Last year, I happened upon the book, “Wonder”, by R.J. Palacio. After finishing it, and then falling in love with the movie adaptation also, I knew I had found a favorite new author! Soon after, I read the sequel, the graphic novel, “White Bird”, and couldn’t give it enough stars! My excitement skyrocketed when I found out that a movie adaptation of Bird was in the works. So I waited, and waited, reading about movie productions being delayed because of strikes. And, waited some more…
Yesterday, I went with my husband to see, finally, the production of “White Bird”! It more than fulfilled my expectations; it is, hands down, one of the top movies I’ve ever seen. I’ll be recommending it to everyone I can make listen.
Today, I devoured the novel, which I had purchased at the U.S. Holocaust Museum in D.C. I had waited to read it until after I watched the movie. It too, deserved many more than five stars, because it’s one of the best historical fiction books written of all time, in my opinion.
But please, don’t just take my word for it. Do yourself a favor and treat yourself to the entire series of “Wonder”- related books, and the two movies, if you haven’t already discovered them. I guarantee that you won’t be disappointed, or remain unchanged from the experience…
Memorable Quotes:
(Pg. 129)-“I knew he (Vincent) was wrong, but his insult was like a seed that took root, sprouting little tendrils of self-doubt. Maybe I wasn’t a good artist? Maybe I wasn’t a good anything? I knew the Nazis weren’t right about me; they didn’t even know me! But deep inside I worried:What if they were?”
This book needs to be in every classroom, everywhere.