Well, all I have left now is to see the movie (not released yet, but the preview looks lifted directly from the book, everything was recognizable to me). I read Wonder, then the add-on Julian Chapter where Grandmere and her story is introduced, then looked up the graphic novel White Bird. Unlike previous novel/graphic novel combos, the graphic novel WAS first. While having a graphic novel based on a book seems more common now, to see this "novelization" of the graphic novel was a first for me. With the movie imagery as the cover, and photos of the movie included in the book, it almost seems like one of those "books based on a movie" (which are rare, but I've seen before ... and avoided). 

This was very true to the graphic novel ... some parts repeated verbatim, other areas had background filled in (that was presented in pictures, and just makes the novel flow better). I'd actually listened to the audio edition of the graphic novel (which seems counter-intuitive) but had the book right there, following along with the graphic novel. My eyes are just getting old and it's harder to READ the little letters. The audio was wonderful, "graphic audio" with a full cast and sound effects and music. This felt just a tad lacking after that (although I wonder how I'd feel if I started with this one? Two narrators here trading off, Grandmere and young Sara, just voicing the other characters ... I missed the voice of Julian from the graphic audio). 

While writing my review for the graphic novel, I read other reviews and noticed some controversy regarding the final pages ... possible spoiler?

when Grandmere feels sad after reading news headlines: addressing refugees being turned away, Islamophobia and one naming TRUMP and the detention centers, children separated from families. The final images are of Julian in a protest, with a sign Never Forget #weremember. Some reviewers panned the book completely saying a comparison off the Holocaust and illegal immigration are not the same ... and they are not, and I don't believe the author was implying that at all (just on trying to teach the next generation kindness, or stopping injustice), others saying the book was good, but the final pages should be cut ... which squeaks of censorship to me. Here ... without the visual image of the Trump name in the article, and not seeing the visual signs at the protest, I doubt people would make a direct link to "the wall" and Trump and the issues at the US border. Julian tells Grandmere "I went to a peace march today" without naming exactly what the protest was for. I wonder if this was just a natural shift from image to text, or if it was done because of blowback from the original? It will be interesting to see how it's addressed in the movie.

The afterward and author's notes were the same (felt a little odd, as I listened back-to-back and recognized all the words being said, noting the different voices of the narration. In the original graphic novel audio, I could almost imagine it was the author herself talking in the author's notes, whereas here, it was obvious it was not ... and I didn't love the narrator's pronunciation of Sara (say-raw). While I listened to this edition in audio, I grabbed the Kindle copy as well. The Table of Contents was pretty much the same (the parts/chapter breakdown), there were some discussion questions included here, which I do appreciate. It does give me something to think about and diving deeper can make me appreciate a book more (which is why I enjoy bookclubs). 

There was also a note from Erica S Perl, who took the original graphic novel and was the one who wrote it up in novel format, indicated she had been asked to do so. As R.J. Palacio IS an author (Wonder and the additional chapters are regular novels, it's not as if she only does the graphic novel style) I did wonder why an additional author was brought in for the conversion. No complaints about it (I didn't notice a style difference or anything) ... just curious by Palacio didn't just do it herself (time, perhaps she wanted to see what an outside set of eyes brought to it). 

Whereas graphic novels are great for some kids who can't get into reading regular books ... graphic novels are NOT for everyone either. They are a bit of a struggle for me, it's been a stretch for me to branch out and give them a try. This novelization IS a great thing, just to have the material in several different formats, hopefully one that will appeal to all.