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!

STUDENT REVIEW - Okay for Now by Gary D, Schmitdt

Okay for Now

By Gary D. Schmitdt

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012 

360 pages (paperback)

As a fourteen-year-old who just moved to a new town, with no friends and a louse for an older brother, Doug Swieteck has all the stats stacked against him. So begins a coming-of-age masterwork full of equal parts comedy and tragedy from Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt. As Doug struggles to be more than the “skinny thug” that his teachers and the police think him to be, he finds an unlikely ally in Lil Spicer—a fiery young lady who “smelled like daisies would smell if they were growing in a big field under a clearing sky after a rain.” In Lil, Doug finds the strength to endure an abusive father, the suspicions of a whole town, and the return of his oldest brother, forever scarred, from Vietnam. Together, they find a safe haven in the local library, inspiration in learning about the plates of John James Audubon’s birds, and a hilarious adventure on a Broadway stage.

It was good because I learned new things. [It could be] more interesting. [It] seemed boring because there was no action really. Yes [I would recommend it] because it has good vocabulary but No because it needs more action.

--Katie S.

Will o’ the Wisp by Tom Hammock and Megan Hutchinson

Will o’ the Wisp: An Aurora Grimeon Story

By Tom Hammock and Megan Hutchinson

Published by Archaia Entertainment, LLC, December 3, 2013

208 pages (hardcover)

Source: NetGalley

After her parents’ accidental death by mushroom poisoning, young Aurora Grimeon is sent to live with her estranged grandfather on Ossuary Isle, deep in the southern swamps.
Joined by her grandfather’s pet raccoon Missy, Aurora explores the fog-covered island of graves.
Along the way she meets its sinister residents who care for the tombstones and mausoleums, living out their lives by the strange rules of Hoodoo magic.
When ghostly things start happening out in the swamp and island residents start disappearing, Aurora thrusts herself into the middle of the mystery, uncovering secrets that might be better left buried. (from NetGalley.com)

This is an interesting and creepy mystery that will tough to put down. I enjoyed the fantastical elements, unique characters, and engaging story. However, there were quite a few times that I was confused about what was going on. It seemed like pages and transitions were left out so it took me a bit to figure out what was going on and when. For example, an intense evening changes to the next day, but the story just continues like no one went home to bed and the sun didn’t come up. A few extra pages here and there would have made this good book excellent. I would still recommend reading the book, though, especially to those who love scary stories of the supernatural.