March: Book 1 by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin & Nate Powell

March: Book 1

By John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, Nate Powell (Artist)

Published by Top Shelf Productions, 2013

128 pages (paperback)

Top Shelf Productions is proud to present the first volume of March, a graphic novel trilogy co-authored by Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) and Andrew Aydin, with art by Nate Powell (a New York Times bestseller, Eisner Award winner, and finalist for the LA Times Book Prize).
March is a vivid, first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights (including his key roles in the historic 1963 March on Washington and the 1965 Selma-Montgomery March), meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. In March, a true American icon teams up with one of America's most acclaimed graphic novelists. Together, they bring to life one of our nation's most historic moments, a period both shameful and inspiring, and a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations.

Hooray! I finally got around to reading this book. March: Book 1 has received the highest of praise since before it was published and all that praise was definitely earned. I don’t know what I expected (I knew it was about the Civil Rights Movement), but the amazing John Lewis did a great job of explaining segregation and the early days of the fighting for equal rights.

However, for all the information and background on the Civil Rights Movement in March: Book 1, my favorite part was when John Lewis explained his relationship with the chickens on his farm and how he preached to them as a boy. It was sweet and funny and endearing and a testament to Lewis’s caring character.

I would say that this is one of the new must-reads for the Civil Rights Movement. As a bonus, it is a graphic novel so it is a quick read that is accessible to most students and adults. Now I am just waiting for the other two books in the series to come out!