Song of a Blackbird
YA Historical Fiction collides with a Graphic Novel for a one of a kind World War II story. Welcome to the Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout Book Tour hosted by TBR & Beyond Tours.
About the Book

Title: Song of a Blackbird
Written by: Maria van Lieshout
Genre: Young Adult Historical Fiction Graphic Novel
Pub Date: January 21, 2025
Find it: Goodreads – Amazon – B&N – IndieBound
Fictionalized but based on true events, Song of a Blackbird has two intertwined timelines: one is a modern-day family drama, the other a thrilling tale of a WWII-era bank heist carried out by Dutch resistance fighters.
In the present day, teenage Annick is desperate to find a bone marrow donor that could save the life of her grandmother, Johanna. She turns to her family history and discovers a photograph taken by Emma Bergsma.
Decades earlier, Emma is a young art student about to be drawn into what will become the biggest bank heist in European history: swapping 50 Million Guilders’ worth of forged bank notes for real ones―right under the noses of the Nazis! Emma’s life―and the lives of thousands, including a young woman named Johanna―hangs in the balance.
In this stranger-than-fiction graphic novel, Maria van Lieshout weaves a tale about family, courage, and the power of art. Deeply personal yet universal, Song of a Blackbird sheds light on an untold WWII story and sends a powerful message about compassion and resistance.
Review for Song of a Blackbird
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.
About the Author
Maria is a Dutch-American illustrator and graphic novelist. She grew up near Amsterdam, and studied Visual Communications at George Washington University in DC. Maria has a background in brand design and innovation and has illustrated/written 15 picture books for kids. Her historical graphic novel about a female artist in the Amsterdam resistance during WWII will be published by FirstSecond January 2025.
Website – Instagram – Goodreads

Song of a Blackbird Tour Schedule
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