White Bird ― A Wonder Story

Inspired by her blockbuster phenomenon Wonder, R. J. Palacio presents an unforgettable story of the power of kindness and unrelenting courage in a time of war.

In R. J. Palacio’s bestselling collection of stories Auggie & Me, which expands on characters in Wonder, audiences were introduced to Julian’s grandmother, Grandmère. Here, Palacio presents Grandmère’s heartrending story: how she, a young Jewish girl, was hidden by a family in a Nazi-occupied French village during World War II; how the boy she and her classmates once shunned became her savior and best friend.

Sara’s harrowing experience movingly demonstrates the power of kindness to change hearts, build bridges, and even save lives. As Grandmère tells Julian, “It always takes courage to be kind, but in those days, such kindness could cost you everything.” With poignant symbolism that brings Sara’s story out of the past and cements it firmly in this moment in history, White Bird is sure to captivate anyone who was moved by the book Wonder or the blockbuster movie adaptation and its message.

This full-cast audio adaptation of White Bird transforms the graphic novel into a truly original audio performance.

This audiobook includes a PDF of the Glossary, Suggested Reading List, Organizations and Resources, and Bibliography.

Audio Narrators:
Grandmère, read by Hillary Huber
Sara Blum, read by Emily Ellet
Julian and Paul, read by Robbie Daymond
Maquisard and Monsieur Lafleur, read by Graham Halstead
Mademoiselle Petitjean, read by Lauren Ezzo
Jean Paul, read by Sean Patrick Hopkins
Max, Jerome, and Rabbi Bernstein, read by Robert Fass
Julien, read by Michael Crouch
Nazi Soldier, read by Tristan Morris
Pastor Luc, read by Adam Alexi-Malle
Vincent and a Nazi Soldier, read by P.J. Ochlan
Marianne and Ruth, read by Karissa Vacker
Rose, Sophie, and Madame Lafleur, read by Elizabeth Knowelden
Vivienne and Rabbi Bernstein’s Wife, read by Lisa Flanagan

R. J. Palacio lives in New York City with her husband, two sons, and two dogs. For more than twenty years, she was an art director and graphic designer, designing book jackets for other people while waiting for the perfect time in her life to start writing her own novel. But one day several years ago, a chance encounter with an extraordinary child in front of an ice cream store made R.J. realize that the perfect time to write that novel had finally come. Wonder is her first novel. She did not design the cover, but she sure does love it. Her other books include 365 Days of Wonder: Mr. Browne’s Book of Precepts, Auggie & Me: Three Wonder Stories, and We’re All Wonders. Learn more about her at rjpalacio.com or on Twitter at @RJPalacio.