacrificing everything to help her. 

Based on the graphic novel from 2019, this retelling which coincides with the release of the motion picture, is well done. I read the graphic a few years ago, and it tells the same story - I expected additional scenes or other characters, but it stays faithful to the original. I did like the occasional illustrations - taken from the graphic novel, and there's an 8-page section of glossy photos from the movie. I think the movie tie-in will draw readers to the novelization, but I would still recommend the graphic novel first. Sara is Jewish. 

Lisa Librarian