Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

The general storyline is much the same as what is told in The Julian Chapter, with some additional details. I do like how the author handled the big emotional scene near the end with Julian (the original Julian, not the grandson) and the bird symbolism that ties everything together. Unfortunately, the author decided to get political at the end of the book - I wish authors wouldn't do this! Especially in books intended for younger audiences. It soured the entire book for me. While I loved The Julian Chapter almost as much as Wonder, White Bird didn't live up to my expectations. Perhaps that's because I already knew how the story would go (though I've re-listened to Julian's book multiple times and enjoy it each time). Perhaps Wonder and The Julian Chapter (and even parts of Christopher and Charlotte's stories) have just set the bar too high. Perhaps it was the political elements at the end. Perhaps it was some combination of all these. I've been looking forward to this book ever since I heard about it a year ago, and I was disappointed. Other reviewers also mentioned the binding. It's some strange mix of paperback and hardback (a paperback with some hard paper/cardboard glued to the front and back, but not the spine), and I agree - it probably won't hold up if a copy is reread multiple times (like in a school, where this book is likely headed). To conclude, I love Sara and Julian/Tourteau's story (at least as told in the Julian Chapter); but I do not love this version of it.