Song of a Blackbird

by Maria van Lieshout

Fictionalized but based on true events, Song of a Blackbird has two intertwined timelines: one is a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling tale of a WWII-era bank heist carried out by Dutch resistance fighters.

In the present day, teenage Annick is desperate to find a bone marrow donor that could save the life of her grandmother, Johanna. She turns to her family history and discovers a photograph taken by Emma Bergsma.

Decades earlier, Emma is a young art student about to be drawn into what will become the biggest bank heist in European history: swapping 50 Million Guilders' worth of forged bank notes for real ones―right under the noses of the Nazis! Emma’s life―and the lives of thousands, including a young woman named Johanna―hangs in the balance.

In this stranger-than-fiction graphic novel, Maria van Lieshout weaves a tale about family, courage, and the power of art. Deeply personal yet universal, Song of a Blackbird sheds light on an untold WWII story and sends a powerful message about compassion and resistance.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Historical, Holocaust, Fiction, War

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 21, 2025

About the author

Maria grew up in the Amsterdam area, and studied Visual Communications at George Washington University in DC. Maria has illustrated/written 15 picture books for kids. Song of a Blackbird, Maria's historical graphic novel about a female artist in the Amsterdam resistance during WWII is her first graphic novel.
Please follow Maria on Instagram at @vanlieshoutstudio or visit www.vanlieshoutstudio.com for more information.

Reviews

[Jenna · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨4 stars✨

[Ren || Reading What I Want · Rating 5 out of 5]

{ Song of a Blackbird }
by Maria van Lieshout

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🐦‍⬛ historical fiction
🐦‍⬛ graphic novel
🐦‍⬛ real images + artistry
🐦‍⬛ family secrets
🐦‍⬛ WWII references

Length:
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley
Release Date: January 21, 2025

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What an absolutely mesmerizing historical fiction graphic novel! This book right here needs to be used in EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM. Told between dual timelines, with Annick in 2011–searching the history of her family and Emma in the early 1940s–who was a huge part of Annick’s family.

The entire premise behind this amazing story is based on true events. I don’t recall ever learning about Amsterdam during WWII classes and yet it seems to have some of the most important figures in the takedown of Nazi control.

The artistry is SO GOOD. The combined usage of real photographs with subtle yet powerful animations on top was enthralling. The poems, the importance of the blackbird, all could be felt through the pages.

I’m honestly blown away right now. Such an invaluable resource that includes a thrilling plot full of rich history. And I LOVED how the author included all the facts at the end. I’m obsessed.
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[Mireille]

Een graphic novel die met recht zo genoemd kan worden: een verhaal met literaire inslag dat via beeld wordt verteld. Toen ik enkele jaren geleden Maus van Art Spiegelman tot me had genomen, kon daarna geen graphic novel aan dat niveau tippen. Het lied van de merel van Maria van Lieshoutdoet dat wel, met eveneens de Tweede Wereldoorlog als thema.

Het verhaal, dat uit twee lijnen bestaat, wordt aan elkaar geknoopt door een merel. Hij neemt de lezer mee door tijd en ruimte, als het ware onzichtbaar voor de personages maar toch met het vermogen om hen soms een gedachte te laten hebben en zo het verhaal te sturen.

In de 2011-lijn is de oma van Annick op zoek naar bloedverwanten die haar goede lichaamscellen kunnen doneren i.v.m. een ziekte. De broers en zussen die oma heeft, blijken niet met haar te matchen. Annick gaat voor haar op zoek naar biologische familieleden en krijgt aanknopingspunten in de vorm van vijf prenten van Amsterdamse gebouwen.
Door als eerste de Hollandsche Schouwburg te bezoeken ziet de merel kans om het perspectief te verplaatsen naar Emma in 1943. De Schouwburg werd een deportatieplaats voor joodse inwoners, iets wat Emma ook meekrijgt omdat ze aan de overkant op de kweekschool zit. Met een paar klasgenoten raakt ze bij een verzetsdrukkerij betrokken.

Maria van Lieshout heeft er in de positieve zin een visueel kunstig boek van gemaakt. Foto’s uit de oorlog zijn verwerkt in tekeningen; pagina’s met zowel foto als getekend werk zien eruit als één. Door het sobere kleurgebruik richt je je automatisch sneller op de inhoud van het verhaal in plaats van dat de bladzijden schreeuwerig overkomen.
Het plot zit ook goed in elkaar. In beide verhaallijnen vinden gebeurtenissen met logische opeenvolging plaats waardoor je de Amsterdamse oorlogsgeschiedenis vanuit diverse invalshoeken beleeft. De vervolging, onderduik, illegaal druk- en verspreidingswerk, fusillade van verzetslieden, propaganda en in de hedendaagse lijn zijn verwantschap, archiefonderzoek, diaspora en kunst verwerkt.

Het lied van de merel is al met al een gevuld boek waarvoor informatie welhaast moet zijn geverifieerd. Achterin geeft Van Lieshout daar (gelukkig) ook blijk van. ‘Gelukkig’ omdat deze uitgave wellicht lezers vanaf ongeveer 15 jaar aanspreekt die minder romans lezen maar wel eerder naar een beeldverhaal grijpen. In een uitgebreide bibliografie en uitleg over mensen, instituten en Van Lieshouts eigen familie kan de lezer genoeg aanknopingspunten vinden voor een goed inhoudelijk gesprek.

Op het moment van schrijven is Het lied van de merel genomineerd voor de Thea Beckmanprijs 2025; hopelijk komt het op de shortlist. Deze uitgave verdient meer aandacht.
https://lezersgoud.nl/maria-van-liesh...

[Emily McKee · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to give this five stars. Or even four. But I just can’t get past a couple style choices here.

As a graphic novel, it is actually very beautiful, though a bit underdeveloped, and I would have preferred to read this story about the Dutch Resistance as a traditional novel. But the limited colors made it hard to differentiate characters.

It’s also narrated by a blackbird. I was anticipating something like The Book Thief, but this was just strange, distracting, and unnecessary—there are two time periods/plot lines plus the blackbird.

Finally, the theme of art would have been moving if this were based on a true story rather than bits of truth. Excluding the treasure hunt set off by the art, the 2011 cancer premise was so believable that the rest of the novel almost feels dishonest (the blackbird does tell us in the beginning that it is fiction though). I don’t normally feel this way about historical fiction.

Should you or your kids read this? If you are interested in WW2/Dutch resistance, sure. It will only take an hour or so, and it’s both entertaining and educational.

[Irene · Rating 5 out of 5]

En je zult zien dat luisteren naar mijn lied het verschil kan betekenen tussen LEVEN en DOOD.

Echt heel goed. Met recht een graphic novel te noemen. Ik had even nodig om uit te leggen wat er dan zo goed is, maar het is gelukt: https://lezersgoud.nl/het-lied-van-de...

Het is niet per se het inhoudelijke verhaal, het is de vormgeving die zo krachtig is. Dat is ergens logisch gezien beeldromans illustraties bevatten die cruciaal zijn voor het verhaal.

Maar zoals elk goed verhaal dat z’n inkt waard is, bevat ook dit verhaal een kern van WAARHEID. Eigenlijk best veel kernen, soms zelfs een BROK feiten.

[Manon (bookswithonno) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wat een prachtig boek! Dit boek is genomineerd voor de Thea Beckmanprijs en met deze nominatie staat er voor het eerst een graphic novel op de shortlist! Heel bijzonder dus, en ik was hierdoor natuurlijk onwijs benieuwd geworden naar dit verhaal.

In dit verhaal switchen we tussen het verleden (tijdens de 2e WO) en het heden (2011) en zien we langzaam hoe deze tijden met elkaar verbonden zijn.

Wat dit boek extra bijzonder maakt: Het heeft niet alleen mooie illustraties, maar gebruikt ook echte foto’s uit de 2e WO om de illustraties te ondersteunen. Dit vond ik zo’n uniek concept en het werkt perfect in dit verhaal.

Het verhaal zelf heeft me zo geraakt! Ik heb op een aantal punten met tranen in mijn ogen gezeten. Het is dus terecht genomineerd voor de shortlist. Of je nu houdt van graphic novels of niet, pak dit boek asjeblieft op!

[Julie Ditton · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel tells a fictional story based on the efforts of the Dutch Resistance. By using dual timelines, the author tells a tale that takes place eighty years ago, in a way that makes it relatable to today's teens. In 2011, Annick's grandmother is dying of Leukemia. When running donor tests, she discovers that she is not actually related to her siblings. With only works of art from her grandmother's childhood which depict different buildings to use as clues, Annick discovers the truth. The novel tells a story of a young woman at a teacher school who beco9mes active in the Dutch resistance. The opera house across the street from the school was used as a transportation depot fro Jew who would be sent to the death camps. Families were separated and children were taken to a child care facility next to the school, while they waited. Young women would smuggle some of the children out to waiting foster families. The story reflects the fact that sometimes, if the child was very young, they never found out that the family they knew was not their first one. The story is a moving piece of fiction that weaves in the facts. and the illustrations are fantastic. The afterward tells the facts of the truth behind the fiction and shows photographs of the real Resistance heroes who were the basis of the novel's characters.

Although listed for grades 10-12, I can comfortably recommend this to any youngster over 10. If a parent or teacher is looking for books centering on WWII or the holocaust, this is a story that shows the goodness of ordinary people during a time of great evil. As I write this review, today is Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, an appropriate day to review this book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and First Second Books for the digital arc.
Unique graphic novel offers a fictionalized account of actual events in WWII Amsterdam. During the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, the Resistance conducted operations to hide Jewish children from the Nazis. Unfortunately children were often separated for their siblings. Hanna and Sol were two of these siblings. In 2011Annick discovered that her grandmother, Oma, was not biologically related to her siblings, but was one of the children smuggled out of Amsterdam. With just a set of prints of Amsterdam buildings Annick begins to solve the mystery of Oma's background and along the way, she uncovers the incredible story of Emma Bergsma, an art student who joins the Dutch Resistance. Both timelines are told through the narration of the Blackbird . The Song of a Blackbird is a masterpiece in in storytelling. Engrossing and I highly recommend.

[Peacegal · Rating 4 out of 5]

A 21st-century teenager searching for help for her ill grandmother stumbles upon a secret that dates back to WWII and the Dutch Resistance. The ways in which everyday people stepped up to battle the Nazis and smuggle their neighbors to safety are highlighted throughout in intense vignettes, inspired by the lives and actions of real individuals.

While I found a couple elements of the story a bit weak, such as the teenage crush storyline, I also understand that they were included to help the modern-day middle school audience more fully immerse themselves in a story that takes place in a time that seems so long ago...yet is also as present as modern-day political figures and celebrities doing Nazi salutes to cheering crowds.

[Ty · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fictionalized account of people involved in and rescued by the Dutch Resistance during the Holocaust and Nazi occupation of Amsterdam. I really liked some of the storytelling conceits and illustration choices here, but I found myself wishing it had focused on the true stories of the real people involved in the resistance who are described in the afterword instead of taking this historical fiction approach, and having the whole thing be narrated by an omnipotent omnipresent blackbird was odd and occasionally confusing.

[K. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Content warnings: war, antisemitism, genocide, grief, explosions

What a freaking brilliant way to tell a historical story in graphic novel format. It's a mix of illustration and historical photos of wartime Amsterdam and the two mesh together BRILLIANTLY. The story itself is utterly compelling and equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking. Will definitely be looking out for more from this author in the future!

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

Everything about this graphic novel was beautiful: The story, the characters, the illustrations. It’s a work of art. I got teary-eyed, I got angry, I had all the feels and now feel uplifted for having experienced it. Just gorgeous.

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

This graphic novel blurs the lines between fiction and nonfiction, drawing heavily from the history of the author’s family. Brilliant artwork, often overlaying archival photos, clearly delineates the two storylines, one set in the 1940s and one set in 2011. I wasn’t sure about the omniscient blackbird at first, but by the end, I really enjoyed the bird’s asides and perspective.
The book’s back matter is fascinating, and adds a lot to the overall package.
I highly recommend this tribute to resistance fighters and the power of uncovered stories.

[Lindsay · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a unique was to tell a story. The author tells a WWII holocaust narrative with actual photographs from that time which leads to more depth of a story.

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the BEST and most BEAUTIFULLY rendered graphic novels I've ever read based on true events, this dual timeline story tells about Dutch resistance workers, siblings separated by war, chronic illness and the power of art to beat down the dark in troubling times. I devoured this and loved the mixed media format of the artwork. HIGHLY recommended especially for fans of books like Art Spiegelman's Maus. Many thanks to NetGalley and FirstSecond for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I will 100% be running out to get a print copy for my forever shelves when this book is released!!

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinarily difficult to read, considering we're repeating history verbatim. Infuriating that we haven't learned any lessons.

[Becky • bookmarked by becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was mesmerized by this graphic novel! The story intertwines two compelling timelines: one set during World War II and the other in the present day, as a grandmother and granddaughter uncover their family history.

In the past, we learned about the courageous Dutch resistance fighters, including women who smuggled Jewish kids to foster families, artists who forged vital documents, and individuals who orchestrated a daring bank heist to fund the resistance. The risks these people took are unimaginable, and I found these real-life events fascinating. The contemporary storyline is a touching counterpoint, as the granddaughter researches old prints to understand her grandmother's past and search for her family. I loved the blend of historical fiction and family drama.

The standout feature of this book is the stunning artwork. Maria van Lieshout combines actual historical photographs and letters with her own illustrations. She also uses a subtle color difference to distinguish between the past and present timelines, making it clear to the reader which period the story depicts. I love all these details.

Van Lieshout's meticulous research shines through in how she presents the real-life people behind the story. At the end of the book, she includes a section that details the historical figures who inspired the characters, a bibliography, and detailed information about the photographs. Her dedication to historical accuracy is evident.

This book serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving history and sharing stories—whether passed down orally or through written words—so that future generations will never forget the sacrifices made during difficult times. I highly, highly recommend this book to every reader. Easy 5 stars!!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrated by a blackbird who encourages art in every form, this is the story of a teen who rescues Jewish children in Amsterdam during WWII alternating with a teen who is investigating the mystery of her grandmother's family in Amsterdam. Unlike my preconception, blackbird songs are musical and NOT like the caw of crows. This is not an easy story, because several of the characters end up being tortured and shot for being in the Resistance, and the question of why the lady who took in the sister never looked for the brother after the war is left a mystery. I liked how the art occasionally incorporates actual historical photos of the era, and how at the end the author tells what parts of the story are true (like that a theatre really was the collection point for Jews being deported, and the Resistance really did rescue the Jewish children from the childcare center across the street), and what stories inspired her fictional story of siblings reunited after decades.

[Zoe Brumbaugh · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s international holocaust remembrance day and I thought I’d spend it reading this new book (written by my mom’s old post-grad roommate!) -- I’m so glad I did.
It's a graphic novel, so a quick read but didn’t at all take away from the meaningful story it told. In fact I think the beautiful illustrations mixed with old photographs added even more to it.
Like a lot of Jewish kids, I had a phase growing up where I almost only exclusively read books about the Holocaust. Song of a Blackbird was unlike any other book I remember reading with its unique perspective and ability to switch between time frames so effortlessly. I wish I had been able to read this book when I was younger!

[Katie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I devoured this and couldn't put it down. The mixed media format of this graphic novel is mesmerizing and effective- the combination of the photos and the animations is beautiful. And with what the U.S. is facing today, the story of Emma and Hanna and Soli is even more poignant and important.

[grieshaber.reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow. This piece of art is very impressive. It's a story told partly from the POV of a blackbird (much like Death in The Book Thief) that follows two different but related timelines - one during the Nazi takeover of Amsterdam during WWII and one in the same location in 2011. The storyline line in 1944 focuses on the heroics of the resistance fighters, including those who smuggled Jewish children to safety. The 2011 storyline follows a teen girl researching her dying grandmother's past in order to find a possible sibling she was separated from during the war for the purpose of finding a blood marrow donor. The details are so meticulous that I completely forgot I was reading fiction until I got to the end of the book and read the author's notes. As always, when I read little-known history (Amsterdam's resistance fighters), the author's notes are a wealth of information. And these are some of the most detailed (and interesting) author's notes I've ever read. The amount of research this author did was jaw-dropping. It was interesting to learn that although this story was not strictly a story from her family, aspects of it were. As with all excellent graphic novels, the style of art is a huge part of the story. The coloring is all black, white, and red, and the illustrations and speech bubbles are drawn directly on top of actual historical photographs on almost every page.

This book is a no-brainer for the 2026 Denny O'Neil Graphic Novel List and a must-purchase for every high school library.

[Oskar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Mooi vormgeven en goed gedaan met de foto’s van de ondergedoken camera erin verwerkt.

Maar:

Wat is dit een stereotype Amerikaans verhaal en kijk op de tweede wereldoorlog in Amsterdam. Schrijfster woont in Amerika en dat is te merken.. die fucking Merel ook hele tijd met die vage teksten.

Het is ook voor mijn gevoel geen volwassen graphic novel maar eerder iets voor tieners (onderbouw middelbare school)

[Jess Klug · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a truly compelling story and I loved the artwork layered in with historical photographs. It was a page turner from the start and left me sobbing at the end.

[Penny Schneider · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, especially in today's world is a must read. Never again. This book is beautifully done. I am wishing that the Blackbird will sing for good times only.

[Kristen Newlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love stories like this that have dual perspectives that blend together in some way. It was beautifully written and the blend of illustrations and real images of the time was so cool!

[Madelyn (Vaughn) Burke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If this isn’t this generation’s Maus, I don’t know what is (this is fictional, though, but it does have a bunch of historical information in the back about who/what this story is based on)

[Ash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was fantastically written. The pairing of archival images with art, the use of colour to denote time periods, was brilliant.
Reading the information at the end really puts the whole thing in perspective - knowing how intricately every aspect of this book is tied to real world events and real people, even to the author's parents & grandparents. It is a gut punch of a story, and one that I couldn't stop thinking about every time I put it down.

[Cherlynn | cherreading · Rating 4 out of 5]

Brought me to tears 🥹

Although fictional, this graphic novel felt very much real. Not only is it inspired by real-life experiences and people, the illustrations are also overlaid with actual photographs from the past on some pages, making this an even more powerful read. I enjoyed both timelines and appreciate learning about yet another lesser-known part of history.

An illuminating tale of hope, courage and to never stop fighting even when it's dark or hard ❤️

[Patricia Q · Rating 4 out of 5]

This brought tears to my eyes so many times.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Song of the Blackbird is the fictionalized story of a young girl trying to track down relatives for her grandmother, who is dying of leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant, but can’t find a match. But she finds out that her grandmother’s relatives are not related to her. That is because her true mother gave her up to save her life, and she was put in a non-Jewish family in Netherlands, and her brother was put into a Catholic boys home.


So Annick tries to track down her brother, by following the only clues that her grandmother has, a set of art prints of places around the Netherlands.


The story is told in two time lines. The modern one, and the one set during World War II. Although the story is fiction, the people written about are based on real people in the Dutch resistance, and in the end of the book the author shows pictures and bios of each person she based someone on. One of the most fascinating things is the photos that are included in the story, shot by the resistance, with hidden cameras.


I read this book during International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was January 27th. It seemed appropriate. But you don't have to do that, though it does add a bit of gravitas to the story if you happened to.

This book is available wherever you happen to buy your books.