Song of a Blackbird
 | |
| Author | Maria van Lieshout |
|---|---|
| Publisher | First Second |
| Publication date | 21 January 2025 |
| Pages | 256 |
| ISBN | 978-1-250-86981-4 |
Song of a Blackbird is a 2025 graphic novel by Maria van Lieshout. Set in alternating timelines in 1943 and 2011 in Amsterdam, the novel connects two girls, one of whom is researching her grandmother's ancestry and the other who is living through the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
Plot
Reception
Song of a Blackbird was well received by critics, including starred reviews from Booklist,[1] Kirkus Reviews,[2] Publishers Weekly,[3] and School Library Journal.[4] Publishers Weekly named Songs of a Blackbird one of the best young adult books of 2025,[5] and School Library Journal named it one of the year's best graphic novels.[6]
Kirkus Reviews called the novel "powerful, moving, and utterly unforgettable",[2] while School Library Journal's Cat Miserendino referred to is as "touching, gripping, and heartbreaking".[4]
With its "limited palette of red, black, white, orange, and pale blue",[3] the novel's art style has been compared to Marjane Satrapi’s Persepolis.[1]
| Year | Award | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Golden Kite Award for Illustrated Book for Older Readers | Winner | [7] |
| 2025 | Golden Kite Award for Young Adult Fiction | Winner | [7] |
| 2025 | National Book Award for Young People's Literature | Longlist | [8] |
References
- 1 2 Karp, Jesse (2025-01-01). "Song of a Blackbird". Booklist. Retrieved 2026-03-23.
- 1 2 "Song of a Blackbird". Kirkus Reviews. 2024-10-11. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- 1 2 "Song of a Blackbird by Maria Van Lieshout". Publishers Weekly. 2024-10-10. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- 1 2 Miserendino, Cat (2024-11-01). "Song of a Blackbird". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ "Best Books 2025: Publishers Weekly Publishers Weekly". Publishers Weekly. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ Amiri, Jasmine; Jameson, Angie; Kiladitis, Rosemary; Lipinski, Andrea; Tran, Allison (2025-11-19). "Best Graphic Novels 2025 | SLJ Best Books". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- 1 2 "Awards: SCBWI Golden Kite Winners". Shelf Awareness . 2026-02-11. Retrieved 2026-03-24.
- ↑ "National Book Award Longlists: Young People's Literature, Translated Literature". Shelf Awareness . 2025-09-10. Retrieved 2026-03-24.