Just terrific. It's about a young woman in Amsterdam and her grandmother. Her grandmother gets sick and finds out she's not biologically related to her siblings. The young woman, Annika, begins to research these prints that her grandmother owns and finds a story about the Resistance against the Nazis in World War II. The story begins to be told in two time periods, one about this young woman who resisted as a printmaker and helped her grandmother when she was a child. The other is the current story about Annika trying to rediscover her grandmother's past while also trying to find a donor match for her grandmother's leukemia. The two stories eventually dovetail perfectly into one another.

The art was really interesting. In the flashback scenes during the war, van Lieshout took actual period pictures of the buildings and then drew her characters on top of them. It was a really interesting way to immerse oneself into the time period.

While the story itself is fictionalized, all of the characters are based on real people. The last 20 pages are so delve into the real characters everyone was based on.

This is a fascinating and emotional story that delves into events from the time when the Nazis were rounding up Jewish families.

The story follows a girl who discovers that her grandmother was adopted—and now, as her grandmother is dying, she embarks on a journey to uncover their lost family history. What she finds is the story of a lifetime, filled with revelations she never could have imagined, both for herself and her grandmother.

At its heart, this book beautifully explores the theme of found family, making it a deeply moving and unforgettable read.

A beautiful story told in a haunting manner. I loved the combination of the print cut style and the other graphic elements. There are so many stories about WWII out there but this feels like a unique and interesting new addition.

I’m a huge fan of graphic novels but have never seen one combined with historical WWII fiction. I don’t want to get all mushy on you but I’m in love! This story is based on true events in Amsterdam during the Holocaust. The way actual pictures are fused with artwork is nothing short of amazing. Next, a dual timeline insured this is the best book I’ve read in 2025. Alternating between 1944 and 2011, a blackbird observes what’s going on and shares his vantage point. Genius through and through. See ya, I’ve got to find more by this author.

Song of a Blackbird is a stunning graphic novel surrounding real life events of Nazi Occupation of Amsterdam in 1943 and another timeline of 2011. These timelines move seamlessly throughout the story and really gives it something extra. Also the use of the muted colours of the illustrations set against some realife buildings of that era just makes it more real for the reader.

I also found the notes at the back of the graphic novel which in my view should not be overlooked as you learn about the real people that Maria had based her characters on and was truly fascinating.

This would make an excellent book to have discussions about and should be read .

For all the above reasons Song of a Blackbird receives 4 stars.

I was mesmerized by this graphic novel! The story intertwines two compelling timelines: one set during World War II and the other in the present day, as a grandmother and granddaughter uncover their family history.

In the past, we learned about the courageous Dutch resistance fighters, including women who smuggled Jewish kids to foster families, artists who forged vital documents, and individuals who orchestrated a daring bank heist to fund the resistance. The risks these people took are unimaginable, and I found these real-life events fascinating. The contemporary storyline is a touching counterpoint, as the granddaughter researches old prints to understand her grandmother's past and search for her family. I loved the blend of historical fiction and family drama.

The standout feature of this book is the stunning artwork. Maria van Lieshout combines actual historical photographs and letters with her own illustrations. She also uses a subtle color difference to distinguish between the past and present timelines, making it clear to the reader which period the story depicts. I love all these details.

Van Lieshout's meticulous research shines through in how she presents the real-life people behind the story. At the end of the book, she includes a section that details the historical figures who inspired the characters, a bibliography, and detailed information about the photographs. Her dedication to historical accuracy is evident.

This book serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of preserving history and sharing stories—whether passed down orally or through written words—so that future generations will never forget the sacrifices made during difficult times. I highly, highly recommend this book to every reader. Easy 5 stars!!

Two girls from different eras try their best to save their loved ones.

In modern-day Amsterdam, a young girl named Annick is searching for a bone marrow donor for her grandmother, who is battling leukemia, before it's too late. A shocking revelation reveals that her grandmother was adopted, and since her supposed siblings' bone marrow doesn't match, it falls to Annick to find her grandmother's real family using prints.
Back in 1943, in Amsterdam, Emma Bergsma joined the resistance after learning about the Nazis' actions toward the Jews. In doing so, Emma undertook many dangerous missions to save and protect the people she cared about.

This poignant and beautifully crafted book left a lasting impression on me. The narrative is enriched with lyrical passages that evoke deep emotions, while the stunning blend of illustrations and photographs adds a distinctive layer to the storytelling. I particularly appreciated the seamless transitions between the perspectives of Annick and Emma, which provided a multifaceted view of their experiences.
Emma stands out as a fearless young girl, and I found myself both in awe of her courage and filled with anxiety for her well-being as she ventured into perilous situations to save others. In contrast, Annick's character shines with her genuine curiosity and sweetness, making her an endearing presence in the story.
I recommend this book to history enthusiasts and fans of poetic historical fiction. Its insightful exploration of the resistance and a religious order offers valuable lessons, making it a compelling read for anyone interested in the complexities of the past.

Happy Reading, Paige ❤️ 📚

Thank you, @tbrbeyondtours & @01firstsecond for sending me a copy of this book. I am leaving this review voluntarily.

💜*Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Children's | Joy Revolution and @tbrbeyondtours, for including me to the
"Love On Paper", book tour. For the tour schedule go to https://tbrandbeyondtours.com


This was an exquisite graphic novel that dealt with love, war and the power of the human soul to endure anything. The illustrations were magnificent and portrayed the horror and terrors of the WWII and their implications to Jewish people. I HIGHLY suggest you to read this masterpiece of a graphic novel.

𝙬𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙚𝙘𝙩:
🐦‍⬛ historical fiction
🐦‍⬛ graphic novel
🐦‍⬛ real images + artistry
🐦‍⬛ family secrets
🐦‍⬛ WWII references

Length: 261p
Source: ARC - TBR & Beyond, NetGalley
Release Date: January 21, 2025

•••••••
What an absolutely mesmerizing historical fiction graphic novel! This book right here needs to be used in EVERY SINGLE CLASSROOM. Told between dual timelines, with Annick in 2011–searching the history of her family and Emma in the early 1940s–who was a huge part of Annick’s family.

The entire premise behind this amazing story is based on true events. I don’t recall ever learning about Amsterdam during WWII classes and yet it seems to have some of the most important figures in the takedown of Nazi control.

The artistry is SO GOOD. The combined usage of real photographs with subtle yet powerful animations on top was enthralling. The poems, the importance of the blackbird, all could be felt through the pages.

I’m honestly blown away right now. Such an invaluable resource that includes a thrilling plot full of rich history. And I LOVED how the author included all the facts at the end. I’m obsessed.

{I received a complimentary copy of this book. All reviews are my own.}

Wow. Song of a Blackbird was such a unique way to tell such an important story. van Lieshout is able to tell the history of the Nazi's occupation of the Netherlands through the lens of a family's tale of saving their matriarch. The illustrations incorporate original drawings and photographs in a beautiful combination to show the reality and gravity of the times. Having lived in Amsterdam and seen many of these scenes, I adored this book.

One of the BEST and most BEAUTIFULLY rendered graphic novels I've ever read based on true events, this dual timeline story tells about Dutch resistance workers, siblings separated by war, chronic illness and the power of art to beat down the dark in troubling times. I devoured this and loved the mixed media format of the artwork. HIGHLY recommended especially for fans of books like Art Spiegelman's Maus. Many thanks to NetGalley and FirstSecond for an early digital copy in exchange for my honest review. I will 100% be running out to get a print copy for my forever shelves when this book is released!!

Annick cares for her grandmother, Johanna, who is ill with cancer. They find out their last effort at finding a bone marrow match has failed, because Johanna's family is not her biological family. So Annick sets out to find her real family, and what unfolds is the story of a family separated during World War II. Johanna and her brother were left with friends when their parents were taken by the Nazi's. When they have to split up, they get involved with teens who are part of the resistance, including the art student Emma. Through Emma's art, they need to piece together what exactly happened to their family in time to help Johanna.

This graphic novel is compelling on so many levels: the art is beautiful, a dual story line takes place in 2010 and during WWII, created as a compendium of factual events arranged into a suspenseful multi-dimensional plot, and filled with inspiring characters. I love the combination of graphic illustration and black and white, and color, photographs. There is romance, there is poetry, there is music, there is language, there is bravery, there is love, and there is history.

Annick's beloved oma is dying of leukemia and needs a bone marrow transplant, but she discovers her siblings are not actually related to her by blood. Annick vows to find her real family so that she can save her oma, and then finds herself immersed in a family mystery based in wartime heroics, that spans continents, and warms the heart.

This was a fascinating graphic novel. I thought it was a personal account of a family member of the author but was an amalgamation of historical figures. It was still an incredibly interesting story.

Thank you to NetGalley, First Second Books, First Second, and Maria van Lieshout for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

While this graphic novel is historical fiction, it is steeped in elements of history relating to Amsterdam during the Holocaust, portraying a vivid tale with an interesting blend of real photo images and simple artwork to tell the tale.

This graphic novel is from the perspective of a blackbird, a simple creature that merely observes, but doesn't experience the tangle of human affairs. The story alternates between 2011 and 1944-1945. In 2011, a teenage girl named Annick seeks a bone marrow donor to save her grandmother, as none of the blood family members are a match. In her efforts, she meets an artist who opens her eyes to the power of street art, and together they unravel the secrets of Annick's family history in hopes of finding someone who can save her grandmother.

In 1944-1945, the story follows a girl names Emma, who ends up working for the rebellion in a print shop. Her art is phenomenal, and she finds printing her art (among other things) to be a powerful way to rebel. These art prints are something Annick finds her grandmother has copies of, leading the present to tie into the past in an intertwined storytelling. Of course, Emma just has to avoid the SS and make it through the war....

I found this to be a phenomenal graphic novel with a unique dual-timeline storytelling process from the viewpoint of a little black bird, as well as the unique artwork combination. While fiction, the back of the book has some really great facts and photos to draw the line between fiction and actual history. This immersive graphic novel would pair very well with Night or any holocaust or WWII unit for a high school audience. A must-read!

Beautiful story and illustrations. The book isn't perfect, and there are some issues with continuity, but I found the themes and story as a whole to be well written and engaging.

Thank you to Netgalley and First Second Books for the digital arc.
Unique graphic novel offers a fictionalized account of actual events in WWII Amsterdam. During the Nazi occupation of Amsterdam, the Resistance conducted operations to hide Jewish children from the Nazis. Unfortunately children were often separated for their siblings. Hanna and Sol were two of these siblings. In 2011Annick discovered that her grandmother, Oma, was not biologically related to her siblings, but was one of the children smuggled out of Amsterdam. With just a set of prints of Amsterdam buildings Annick begins to solve the mystery of Oma's background and along the way, she uncovers the incredible story of Emma Bergsma, an art student who joins the Dutch Resistance. Both timelines are told through the narration of the Blackbird . The Song of a Blackbird is a masterpiece in in storytelling. Engrossing and I highly recommend.

This is a graphic novel that switches between WWII Dutch resistance fighters and present day Annick who is trying to save her grandmother. These resistance fighters are fighting and saving Jewish children by smuggling them to other families to save them Nazis and the concentration camps. Annick’s grandmother finds out she was one of these children when she is told her siblings are not biologically related. We see this almost through the pov of the Blackbird on both timelines. This is a beautiful, heart wrenching story. It was a combination of drawings and actual photographs from WWII. The writer does state that this story is based on true events and people. I love how they give a full biography for all these pictures, people, and events she speaks of in the story. It’s definitely a beautiful story, that sheds light on the stories of those most don’t know about. Heroes that many do not know about, but heroes that fought for what they believe was right and some paid with their lives for what they believed in. Thank you NetGalley and First Second Books for sharing this story with me.

4. This is great for classroom use. I will definitely want to read it again, on paper, so I can enjoy the art even more. It’s fascinating how the story is mixed with truth, the blending of historical photographs and drawings mirrors and strengthens the plot. .I love the bird as narrator, which allows the reader some distance from the intensity of events. Gives younger readers some space in which to think. Hanna and Sol’s story is the story of so many during the War. The book being centered around the Resistance is important, too. We need more stories about resistors. There’s a lot of connections for classroom use. I’ll be marking my copy with brainstorming for sure!

A graphic novel inspired by a true story, told from the unique perspective of a crow. The story follows Annick as she uncovers a family secret involving her grandmother and members of the Dutch Resistance during WWII. Though fictionalized, there is a great deal of research grounding the story, and it's quite moving to read the notes at the end about the real life inspiration for some of the characters. While the story provides hope and reflects on the strength of the human spirit, it doesn't shy away from more disturbing and tragic experiences throughout. The art is effective, featuring both fairly minimalist black and white illustrations, as well as panels that incorporate elements of historic photographs.