White Bird: A Wonder Story

**WARNING: THE FOLLOWING BOOK CONTAINS SPOILERS REGARDING TO SPECIFIC DETAILS AND ENDINGS OF THE STORY. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!**

## White Bird: A Wonder Story

### Publisher

Random House

White Bird is a graphic novel by R.J Palacio. It is a prequel to Wonder and Auggie & Me. The comic retells the story of Julian's grandmother, Sara Blum, and her struggles in surviving World War II along with a special friend named Julian Breamuir. This is Palacio's first graphic novel.

## Part One

### Prologue

The prologue takes place after Wonder, where Julian Albans has already started his year at his new school. He contacts his grandmother, Sara Blum, for a family assignment he has to complete. Sara is excited to see her grandson and asks how he is doing in the new school. Julian replies that he likes it, but still feels bad about last year and wishes he could have a do-over. He asks Sara if she could tell Julian her story back in World War II. At first Sara feels sad about it, but eventually explains Julian that she is going to tell her backstory in a more detailed perspective.

### Chapter One

Sara was born in a village, Aubervilliers-aux-Bois, France and lived a happy life with her parents. Her father, Max, was a surgeon whom many people admired and depended on. Her mother, Rose, was a teacher in a university. Sara lived in a nice house, wore pretty clothes, and had lots of toys to play with. Near the village laid a forest called Mernuit, where it was dark and foggy in the winter(legend tells that wolves lurked there) and was colorful and vibrant in the spring with gorgeous bluebells. Sara and her family would have picnics in the forest. Her favorite thing to do was pretend she was a bird who could fly up high to the sky and as fast as a crow. Her life felt like a fairytale, until when the war came, everything had to change.

### Chapter 2

When WWII arrived, the Nazis had already invaded France on 1940. France was divided into two regions, the occupied zone and the free zone. Aubervilliers-aux-Bois was luckily at the free-zone. Sara was still able to ride her scooter to school and go shopping with her friends whenever she wanted to. However, she could hear and witness offensive remarks upon people, restrictions, and propagandas. Even though, Sara was hurt, she tried to keep hold of her fairytale life.

### Chapter 3

Sara attended a school called the Ecole Lafayette, runned by Pastor Luc, who allowed all students by different faiths. Sara claimed that she was a gifted student, except for math. She loved her teacher Mademoiselle Petitjean, who was always kind to Sara and the rest of the students, even if they got in trouble. One day in class, Sara was drawing in her sketchbook, which help her not worry about the war, Nazis, or anything else that was considered despicable. All was fine until Mademoiselle alerted her to return to her mathwork. When the bell rang, all of the students happily left class, except for one boy who sat next to Sara, named Julien Breumier.

### Chapter 4

Julian always waited until the class was empty, since he was crippled, and had polio. The student's always made fun of him by calling him, Tourteau(because he walked like a crab) and pushed him, aggressively. When class ended, Sara accidentally left her sketchbook, so Julien went out to give it to her. He finds Sara talking to her best friends, Marianne and Sophie. Julien gives Sara the sketchbook, as Marianne and Sophie laugh at Julien thinking that he likes Sara. Sara laughs back, but turns around realizing that she wasn't being very nice. Julien makes his way home with his crutches, until a boy named Vincent pushes him down, with 2 of his friends laughing along. Then Vincent turns to the girls to see Sara's sketch journal(only because all the other girls liked him). He takes a look and says that Sara is a good artist for a Jew, which hurts Sara's feelings even worse.

### Chapter 5

Later that evening, Sara's parents talk about their future in France. Her father, Max, wants to leave France where they could be safe from the Nazis. Her mother, Rose would rather stay in France, hoping that the war will all be over soon, despite that Jewish people(such as the Blums) were being threatened, meaning those threats would only get worse. Rose wanted to remain as a French citizen. Max agreed on Rose's opinion, but was worried about the possible threats. Sara chose Rose's decision and a deal was made. However, Max was still upset. At bedtime, Sara asked her father why the Nazis hate the Jews very much. Max tells his daughter that the Jews are special people that obtain a powerful light that gives them precious blessings, and how the Nazis and their supporters were jealous of their light and want to take it away from them. However their light was always stronger against their enemies. Max kisses Sara goodnight and reminds her to wear her winter boots tomorrow, due to a snowfall, but Sara does not want to because it was already April.

### Chapter 6

Sara kisses her parents goodbye and leaves home to the school. At the town square, Sara takes off her winter boots and changes to her favorite red shoes. At school, Mademoiselle Petitjean had a serious meeting with Pastor Luc. She returns to her class and tells her students that she will leave outside with Sara and another girl named Ruth. She tells the girls that the Nazis had come to take away Jewish children and they had to go with a French maquisard who will lead them to a forest where they can be safe. Sara feared about leaving from the Nazis. Mademoiselle comforts her and offers Sara her scarf. When the three reach the door, they see children gathered by the school entrance. Sara however, refuses to join along, only because she didn't want to get hunted down or have her shoes ruined.

### Chapter 7

Sara runs up to the school's belltower and silently watches from above. She sees all the children planning their escape while two German soldiers arrive in front of Pastor Luc. At a distance, Vincent calls to the Nazis about where the children have ran off to. The Nazis find the children and their escort. The maquisard is killed after yelling out, "Vive L'Humanite(Long live humanity)!". The Nazis round up all the children with Pastor Luc protesting to let them go. Mademoiselle chooses to go with them, knowing that the children will need at least one adult to protect them. She gets in a truck and later walks with them to the forest. According to Ruth, no one but her survived in the cold snow.

### Chapter 8

Sara remained in the belltower. She thought of her teacher. She worried if her parents were caught too. She watched as the German officers surrounded the school. She heard the door open, fearing that the Nazis found her. It was Julien who opened the door. He helped Sara through an escape passage from the bell tower, the cellar, and out from the sewer-works(where he and his father worked). The two walked together across the streets and into the woods that leads to a barn near Julian's home.

### Chapter 9

Inside the barn is very dark with lots of straw, an old car, and bats hung on the ceiling. Julian shows Sara the hayloft where she can sleep and hide in case of any danger. Julian joked that the barn was a great place, despite that bats lived there, which made Sara laugh a lot. She talks to Julian on how he thinks about the terrible event from before. He tells Sara that his parents are fine and he plans to show his parents to her. Julien also reminds Sara to call her by his real name and not Tourteau.

### Chapter 10

Julien returned to the barn with his parents, Jean-Paul and Vivienne. They offered Sara some soup, dry clothes, and comforting words. They helped dust out the cobwebs and stacked the hay to make the barn more luxurious. Sara falls asleep and starts dreaming. She dreamed herself as a white bird. Sara flies over from Aubervilliers-aux-Bois to the railway that leads to Auschwitz(a real-life death camp in Poland). Sara's mother Rose is seen to enter the camp. Rose turns around and smiles to know that her daughter is safe. Sara wakes up and sees Vivienne, who tells her that she will leave and return with more food and clothes. Vivienne tells Sara that she is sorry about all the dangers Sara and her family and promises that they will protect and care for her until her parents are found and safe. Sara later finds out that Rose was arrested by the Nazis and was sent to a train to Drancy and then to Auschwitz. That is where she died.

## Part Two

### Chapter One

Sara remained in the barn after several days. The Beamuiers tried, but could not find her parents. They plan to smuggle her to Switzerland, except there was a Nazi base in Dannevilliers. It was impossible for Sara to be smuggled out, because of that. Sara could not hide in Beamuiers home because of their neighbors(the Lafleurs) mysteriously watching them. However, Sara did have fun interacting with Vivienne such as playing cards and sharing meals together. Everyday, Vivienne would leave her home, walk to the town market, onto the streets, across the forest, and crawl through a hole in the barn wall. While Sara was alone, she would be either reading a book, drawing, exercising, daydreaming, or praying for the war to end soon and she could be free.

### Chapter Two

When the night fell, Sara was always excited to see Julien. They would gossip about school, go over homework together, play in the hayloft, or even pretend to drive in an old car. They could go on adventures to far away places without a worry in the world. Julien would have to leave her when it was bedtime. Sara was usually afraid of sleeping because of bats, strange sounds, and nightmares about a wolf from the forest of Mernuit.

### Chapter 3

Since she had first came, Sara felt that the barn was her sanctuary. She and Julien had become best friends. On evening, Sara is studying her math work while Julien builds a slingshot. He teases that he always pays attention to what's going on while Sara spends her time just drawing. Sara tells her backstory on how she used to pretend that she was a bird. Julien finds it cute and wishes he could fly as well. He comforts Sara that she will see her father sometime when the war is over.

### Chapter 4

While Julien was at school, he went to Pastor Luc's office. Pastor Luc congratulated Julien for his avocation on all his subjects including math. When the pastor left, Julien spots Sara's sketchbook on the office desk. He takes it and carries it to the barn. He gives Sara the sketch journal. Sara thanks him, but Julien hears a strange sound outside. He tells his friend to hide and never come out until the issue is solved. Sara does as she is told.

### Chapter 5

Outside of the barn, Julien's enemies, Vincent, Jerome, and Paul were searching for Julien. They find the barn and spot Julien. Vincent asks if he had stolen a book from Pastor Luc, but Julien confesses that it was only a book that he accidentally left. Vincent doesn't believe him and calls him deformed, pathetic, and weak. He tells them that Nazis will exterminate him and every other human with disabilities. Vincent punches Julien on the nose, but Julien got up and screamed, "Vive l'humanite!". He screamed so loud that the bats woke up and scared Vincent and his friends out of the barn! Sara comes over and tries to comfort Julien, but Julien is angry that Sara broke the rule, warned that his parents will be executed, and called her self-absorbed, stupid, snobby, childish, and never talked to him as before. With a heavy heart, Julien leaves Sara.

### Chapter 6

The next morning, Vivienne and Jean-Paul went to Ecole Lafayette to tell Pastor Luc about the attack of Vincent and Julien. Pastor Luc recommends they should call the police. The Beamuiers chose not to because Vincent's father supports the Nazis and they don't want to bother them. Pastor Luc promises that he will confront Vincent's father and expel Vincent if he ever does that again. He wishes for God to end the malice, but Vivienne tells the pastor that it is up to good people to end the malice. She tells Sara about the meeting as Sara tells about what happened last night. Two weeks has past, and Sara had not seen Julien, until he returns and they play a game of belote. Julien was still angry at his friend and said that he was tired of people insulting him of his polio. He recalled that he used run fast and freely with healthy legs. Sara feels sorry and apologizes for being selfish and immature. Julien smiles and tells Sara that she was kind enough to save him that night. The two are happily friends and continue playing games together.

## Part 3

### Chapter 1

A year had passed and Sara was taller, thinner, and with longer hair. Sara was used to the nature and the clothing she wore in the barn. Nothing she thought had mattered anymore. Outside of the barn in France, the war was changing. For instance, Vincent joined a police force that worked for the Nazis, Pastor Luc joined a resistance that worked to destroy the Nazis, while maquisards planned assaults to destroy the Nazis. Julien also changed. He was much taller and more handsome, according to Sara. They had continued their days and games of best friendships. On Sara's birthday, Julien bestows her with a wooden bird. Jean-Paul and Vivienne also celebrate with a delicious chocolate cake to eat. It was the tastiest cake Sara had ever eaten. They later used a radio to listen to the news about the Allies surpassing the Axis. They were all excited that the Allies would save France. Hours later, Sara starts to believe that there will be hope after the war ends. She dreams of reuniting with her father, Max and starting a future life with Julien She changes to her night gown until Julien comes out to show her something.

### Chapter 2

The two leave the barn and to the Mernuit Forest. Bluebells that bloom across the trees astonish Sara. Julien confesses that he had a crush on Sara. Sara smiles and kisses Julien. Sara gains romantic feelings for Julien, think that he could be the love of her life. The two returned to the barn. Sara gives Julien her sketchbook and thanks him for her wooden bird. Julien smiles before heading home. It would be the last time Sara would see him. That night, Sara slept peacefully than before. She dreamed of her walking in Mernuit with the bluebells blossoming and flying with a flock of white birds.

### Chapter 3

The next morning Julien looked through Sara's sketchbook. One page showed a beautiful note about Sara's feelings for him(see trivia to read it). Julien was adored by Sara's entry. Vivienne wishes her son a good morning. Julien greets her and tells that he can't be late for school. He kisses his mother goodbye(his last one) and heads off home like he always would. It was a long walk across the town to school. This morning was not as similar as expected because a car with Milice officers(the French-Nazi police) were on the lookout. They grasp Julien, brutally, leaving his crutches and Sara's sketchbook behind. Vincent watches the car pass on. He looks over the items left behind and observes Sara's sketchbook. By a snap, he finds out that he had to hunt down Sara. He rode his motorcycle to the barn. Vincent slowly opens the door. Sara wakes up alert, she crawls over the hay without making a sound. She sees Vincent carrying a rifle. He shoots to track down Sara, but misses and shoots the ceiling instead. Sara had an idea! She climbed up to the roof and broke a hole as an escape opening. She jumps outside of the barn and runs to Mernuit with Vincent chasing her. Vincent keeps shooting his rifle, but continues to miss. Sara hides behind a tree and sees Vincent backing away from a wolf with black fur(the one from her nightmares). The wolf did not hurt Sara as she had originally thought. Vincent spotted Sara, lunges at her, with the wolf lunging at him. The wolf attacks Vincent, and Vincent's life is done for. Sara approaches the corpse and sees the bag with her sketchbook. She is shocked that Vincent had planned to kill Julien, that she runs to Julien's home and warn Vivienne what had happened.

### Chapter 4

Sara climbed into the Breumiers' house window and searches for Vivienne. She searched every room but was fruitless. All of the sudden, Sara hears footsteps on a staircase. She checks and finds a Rabbi named Abe Bernstein and his wife, who had stayed with the Lafleurs for quite some time. The Lafleurs open the door with Monsieur Lafleur holding a gun. Rabbi Bernstein tells him to stop and that it's just Sara. It had been revealed that the Lafleurs were not Nazi conspirators(which Sara and the Breumiers had thought before as the Lafleurs thought the same) and had been protecting Rabbi Bernstein and his wife for two years until the day they could smuggle from France to Jerusalem, Israel. The Lafleurs realize what they had done wrong and promise to take care of Sara until Vivienne returns. The Lafleurs watched over Sara in their attack. Sara tells them about how brutal Vincent had become. Madame Lafleur only assumed that Vivienne would spend the past days meeting with the Germans. Monsieur Lafleur mentions how he and Rabbi Bernstein had served in World War I and thought of him like a brother. The conversation ends with Vivienne watching outside. Sara hugs Vivienne and retells on how she knew that the Nazis were threatening Julien and other people with disabilities. Jean-Paul looked out to find where they had taken him. She and Jean Paul want to bribe the guards as suggested, but they don't have enough money. The Lafleurs decide to help them. Monsieur Lafleur escorts Vivienne to a military road. Sara remained in the attack using her senses to find her friend. Across the mountains, was a truck. The trucked stopped by a road blockage. The drivers plan to send the prisoners to Aubervilliers, but the road guards want those prisoners to be annihilated. The prisoners are told to leave the truck and head to the Merniut forest. The people plan to retreat from the Nazis. Julien senses Sara as he walks by. The prisoners begin their escape preparation. Julien sense to fly up high to the sky and as fast as a crow. Julien smiles, lets go of his crutch, runs and rises. The capturies retreat, but all are shot. Vivienne arrives and tries to rescue her son, but it was too late. For Julien however, he runs freely, away from his limitations, and flies as free as a bird.

### Chapter 5

After the shooting, the Nazis deny that it had happen and force her and Monsieur Lafleur to leave the area. No one knew where Julien's body was, but that didn't matter because he was free. As the war continued, the masquired supported the Allies on the Normandy Invasion (AKA D-Day). They fought bravely and died as heroes. Many bodies, like Julien's were never found. The prisoners from the truck were given a special plaque in memory of their courage against the Nazis. Julien's name was not written, but Sara and his family knew he was in fact, involved. Jean-Paul and Vivienne hoped that he was still alive. They never gave up trying to find their son. Jean-Paul and Vivienne continue to protect Sara, with the Lafleurs to help them. Soon World War II was over and France was liberated in 1944, but Sara was still sad. Although she was happy to see her friends(Marianne and Sophie) again, everything still felt so different. All that changes, when Sara receives a telegram from her father, Max. On April 1943, Max had hid in Mernuit. He returned home hoping Sara and his wife, Rose would come back. He stayed for a week, but had to leave. He took a pathway through the forest, where maquisards found him. They smuggled Max to the border of Switzerland. After the war, he moved to Paris and got a job in a hospital. He spent his time trying to find his daughter. He mourned over those who perished in the Holocaust, including Rose. One day the phone rang and heard that his daughter was alive. Max cries in joy and is happy to see Sara again. The two move to Paris and bid the Breumiers a warm goodbye. Sara gives Vivienne the scarf that Mademoiselle PetitJean gave to her. As the years passed, Sara would visit the Breumiers once a summer. Vivienne, Jean-Paul, and Max even walked Sara through the synagogue aisle on her wedding day. When she had her first son, he was named after Julien(with an "a" instead of an "e"). When the Breumiers died on 1985, Sara had never forgotten the kindness and love they had given her. Sara mentions to her grandson, that it always takes courage to be kind. But in those days, when such kindness could cost you everything--your freedom, your life--kindness becomes a miracle. It becomes that light in the darkness that Max talked about, the very essence of our humanity. It is hope.

## Epilogue

In the present, Sara's story for Julian comes to a close. Julian cries feeling sorry for all the horrible things that happened in the war. How Julien was lost, and that world nearly did nothing to stop the Holocaust as soon as possible. However, Sara told her grandson that it was up to good people to end times of malice and hatred and to make sure that Julien's generation must never forget and never let an event of human genocide and intolerance to ever happen again. Julian promises his grandmother to fight and speak up for what is right, especially if a sign of injustice happens again and to shine his light for Sara. Julian tells Sara that he loves her and is proud to be his grandson. She smiles with tears, says she loves Julian back, and bids a goodnight. Sara turns off her phone. She opens a wooden box with the wooden bird that Julien had given her.

One month later, Sara reads through an international newspaper. She reads through an article about 800 children being separated from their parents as a part of Donald Trump's, "Zero Tolerance" policy. Sara cries feeling sorry for the victims, believing that the world has become a bystander. Sara looks up to the window, sees the white bird, and smiles realizing that there are good people, fighting for love and against hate, including Julian who holds up a sign to tell that they must never spread more hate again.

## Trivia

* August does not have a large appearance unlike in Wonder, Auggie & Me, 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne's Precepts, or in We're all Wonders. He appears in one panel and is mentioned by Julian on how he still feels bad about what he had done to Auggie.
* This is the 5th story where August is not the main protagonist.
* The white hummingbird that appears in several panels may possibly be Sara Blum's spirit animal.
* The entry that Sara wrote on her birth was written, "*28 May, 1944 - Such a beautiful night, with beautiful people! How blessed am I to have the Beaumiers in my life! Thank you, life, for all you have given me. Mostly, the belief I now have that all human beings in this world are somehow connected to each other. Maybe I always knew this, but from my little window inside my little barn, I can actually hear the secrets of the world in the still of the night. I swear there are even times when I can hear the planet spinning! I can hear in the flutter of bat wings, the quickened heartbeats of the maisquards hiding in the mountains. I can hear in the soft cooing of the night owls, my papa, somewhere, calling my name. Funny, I used to be so afraid of the night. But now, I see it as my time for listening to the soul of the world telling me its secrets. And tonight it whispers, over and over again like a song: "You love Julien" Yes, I answer, I know. I love Julien."*
* The graphic novel was done in Procreate, an art app that is available on the iPad Pro and iPhone.
* The movie had an open casting call to find its two main leads.