© 2025 WGVU

95.3 / 88.5 FM Grand Rapids and 95.3 FM Muskegon

Donate

Play Live Radio

Next Up:

0:00

0:00

0:00 0:00

Available On Air Stations

The Shelley Irwin Show

Song of a Blackbird

By Shelley Irwin

Published February 14, 2025 at 11:21 AM EST

Mara Van Lieshout shares her story.

The Song of a Blackbird helps readers deal with a polarized world. Author Mara Van Lieshout discovered documents left behind by her grand parents, learning of her grandfathers involvement in the resistance. We talk about the “Blackbird” and this graphic novel.

Tags

The Shelley Irwin Show Book Author Young Adult Memoir Graphic Novels

Shelley Irwin

Shelley Irwin is the host and producer for The Shelley Irwin Show, a news magazine talk-show format on the local NPR affiliate Monday through Friday. The show, broadcast at 9 a.m., features a wide variety of local and national news makers, plus special features.

See stories by Shelley Irwin

Related Content

As measles cases rise, a new book warns parents not to underestimate the disease

Maria Godoy

As childhood vaccination rates drop in the U.S., outbreaks of measles are rising. In his new book, Booster Shots, Dr. Adam Ratner makes the case that this is a bad sign for public health.
An Israeli raid of a famous Palestinian bookstore stokes censorship fears

Mansee Khurana

A famous Palestinian-owned bookstore in East Jerusalem was raided by Israeli police, stoking fears of increased censorship.
3 Harry Potter fan fiction authors are coming to a bookstore near you

Dhanika Pineda

Fan fiction — unsanctioned, unofficially published works based on popular novels or films — was intentionally never mainstream. The coming months will see a trio of titles by popular Draco and Hermione — Dramione — fanfic authors.