March: Book One

I bought this book for myself, but plan to share with young people. It will be easy for them to read and they will learn about our country; we are not always the greatest nation in the world. We are not always exceptional. This book is written by someone who lived it. Bless him for writing it.

From the bottom of my heart, this is by far the best book in comic book history. A great example of how hard it is living like that. A sentence that I like is, " go back to AFRICA! The weird part is that they brought us here. So,have fun reading!

Every so often a book will come along that will challenge you, that will make you think, and that will hopefully leave you a bit better after you've read it. And this is just one such book. Yes that seems weird to say about a graphic novel, but trust me...this one deserves such praise. This is a book that everyone should read, and then reread again. And then pass on to others to read. This is a part of history that we should not let die, remember, and honor those that created it.

Congressman John Lewis is an iconic figure within the Civil Rights movement, and the last surviving member of the "big six leadership." He rose from being the son of sharecropper, to marching with Martin Luther King, and to the halls of Congress. This first book in a planned trilogy covers John Lewis's youth in rural Alabama, his first meeting with Martin Luther King, the birth of the Nashville Student movement, and the battle for desegregation on the steps of City Hall. And it comes to an end all to quickly. I finished the book saying "but, but...I want more! I need the rest of the story now!" And that's such a great way to leave readers, clamoring for the next part of the story. It's a powerful and moving story to see a firsthand account of the triumphs and sorrows of being involved in this time period in history.

Now I'm sure the first question many are asking is...why a graphic novel? Couldn't this be done in written form and come out just as well. And the answer would be...no. It's one thing to read about the horrors or having water tossed on you, or being beaten, all because of the color of your skin. It's a completely different matter to see it illustrated. The illustrations are masterful and you can imagine the smoke being blown in your face, someone standing over you and spitting upon you, and others throwing water or hot coffee in your face. It's a powerful image that you won't be able to shake. And one that you won't be able too, or want to forget.

One of the problem that I normally see with autobiographical stories, is that they often try to give the reader to much information or even sometimes not enough information. They forget that we aren't all familiar with the history of an individual. But this book doesn't suffer any such problem. We move expertly between past and present, as John Lewis gives a tour to children from his district and explains his past. It's a great way to set up the story. And more importantly you don't ever feel like you're missing out on something.

Nate Powell's artwork is absolutely gorgeous. It's done in his typical grace/style of capturing the human form oh so perfectly and it seems like this time he's gone even further in his use of shading to give us the beauty of all different types of skin tones, each character's is unique. His artwork is perfectly suited for this story capturing the range and intensity of emotions--the sorrow, the joy, and the fear that sends chills down your spine. That intensity, that feeling of life that he captures in their faces really makes them come alive.

You can't help but feel moved by this story and you can't walk away unchanged. The combination of story and art works perfectly in capturing this event and this time period. I'm predicting this book will be one of the best graphic novels of the year, perhaps even one of the best books of the year. I started recommending it to my faculty as soon as I heard about it. And one that I can't wait for them to teach from. I give the book 5 out of 5 stars.

The fantastic artwork by Nate Powell really stands out in this entertaining story about a critical chapter in the Civil Rights movement. I liked how the authors used President Obama's inauguration as a framing device to tell a story that happened more than 50 years ago. The switch back to modern times helps to remind us how far we have come, and how life was so much different before the Civil Rights movement. The story of how a group of young people using sit-in at lunch counters as peaceful protest is dramatic, and especially compelling was the part where the students would practice getting humiliated, in anticipation of what will be done to them. A very good read.

I read this graphic novel for book club and I enjoyed reading it. Well, except for the teeny, tiny print. I read most of it with the help of a magnifying glass. This is why I prefer a Kindle these days—font control! I’m showing my age. Anyway, the novel tells a little of the story of Congressman John Lewis’ childhood in Alabama as well as his experiences in Nashville as a young man in the early Civil Rights Movement. Apparently, this novel is only the first part of a three-part series. I thought the glimpse into his childhood was charming. I was most interested in the events in Nashville, not only because of the importance of the non-violent sit-ins and the early formation of groups like the SNCC, but also because I attended Vanderbilt in the 1980s and wasn’t familiar with the university’s part in the early years with Jim Lawson who had been a Divinity School student in 1960. I found this story highlighting discrimination rather timely with the current political climate and transgender rights issues. It’s a shame that people do not remember what we have learned from history and that some feel that inequality is acceptable. I’m glad to know that we’ve made great strides in civil rights but I’m sad that there is still a long way to go.

No matter what I say in this review, I am not going to give this trilogy justice. I mean, Book Three won the National Book Award, Sibert Medal, Printz Award, Coretta Scott King Award, YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction, and the Walter Dean Myers Award. And it had SIX starred reviews, Book Two had FOUR starred reviews, and Book One had FIVE starred reviews. That is FIFTEEN between the three! And they all deserve whatever praise or recognition they have received.

John Lewis’s story included many aspects of the Civil Rights movement I did know about; however, it gives insight into these events that no one else could give us as Lewis is the last of the March on Washington speakers to be with us. It also addresses aspects of the movement that are not taught in history books because it is ugly. Our history is ugly, but that is exactly why it needs to be talked about. There were times when reading where I had to put the book down (especially in Book Three) because this truth was harder to read than just any fiction I’ve encountered.

But it is because of the shocking nature of our history that we must speak and read and learn about it. We are supposed to keep moving forward, and the only way to make sure we know which way that is, is to learn about what was in the past. John Lewis, with the help of his co-writer Andrew Aydin and the illustrator Nate Powell, have given us a gift with these books. A gift of a look into the past through the eyes of an insider.

The years-long struggle for civil rights in the United States holds innumerable dramas brimming with courage and defiance, compassion and hatred, brutality and resilience. But a skilled story teller is needed to present the enormously complex movement in a readily understandable and moving narrative. Congressman John Lewis and his colleagues do just that – with great insight, ingenuity, and flair. MARCH is a significant achievement in revitalizing the critical historic period when nonviolence and civil disobedience trumped tradition and prejudice.

In graphic novel form, the experience of an eye-witness and activist, John Lewis, tells his account of his childhood in the South and his coming-of-age when he confronts racial discrimination. The story is told with a mingling of flashbacks and current day events. The Nashville civil rights sit-ins loom from the past as Lewis prepares to attend the inauguration of the nation’s first African American president.

A telling episode is highlighted that foreshadows Lewis’ current literary effort. In March 1958, Lewis attends a meeting of the Fellowship of Reconciliation (FOR) in Nashville and he hears about a popular comic book of the time – Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story – which described how non-violence and passive resistance could be used for desegregation. Perhaps that moment inspired Lewis to adopt a graphic novel format to reach a new generation about a story that must be remembered. He more than succeeded with this first in a MARCH trilogy.

Michael Helquist, author, MARIE EQUI: Radical Politics and Outlaw Passions

The March

My review is going to cover all three books in the series. I read these from April 23 to May 2, 2017.

My experience in the series was a wonderful one, and I would certainly read them again with my children at some point. I would also love to incorporate them into my classroom – I have no doubt that there are many recognizable mirrors between what was happening during the Civil Rights era, especially in Book III, that make this a perfect time for the creation of this important book. The government’s elected officials are still trying to pass laws to stifle protest, they have no problem holding the constitution and civil rights in contempt over racial issues, clearly use gerrymandering (rather than registration suppression and segregation) to influence the results they want in elections, and still, still, still the ongoing fight for equality that is solely political, economic, and involve many of the same (if not worse and more violent) law enforcement tactics.

My only criticism of the books is a relatively simple one. The only thing I felt was wrong with the narrative was the lack of depth of the protagonist's characterization. I only wish there was some flaw or something to feel empathetic for... In life, there are many qualities in real people that make them imperfect, and in many ways, it is the lack of imperfection in the characters that made me feel they were a little flat. The closest the books get happen so rarely that I can list them briefly – I found one allusion to sex (no big deal; people have sex), I found one reference to the young people in the organizations having sex (again, people have sex. Everyone has sex), and one reference to Lewis *almost* hitting an officer to defend MLK. Now, that one is a moral dilemma, and also a dilemma for the cause,... but he didn't act. I wish I could have seen some flaw in character, judgment, or something, but by the end, they are so squeaky clean (and this is in contrast to the awful, brutal, disgusting, unremorseful anti-democracy people literally getting away with murder the whole book) that it feels almost artificial. Where are their mistakes? I was hoping maybe the authors could make me believe they are not only overcoming major external conflicts, but also overcoming their internal ones as well.

Besides this, March was an excellent series. When I got the free comic book excerpt on free comic book day, I was hooked. I am glad I picked up the whole series – I flew through its wonderful pacing, beautiful art, and the truly American story of equality, protest, and rebirth.

What follows are my thoughts about each volume - I wrote them as I finished each one.

-BOOK I-
Book I covers the origins of John Lewis' early life. He was always a hard worker. In his youth he tended to the chickens on the family farm and dreamed of one day becoming a preacher. His early struggles were exploring the ethics of eating meat, his (and his chickens) relationship with his religion, and his access to education. As a tenacious child, he understood how important education was to his future, and he grabbed every opportunity even when it was against his father's wishes. The story then goes on to explain how he came to be associated with a young Martin Luther King Jr. and one of the core members of the touchstones of the Civil Rights Movement, The Nashville Student Movement and eventually the SNCC. After various sit-ins and a mass arrest, they cause great change.

The art is gorgeous. The layout, execution and various places where the rules are broken are pretty awesome, and as a package, it is a truly great story so far. I am looking forward to reading book II and III. The only thing that didn't quite work for me was the frame story. Granted, I know why it was there structurally (both in the near term for this story, and what I anticipate is obvious for the long-game of the other two books) and figuratively, but the story was pretty strong on its own without it.

-BOOK II-
The march continues explosively as the Freedom Riders bravely power through their nonviolent movement and crash into the violent one-sided race war. This book also explores the splintering of the SNCC into a variety of groups with different goals, the terror of the reality of jail for our fearless leaders of freedom, the marches (including one where a thousand school-age children were imprisoned in a single afternoon), the absolute mindless power exercised by Bull Connor and Strom Thurmond, the murders of the members of the movement, and the incorporation of A. Phillip Randolph, Martin Luther King Jr, Roy Wilkins, Jim Farmer, Whitney Young, and of course John Lewis into what became known as the Big Six.

The stunning, explosive art continues with Birmingham and the sixteenth street Baptist Church at its center. Two pivotal moments seem to drive the narrative this time as Barack Obama's inauguration mirrors August 28, 1963. A beautiful text. Looking forward to Book III.

-BOOK III-
The culmination of everything everyone was fighting for, the final volume explores the end of desegregation, including most notably the various political movements happening behind the scenes in response to what was happening in the streets. This book was the longest of the three, and by far the starkest with each page swinging wildly from black to white and dark to light as the ink ran down the page in inky violence. This text and lack of text juxtaposes the narrative even more. Some pages are solitary and quiet, while others run feverishly with words as congress, the president, the television, the radio, and members of the various organizations' debate, shout, report, and hammer away at one another with words, words, and words. This is certainly the most moving of the three volumes, an apex of horror, loneliness, blood, and sacrifice taking center stage to the lead up to Bloody Sunday.

Of course, voting becomes a right for everyone, and a great deal of blood of our great civil rights leaders – of our fellow Americans – was spilled in sacrifice for true equality. By the end of the story when the second peaceful Selma march is conducted and later when John Lewis has two beautiful moments with Barack Obama during his inauguration, I choked back tears at the beauty of what I experienced at the end. I wasn’t a fan of the frame story at the beginning, but by the end, it hit me hard.

This graphic novel was written by Congressman John Lewis, a key figure of the of the civil rights movement.

In this first book of the trilogy, we meet John Lewis in his office in 2009 as President Obama was about to take office. A woman and her two young children walk in and she is immediately taken aback when she sees John Lewis is actually there. All she wanted was to show her children his office, but they ended up beginning a lovely conversation about the past. In this conversation, we learn about John Lewis’ childhood growing up in rural Alabama. From there, the story continues on.

I loved absolutely everything about this gut-wrenching graphic novel.

Right from the very first illustration, I was hooked. Once I picked each of these books up and started reading, I could not put them down. Needless to day, the storylines in each book was incredibly well organized and perfectly paced. I loved all of the switches between present day and the past that occurred throughout!

The characters were all very well developed, especially for a history-based graphic novel. I am so embarrassed to say that some of these names were new to me. But I am very happy that I now know about them.

The artwork was absolutely stunning and the details were incredible. I loved that the illustrations were black and white because that really created an incredible tone for the story.

Of course, because of the topic, a lot of this was very hard to read and even more difficult to see in illustrated form. A lot of it was incredibly heartbreaking. But of course, it is such an important story to read.

I would very highly recommend this for all! This is another book that I would love to see on required reading lists in school.

"The hardest part to learn, to truly understand deep in your heart, was how to find love for your attacker."

This book is a wonderful historical account of what happened, with beautiful metaphors through out.

For example, the story of the chickens at the beginning is a metaphor for how whites treated blacks. How when he talked to them, he realized how individual they were. That we don't see humanity when we look at a "group" because that strips humanity and identity. Then too about how he couldn't eat the chickens he raised, but he could eat the chicken his aunt cooked, realizing only because he didn't know that chicken. It was a metaphor about apathy. How we only care what we know about so it's so easy to think it's different or not a problem when you aren't personally affected or know someone who is.

I also appreciated how he pointed out everyone in his community was struggling and the preacher always talked about how unfair it was they were so poor, but that he left the church in a very expensive car. It was subtle but "where were our donations going--was it really to help the WHOLE community" came to mind.

This was my first experience reading a graphic novel. The first time I just read the text and looked at the pictures. The second time I read the text, looked more closely at the pictures and started to notice elements that added more dialogue to the story without words. For example, the jagged edges around the "bubbles" when police spoke to MLK Jr. How when Lewis was talking, in conversation, to others, the words were not in ALL CAPS but CAPS were used when he was telling his story (the memory), or how when he quotes his parents or the bible, that was in cursive.

I look forward to learning more on how to properly "read" graphic novels.

GREAT WAY TO EDUCATE KIDS ABOUT CIVIL RIGHTS!

The first in a planned trilogy, MARCH: BOOK ONE follows the life of Congressman John Lewis (GA-5), one of the "Big Six" leaders in the civil rights movement and a former chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). BOOK ONE covers Lewis's early years, where his love of education often conflicted with his duties on his family's Alabama sharecropper's farm. After high school, Lewis attended the American Baptist Theological Seminary and Fisk University ("the boy from Troy who wants to desegregate Troy State," as MLK referred to him during their first meeting), where he became involved in non-violent protest and helped organize the Nashville sit-ins, which were successful in desegregating local lunch counters. The scenes of students rehearsing the demonstrations - and all the abuse it entailed - are especially harrowing. Along with dozens of fellow protestors, Lewis was arrested (the first in a long string of arrests; as of October 2013, when he was arrested for marching in favor of immigration reform, Lewis has been arrested some 45 times) and sentenced to a $50 fine or 30 days in the county workhouse. Lewis and his colleagues were ultimately released under the orders of Nashville Mayor Ben West.

Lewis recalls these events to a group of young visitors just hours before the 2009 inauguration of Barack Obama, which he and his family are to attend, thus firmly connecting past and present. The artwork by Nate Powell is pleasing and certainly gets the job done, though part of me wishes that these scenes from the past had been rendered in color instead of black and white, making them come alive, so to speak.

Though it includes harsh language (understandable given the context), I think that MARCH is suitable for middle school readers on up. The "n word" is dropped with some frequency, but it's important for parents to discuss the hateful legacy of this (and other slurs) with their children. Additionally, MARCH can be a useful tool for introducing the history of the civil rights movement to middle and high school students. While it is rather light on details - this is a graphic novel, after all! - MARCH can help teachers meet students on their level and engage them with topics in which they might not otherwise take an interest. MARCH shouldn't be the beginning and end of the lesson, but rather a starting point. It certainly made me hungry to know more.

I found the early scenes of Lewis tending to his family's chickens particularly touching and poignant. Lewis had an especial affinity for those birds destined for his dinner plate; he talked to them, named them, came to recognize and appreciate their distinct personalities, and even sermonized to and baptized them. When his parents killed one for meat - chopping his head off, or breaking her neck - Lewis remained angry with them for days, and made himself scarce during these meals. Thus it was no small disappointment to see him readily dismisses the ethical implications of exploiting sentient creatures for food - not to mention, devalue the fierce bonds he formed with these beings - with a clichéd line about the circle of life.

Through graphic novel format, John Lewis tells a little about his childhood and then about his involvement in non-violent protests during the early part of the Civil Rights movement in Tennessee.

Another great non-fiction graphic novel for kids and young adults about an important part of history. It gives kids a good picture of life in the 1950s for the black community. I like the emphasis on how to make a change without using violence that Lewis emulates. I'll be eager to get the rest of this series as it comes out.

Notes on content: There's one moderate swear word, and several uses of derogatory racial terms (true to the period). No sexual content. There is some violence as people react to the sit-ins, but Lewis emphasizes how their lack of reaction made the violence die down. There is an illustration of a dead man and a bombing is mentioned (but not shown).

Because I'm not from the United States, I hadn't heard of John Lewis before this year, when then-president-elect Donald Trump accused him of being “all talk” after Lewis asserted that Trump was an "illegitimate" president. Whether or not one agrees wth that statement, Lewis – a man John McCain once called “one of the most respected men in America”, who was instrumental in organizing the sit-ins and bus that helped change the face of segregated America; spoke at the March on Washington (where King made his famous "I Have a Dream" speech); and who has been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom among other honours – is most definitively the antithesis of "all talk".

The son of Alabama sharecroppers, Lewis grew up believing he would be a preacher: he found great strength and comfort in his faith and wanted to share that with others (even preaching to the chickens he was meant to be feeding). Disillusioned with preachers that ignored the racial discrimination prevalent at the time, he became inspired by Martin Luther King's "social gospel", which aimed to apply Christian ethics to social problems. As a student, Lewis became an adherent of the nonviolent protest movement, and in March: Book One we see him and his fellow students confront the intolerance of segregated society (most notably during the Greensboro lunch-counter sit-ins) with quiet, determined dignity and a doggedness of spirit that is heartbreaking and inspiring in equal measure.

Nate Powell's sparse, evocative art is perfect for the subject matter, neither too "cartoony" nor too flat. It brings this history strikingly to life with great reverence and warmth. Even during the harshest of times, a sense of great love and hope and determination flows through the narrative, which is a testament to the writing and art working so very well together.

This a very fast and easy read, and is best approached as a primer on the US Civil Rights Movement – though this by no means diminishes its value as an educational tool, as a glimpse back into the past, or even just as a peek into the mind of a man who has spent his life fighting for freedom, justice, and peace.

Generously provided by Diamond Book Distributors.

From reviews I was aware this was a graphic novel covering facets of the Civil Rights movement, and knowing that, I was not disappointed. The story covers civil rights leader John Lewis, and explores his upbringing and his participation in some of the boycotts and marches. What really worked for me: the "behind the scenes" aspects such as how students practiced passive resistance, and their efforts to make sure their behavior at the lunch counters was non-threatening. I also liked reading about Lewis's upbringing on a farm, and his trip North with his Uncle, when they could not even stop in some states for fear of being persecuted for their race. The N word appears several times, always in context for the time.

For fans of the graphic novel format, this is an excellent introduction to a civil rights leader, and some key moments in the civil rights movement. I see this having a place on many school library shelves, and being a welcome addition to Civil Rights units.

About me: I'm a middle school/high school librarian
How I got this book: purchased for the library

Opening on the morning of President Obama's inauguration in January 2009, Rep. John Lewis's memoir, March, is a powerful recollection of a man's life growing up in a changing world.

The son of a sharecropper, Lewis grew up raising chickens, a time that still affects him powerfully. (As a boy, he even preached the Bible to his captive chicken audience.) He even keeps a collection of chicken statues in his Washington, D.C., office. It's clear that Lewis never forgets the past from which he came.

It's a heartbreaking past. March is a tribute to the courage of those who fought, spoke out, marched, and sat down in the front of the bus at a time when virtually any act could lead to arrest...or far worse. Seeing just how painful and awful it all was makes it all the more poignant when Jim Lawson tells Lewis, in 1958, "Do not let them shake your faith in nonviolence--love them!"

Lewis and co-writer Andrew Aydin (who works for Lewis handling telecommunications and technology policy) frame the book as a conversation that Lewis having with a mother and her two sons, who have shown up at his D.C. office. Their questions lead into Lewis's narrative and give him ample opportunity to recollect his life story, from childhood onto first meeting Martin Luther King Jr. and getting involved with the nonviolent movement. The art, from Nate Powell, is stunning and some of the best of Powell's career. He evokes a mood that is reverent and powerful and perfectly suited for Lewis's gentle retelling.

March is a wonderful recounting of a horrible time in American history. Its beauty as a graphic novel stands in sharp contrast to the sad nature of its contents, but that too makes the book all the more remarkable.

-- John Hogan

Every time I see Rep. John Lewis on a talk show and they open the door to have him talk about his days in the civil rights movement, I get chills. March: Book 1 brings that feeling to a format that is easy to follow, short, to the point. Yeah, it's a comic, which means that it targets an audience who might not usually find historical accounts in their to-read piles.

In just over 125 pages we're experiencing a good chunk of Mr. Lewis's life. From childhood days spent falling in love with the chickens that would land on his family's dinner table straight on through the lunch table counter sit-ins. The "story" is told in narration form - Mr. Lewis preparing to go see President Obama's inauguration, his office is visited by a family with young boys, delaying his exit as he has some stories to tell.

A great way to teach children about that time period (be forewarned there is language used in that time period that some parents may not want younger children to read -- it wasn't edited down to be politically correct). Definitely the most important comic that will come out for at least a few years (unless Volumes 2 and 3 manage to top it).

* Disclaimer: I received this book at no cost in order to review it. I offered no guarantee of a positive review, though I only request books I think I'll like because why read a book you think you'll hate?

This powerful graphic narrative (the first of three volumes) tells the story of John Lewis’ youth and the beginning of his involvement in the Civil Rights movement. As a college student, Lewis began protesting the unequal treatment of black people in Tennessee—where they were permitted to shop in stores but were refused service at lunch counters. By adopting the philosophy of nonviolent resistance—like Martin Luther King, whom Lewis soon joined—he helped galvanize thousands of college students to peacefully protest injustice.

A deceptively quick read, this book uses gritty images and dialogue to recreate a somber time in US history as experienced by a man who has dedicated his life to the fight for social justice.

We all learned about the Civil Rights movement, but our generation didn't live through it. We never had segregated bathrooms or restaurants that would take the money of one race and still not let them sit at the counter. However, just because we have never lived through THE Civil Rights Movement of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and so many others, it doesn't mean we haven't experienced the battles for Civil Rights first-hand. We watch the rights of one group or another trampled upon regularly, but what kind of person are each of us? Would you stand up against injustice? Or would you be a quiet bystander? Or would you fight to maintain the status quo?

Congressman John Lewis is no standard politician. He was part of the Civil Rights movement that led to the end of segregation in our country. In this simply amazing graphic novel, he tells his story of how life on a sharecropper's farm led to a life of freedom, movement, and justice in a world that didn't like the color of his skin.

The story starts with a mother and her young boys entering Lewis' office to show the boys where their history started. Lewis, still in the office, begins to answer the boys questions and tells them how he came to be a part of the march on Washington, and how he left that farm in Alabama to serve a higher purpose. It is the first part of a truly inspiring story that I am waiting with bated breath to continue. I have known about John Lewis, but I don't think I could have asked for a better rendition of his life than we get with this story- it is full of history, anecdotes, real sentiments and emotions, and so much more.

The beauty of this graphic history is how it draws out the true nature of nonviolence. We have all known about nonviolent protest and how successful it has been in our history, but have you ever thought of how those people remained so passive and polite when they were being beaten for simply believing they had a right to sit at the local restaurants counter? Seeing this training they all went through was so hard to experience through these words and illustrations, it kept me talking about it for a long time after I was finished. Luckily, my husband had read the story before me and was a captive audience, because this book left a need to talk in me once I had finished.

Do the people who did and said these awful things every regret their actions? The police who beat passive protestors, are they ashamed of their actions? How do they tell the story to their grandchildren? Do they tell them of how they brought their billy sticks down upon a legend like John Lewis? My husband and I talked about this story for hours, pondering the movement, the purpose of nonviolence, the people behind the fight for Civil Rights, and so much more. If we could be so captivated, I think anyone can. Whether you are a lover of graphic stories, history, strong leaders, or just a good story, this is one for you. Simply amazing, and I really hope the sequel is available soon, if for no other reason than to continue those amazing conversations I enjoyed so much!

March is a difficult but worthwhile graphic novel story of the Civil Rights struggles in the 1950s America, as seen through the eyes of John Robert Lewis. Lewis is serving in the House of Representatives but he was front and center during the Marches, working with Martin Luther King and others of that turbulent mid century era.

The book follows Lewis' upbringing - laying it all bare and bringing the reader into his story and struggles. Although it starts with a landmark moment - the inauguration of President Barack Obama in 2009, it then transitions back to a segregated Alabama,the beginnings of the Nashville Student movement,and the bitter struggle for desegregation on the steps of City Hall. The book is honest, graphic (language and violence) but also very honest. The horrifying reality of being non-white in the South is visually illustrated in both terrifying and inspiring ways. One can't help but respect all that Lewis has done in his life to bring equality to everyone in America.

This story works particularly well in the graphic format since really, we're dealing with an issue of appearance: the color of your skin. Though brutal at times, this is a very well illustrated book by NY times artist Nate Powell that ends far too soon.

What affected me the most was that Lewis was always about peaceful change - and that through those peaceful but consistent and dedicated efforts, he and his colleagues were able to affect American society and finally end a terrible and brutal history. It's a book I will hold for my daughter so that we never forget this history - lest we repeat it in the future with any person, regardless of race, religion, or color.

The narrative of John Lewis, current congressman and civil rights leader, relates his first-hand story of the civil rights movements. And this book should be in EVERY civil rights curriculum, because I know for damn sure that my schools didn't teach me ANY of the information in this book!

Sure, we were taught about the sit-ins are whites-only diners, but this book covers the preparations: learning to take being yelled at, spit upon, threatened, and anything else the fellow trainees could think of. And the actual moment of the sit-in, when they faced all that and worse. Beatings and arrests and constant threats against the family of protesters.

This book had to be a graphic novel. Nothing else would do. A simple text novel would not have brought out the same visuals in the mind. Having it in front of you drives home the realities of racism and resistance.

Superb.

There is no possible way the remaining books in this new trilogy will be sub-par to the first volume. The surface of Lewis’ story is barely touched in this slim graphic novel, and it’s told phenomenally well. Lewis flashes between present-day, as he heads out into the chilly Washington D. C. air to President Obama’s inauguration, and his childhood/adolescence in the deeply segregated South.

As a boy, he’s generally unaware of the racism surrounding him, as he’s isolated on his family’s farm and only attends school when his family doesn’t need his help at home (or when he can sneak away and hop on the bus). His uncle takes him for a vacation north and he becomes acquainted with Martin Luther King Jr. and the concept of non-violent protest. He meets the man himself and is encouraged to take part in the sit-in movement at local diners, where he and his friends are met with brutal violence in response to their peaceful protesting.

The story is nothing new to most adult readers, but it is presented in an entirely new fashion. The contrast between present day and the past shows rather than tells the changes that have taken place, and while the chosen form of presentation is a black-and-white comic book, the impact of the violence is shocking and angering; nothing is lost in translation, but much is added.

March: Book 1 is packed with facts, relevance, and discussion points, especially for young readers who might not be familiar with the subject matter. It’s an extremely quick read, but packs a wallop. This is a book that demands to be heard in an era where the results of the Civil Rights movement have been diminished due to the passing of time. I’d love to see this book taught in schools alongside Civil Rights units.

John Lewis, Georgia congressman, Civil Rights hero and last remaining speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, gives us the first installment of the story of his life and activism in "March: Book One." Lewis grew up on a small farm in Georgia, and hoped to be a preacher. He preached to the chickens which were in his charge. But the zeitgeist of the era pulled him toward the new movements to obtain civil rights for blacks, putting him into contact with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his efforts to use nonviolent means to open up busses and lunch counters to all customers. The story focuses on the sit ins held at various Montgomery, Alabama stores, and shows the raw hatred and intolerance that were the norm in the South prior to the 1960s. Lewis acquaints us with some of the lesser-known light of the movement, like lawyer Jim Lawson and Diane Nash and with the training that the protesters endured (being spit on, called names and physically threatened) to toughen themselves up and remain non-violent. Lewis is not shy about showing the divide between older blacks like Thurgood Marshall, who advocated a less confrontational approach to desegregation, and younger blacks who were impatient for justice.

The book's black-and-white panels give he story a sense of age and weightiness. But it's the gravity of the subject and the living witness of John Lewis that give the book its punch and makes the story so compelling. This all really happened, within the memory of the author and of many readers.

"March: Book One" is the story of a people on the move to reclaim their dignity and value in the context of a viciously racist America. I devoured the book and am dying for the sequel!

I'm not sure what I can say about this comic that hasn't been already said. It certainly has high accolades and has been reviewed by those familiar with both the graphic medium and history. However, I walked away from this book with a sense of wonder about the brave people who stood for the American Civil Rights movement. Objectively, I knew much of this already from my history classes and my own reading, but there's something a little bit different in seeing these events drawn out on the page with visualizations that are based around the lived experience of Representative John Lewis. The story is framed really well around a sequence depicting Rep. Lewis going to President Obama's inauguration, essentially the fulfillment (but certainly not the culmination) of the Civil Rights Movement. We delve into the major aspects of the early civil rights movement as it began in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Stunning depictions of sit-ins and organization, a delightfully strange sequence of sermonizing to chickens, and more. I was really quite impressed with the interplay between the art and narrative, especially as this was co-written by two politicos who I didn't anticipate having much experience with the comics medium. It's a great package and I eagerly await volume 2.

I was disappointed in the style or format of the writing and that it ended too early in the saga. HOwever, there is much news about it all if one is interested in that aspect. The Rev. Richard Reece

The narrative of John Lewis, current congressman and civil rights leader, relates his first-hand story of the civil rights movements. And this book should be in EVERY civil rights curriculum, because I know for damn sure that my schools didn't teach me ANY of the information in this book!

Sure, we were taught about the sit-ins are whites-only diners, but this book covers the preparations: learning to take being yelled at, spit upon, threatened, and anything else the fellow trainees could think of. And the actual moment of the sit-in, when they faced all that and worse. Beatings and arrests and constant threats against the family of protesters.

This book had to be a graphic novel. Nothing else would do. A simple text novel would not have brought out the same visuals in the mind. Having it in front of you drives home the realities of racism and resistance.

Superb.

There is no possible way the remaining books in this new trilogy will be sub-par to the first volume. The surface of Lewis’ story is barely touched in this slim graphic novel, and it’s told phenomenally well. Lewis flashes between present-day, as he heads out into the chilly Washington D. C. air to President Obama’s inauguration, and his childhood/adolescence in the deeply segregated South.

As a boy, he’s generally unaware of the racism surrounding him, as he’s isolated on his family’s farm and only attends school when his family doesn’t need his help at home (or when he can sneak away and hop on the bus). His uncle takes him for a vacation north and he becomes acquainted with Martin Luther King Jr. and the concept of non-violent protest. He meets the man himself and is encouraged to take part in the sit-in movement at local diners, where he and his friends are met with brutal violence in response to their peaceful protesting.

The story is nothing new to most adult readers, but it is presented in an entirely new fashion. The contrast between present day and the past shows rather than tells the changes that have taken place, and while the chosen form of presentation is a black-and-white comic book, the impact of the violence is shocking and angering; nothing is lost in translation, but much is added.

March: Book 1 is packed with facts, relevance, and discussion points, especially for young readers who might not be familiar with the subject matter. It’s an extremely quick read, but packs a wallop. This is a book that demands to be heard in an era where the results of the Civil Rights movement have been diminished due to the passing of time. I’d love to see this book taught in schools alongside Civil Rights units.

John Lewis, Georgia congressman, Civil Rights hero and last remaining speaker from the 1963 March on Washington, gives us the first installment of the story of his life and activism in "March: Book One." Lewis grew up on a small farm in Georgia, and hoped to be a preacher. He preached to the chickens which were in his charge. But the zeitgeist of the era pulled him toward the new movements to obtain civil rights for blacks, putting him into contact with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his efforts to use nonviolent means to open up busses and lunch counters to all customers. The story focuses on the sit ins held at various Montgomery, Alabama stores, and shows the raw hatred and intolerance that were the norm in the South prior to the 1960s. Lewis acquaints us with some of the lesser-known light of the movement, like lawyer Jim Lawson and Diane Nash and with the training that the protesters endured (being spit on, called names and physically threatened) to toughen themselves up and remain non-violent. Lewis is not shy about showing the divide between older blacks like Thurgood Marshall, who advocated a less confrontational approach to desegregation, and younger blacks who were impatient for justice.

The book's black-and-white panels give he story a sense of age and weightiness. But it's the gravity of the subject and the living witness of John Lewis that give the book its punch and makes the story so compelling. This all really happened, within the memory of the author and of many readers.

"March: Book One" is the story of a people on the move to reclaim their dignity and value in the context of a viciously racist America. I devoured the book and am dying for the sequel!

March provides excellent information presented in a format that will likely draw-in a wide base of readers -- including reluctant readers -- to learn about these very important events in the civil rights movement. Nate Powell's illustrations really convey each character's emotions and feelings, and of course, given that it's autobiographical from the much respected US Congressman John Lewis adds the punch to make this graphic novel a must-read for young adults and adults alike. Lewis does a great job of honoring both black and white activists of the times and reminding readers of the struggles in trying to protest in non-violent ways -- especially when so many were (are?) so quick to resort to violence to "solve" problems. Full review with links on my blog at http://kristinehallways.blogspot.com/2015/06/march.html

I'm not sure what I can say about this comic that hasn't been already said. It certainly has high accolades and has been reviewed by those familiar with both the graphic medium and history. However, I walked away from this book with a sense of wonder about the brave people who stood for the American Civil Rights movement. Objectively, I knew much of this already from my history classes and my own reading, but there's something a little bit different in seeing these events drawn out on the page with visualizations that are based around the lived experience of Representative John Lewis. The story is framed really well around a sequence depicting Rep. Lewis going to President Obama's inauguration, essentially the fulfillment (but certainly not the culmination) of the Civil Rights Movement. We delve into the major aspects of the early civil rights movement as it began in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Stunning depictions of sit-ins and organization, a delightfully strange sequence of sermonizing to chickens, and more. I was really quite impressed with the interplay between the art and narrative, especially as this was co-written by two politicos who I didn't anticipate having much experience with the comics medium. It's a great package and I eagerly await volume 2.

Much detail has been packed into the March trilogy. My review is about all three books. Reading just one is like reading the third of the way through a book. It’s not a simple overview of the Civil Rights Movement and Representative John Lewis’ part in it. It is the passionate story of Lewis determination to find freedom for his segregated brothers and sisters. At times I was a little confused about what was happening, but if I studied the graphics as well as the text, it made sense. I am impressed with how the creative writing team made this book both an intimate story of Lewis and an epic story of American History. This would be a great addition to any high school study of civil rights.

I was disappointed in the style or format of the writing and that it ended too early in the saga. HOwever, there is much news about it all if one is interested in that aspect. The Rev. Richard Reece

Graphic novels are not my go to book when I pick one up to read but learning about John Lewis after reading the picture book PREACHING TO THE CHICKENS, I was intrigued to read about his period of history when he marched in the 60s.

So glad I did as I learned more from reading this young adult graphic novel than I would reading a straightforward written account of it. Throughout this book, I was in the moment each step of the way.

A mustread for all ages. The images are too graphic for young readers though.

Written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell. Published by Top Shelf Productions.

A beautifully drawn book about the life of John Lewis, civil rights activist and U.S. Representative for Georgia's 5th congressional district. It movingly tells the story of how Rep. Lewis became a hero of the civil rights movement and his bravery and fortitude in the struggle for equality. The descriptions of how students learned about non-violent theory and techniques, their support for each other and their steadfast engagement with the White power structure to desegregate lunch counters was gripping. The black and white illustrations are sometimes broad-stroked, sometimes finely-tuned. My favorite is the illustration which shows a side view of John Lewis realizing that non-violence was "the way out" and that his mentor's words about it "liberated me." So touching. This will be perfect for my 10 year old daughter and for my students. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to review this book for an honest review.

You'll need to use a good sized screen for this. The text is very small and not every device will let you enlarge it. I was able to read it will on my Nexus 7 tablet. The book was decent, i wish it had been longer. Going to end up being an expensive way to get a history less when all 3 books are purchased.

Congressman Lewis is an American Treasure. I am grateful to have an accessible way to teach my kids about the amazing work and the acts of bravery that the leaders of the Civil Rights Movement have done. We have a long way to go, but we would not have gotten as far as we have without these stories.

I lived thru the time of the civil rights sit-Ins and marches, but I didn't understand what was going on at the time. This explains the effect that people of conviction and deep courage actually had on civil rights. The Civil War wasn't enough and neither were the 60's protests, and the struggle against oppressors continues today. Expect more great things of Americans with a righteous purpose. Great book. Share!

I love learning about the early days of the Civil Rights Movement, especially in the form of a graphic novel. My only complaint is that sometimes the writing takes over too much instead of letting the illustrations speak for themselves. It also makes the actual writing on the page more difficult to read.

It's accessible to read. It combines the realism of nonfiction (because it is nonfiction) with the story-telling oomph of fiction. It provides information while at the same time making the reader think and evaluate. I think it's not just a worthwhile read, but also imperative to one's knowledge of both the past civil rights movement and today's political climate.

I haven't read a "comic book" in years so this was a treat. There was a simplicity to the narration of the story, yet a powerful biographical memory of Congressman John Lewis' experience during the civil rights movement. Having the illustrations every step of the way helped to put faces to all those brave souls who stood up for equality and justice. This little book should be required reading as it is an important part of American history. What student wouldn't want to read a comic book for class? I'm looking forward to reading the next two books in the series.

This book covers way more history than the Selma March...and it's fantastic.

I love the "storytelling" point of view that it takes and the tiny bits of history are painted through drama rather than overwhelming with facts.

I especially liked reading about how Lewis grew up, his parents' ideals, how he heard about the Civil Rights Movement, etc.

Lewis' bravery and relentless spirit steal the show. A great book for kids and adults.

March is a powerful graphic novel on the early life of Civil and Human Rights Activist and current Georgian congressman, John Lewis. This memoir begins with John's childhood growing up on a farm in rural, Alabama. His job was to tend to the chickens. He wanted to be a preacher and the chickens were his first congregation. Right away he started to protest the treatment of his chickens and as they became food for dinner, he refused to eat.

John Lewis grew up to be very influential in the Civil Rights Movement. He meets Martin Luther King Jr. and that experience changes his life. He joins and participates in non-violent protest and social action in Nashville, Tennessee. Like many activists of this time, John Lewis gets arrested but change happens and he is a big part of it.

The artwork in this book is amazing. There are many beautiful, gut-wrenching drawings of the Civil Rights Movement. The art is done in stark black and white and it is moving. I felt transported to another place in time and was enveloped in the story because of the beauty and expression contained in the graphic artwork.

Looking forward to the next volume. Hope I don't have to wait to long.

As I had no idea about John Lewis I really appreciated this graphic novel, that should be an obliged reading in this trump's days. I hope I can read the sequels.

Siccome non avevo idea di chi fosse John Lewis, sono rimasta particolarmente colpita da questa graphic novel che in questi giorni in cui trump si insedia, dovrebbe essere resa lettura obbligatoria l nelle scuole, secondo me. Spero di poter leggere il seguito.

Let me preface by saying I dislike comic books and graphic novels. So. Much. That being said this was okay because of the topic. I respect John Lewis so much that I will state that this wasn't so bad. Graphic novel fans will love it. Go for it. My challenge for a graphic novel has been satisfied.

This is a graphic book about John Lewis' beginnings in the civil rights movement. It was very factually accurate and concise. I bought this because our County library was asking everyone to read it. I will see if I can get the grandkids to read it. This is important history for all of us!

I'm a 65-year-old white woman who never liked comic books, so I didn't expect to enjoy this, purchased it to support a man I greatly admire. And what a page-turner, I couldn't put it down. His gently self-effacing humor and the stunning graphics won me over. In places I found the very small print a little hard to read, but a magnifying glass solved that problem. Highly recommend.

Every American should read this book. It only takes at most an hour and shows where we have been in our inter-racial relationships, and the brave people who did everything they could to move us forward. We have a long way to go but, because of John Lewis and others like him, we also have come a long way

It's hard to read this and not find similarities between the fear and prejudice of today and that of the 1950s and 1960s. Somehow we learn but we don't change. We fear and act out against the people who've tired of being under our oppression and have the tenacity to speak out. We tell the organized masses who believe in equality that their unified voice is a mob or a riot. We're so scared of healthy, meaningful conflict because we defend our side of history and any actual debate might prove we are on the wrong side. This book is super important to us now. Read it and let's continue to love our enemy until we can find harmony, until the hate melts away, and, one by one, we show people that equality is not scary or dirty or political. Let's be humans. Oh, and the pictures are very pretty.

This is incredible. As someone who grew up about a half-hour from Nashville, I'm confused and frustrated that I never learned about Congressman John Lewis's involvement in the Civil Rights movement, where he was involved with it. I loved this. It was beautifully drawn and filled with the powerful and true story of John Lewis. Everyone should read this.

Beautiful art and an important story. I'm always looking for meaningful graphic novels for my daughter because she loves them, but this is one that children and adults should read. Also, one that adults should read with children and then start a dialogue and answer questions.

I finally got around to reading this and I’m glad I did. The book provided a new narrative on the Civil Rights movement that was touching and well paced. I look forward to reading the next part soon!

This book takes us back to the very beginning of the civil rights movement, of which John Lewis was one of the first leaders. It is very easy to read and gives much more detail than we get in history class. Going to read the next one too!

Great way to teach today's youth about hte civil rights movement. A personal account, by someone - now Congressman John Lewis who was there. Voting righs, civil rights ar not an African-American or Black issue. They are an American issue that everyone can learn more about and act upon.

As a political history, I was concerned that this book would be simplistic, predictable and preachy. It's not. It's a fascinating glimpse into the life of a young black man that is compelling from both a personal and historic level.

The artwork and narration work extremely well together and the vivid details really help depict Congressman Lewis as an individual. It helps to view this on a large screen, as the lettering is small.

Read this book. Educate yourself about our history so we won’t repeat the same mistake as history has done. We are smarter and better thanks to the brave souls who stood up for what they believe in and paved the way for the future generations.

I loved everything about this graphic book. The drawings and the writing made the book come alive. I gained new insights into the civil rights movement by reading this book. I am looking forward to reading Book Two.

This first book of the March trilogy does a wonderful job of capturing the early days of John Lewis's early life as a civil rights activist. The graphic novel format is wonderful. Happy to included in my course this year. Dr. Bickmore

The first person perspective of the historical events we learn about in school in invaluable in this day and age. All should read this and take the indispensable advice of those who changed the world for the better

“March: Book One” is an important book. It paints an accessible, behind the scenes glimpse into the Civil Rights Movement in the United States in graphic novel form. It is well done, makes the major figures of the Civil Rights Movement more human, and is a great example of what the comic format is capable of. I am looking forward to reading subsequent books in this series.

That said, I do have a problem with the book. Why is this book only part of a planned “trilogy?” It is paperback, is only 121 pages, and was published at a list price of $14.95. That makes the cost for all three books, an estimated 363 pages, a total of $44.85. Compare this to another imprint on Top Shelf, Eddie Campbell’s “Alec: The Years Have Pants” which runs 640 pages, is also in black and white, and which is priced at $28.73 paperback and $37.45 hardcover. I guess initial pricing has to do with supply and demand, but if one of the aims of this book is to put accessible stories of the Civil Rights Movement into the hands of young adults, a more appropriate price point which they can actually afford might open up access to it considerably. I think a single volume compiling all three books into one more cost-effective volume would be a great move to get this important story out there and into the hands which matter most – the children, our future.

Boys who prefer comics over any other kind of print material will appreciate this autobiographical account of the early life of Congressman John Lewis. His determination to fight for what he knew was right sets a good example for young readers regardless of race.

I would encourage Mr. Lewis to publish his projected three-volume autobiography in a traditional manner for that larger group of readers who are not drawn to comics, but would appreciate knowing about this outstanding Civil Rights leader and his accomplishments.

I went to a book review with John Lewis. After listening him talk about growing up in the south, I realized I needed to learn more about this movement he participated. I would start with his two March books. As all this was happening, I was living in Minnesota totally isolated from the hate and prejudice. I will be reading Book Two this week. I highly recommend this book for everyone.

Fantastic. Should be a story that is part of the school curriculum along with other personal accounts. I felt that my school flew past the Civil Rights Movement much too quickly and with few details. It would benefit many to read John Lewis's story.

John's story is told so well. The pain and suffering to be treated human is heartbreaking and infuriating. It has always amazed me how nasty and evil people can be but even more amazing are those that overcome terror and ignorance for the benefit of future generations. This book captures all of these elements so well. I'm so fortunate to have read this fantastic book.

This graphic novel is engaging and a fast read. I have the first two books from attending a presentation by Lewis, Aydin and Powell. The subject matter is captivating and I recommend it to anyone.

Note: the content of book one is not especially violent but there are several uses of the racial slurs.

The pages of history come to life in this book with all the hope, pain, and faith inherent in this story. I couldn't put this down, and I recommend it to everyone. This is American history, yes, but also a personal story of a man whose life can inspire us all. Thank you for that, Rep. John lewis.

*Reviews by Class of 9 5th grade students + 1 teacher
Average rating between the 10 of us: 2.9*

Review by J.G.:
The comic march is about a guy named John Lewis in many different times of his life. He is a kid who wants to be a preacher when he grows up but faces challenges from racism so he tries his best to stop racism. As a kid he loves his chickens like family, he even baptized one and almost killed it. One day he goes on a road trip to the north and realizes there is still hope for his race. When he grows up and he meets Martin Luther King Jr. he is very inspired by him. Later in his years he participates in a couple sit-ins but gets arrested but keeps on living life.
The Book march is shocking for a couple reasons. It has a lot of curse words for example, the n word, the b word, and the f word. Another reason is it is very violent. For example, in the sit-ins people were getting horribly beat by the racist white southerners. Another reason is people die like in the beginning in the Selma march they were throwing tear gas and beating to death. For example, Emmett Till was found dead at the age of just 14. So if you want to read a shocking book March is the right one for you.

Review by H.S.:
March Book One is a graphic novel narrated by John Lewis, an influential figure of the civil rights moment. The story begins with Lewis preparing to attend the inauguration of President Obama, and then dives into his vivid memories from childhood and young adulthood. Readers travel back in time to Lewis’ journey with civil rights—from his days preaching to chickens and visiting a desegregated city for the first time, to meeting Martin Luther King and leading numerous sit-ins. The novel ends on a hopeful note, with Lewis rising as a noteworthy leader of a civil rights victory in Nashville, but it also indicates there are many more battles to come.
I think March is an enlightening, shocking, and inspiring book. With no sugar-coating whatsoever, the novel reveals countless unbelievable ways that black people were abused during this time period. From old ladies frantically dashing out of whites-only restrooms in terror and disgust simply because a black person used it, to judges literally turning their backs and ignoring lawyers defending black protestors, each page of this book elicits some serious cringing and jaw-dropping. On the other hand, the book also constantly inspires readers, as Lewis and other activists consistently act with kindness, patience, and nonviolence in the face of cruelty and injustice. Everyone involved in activism today should aspire to show the same determination and dignity as Lewis and his peers did. Overall, if you are looking to learn about the civil rights movement and to draw inspiration from one of the leaders of the cause, John Lewis’ autobiography is fantastic reading material, and its graphic novel format makes it even more impactful and accessible to a variety of audiences.

Review by A.O.:
This is my summary of March Book one. The book march is amazing because a boy named John Lewis who came to many bad things like when he stay strong when they get beaten down by white men. And they were calm when the police was arresting them. They are so brave to sit in the dark and will wait until they get serve by the whites, meanwhile the white men were calling them the “N” word. And I like the part when the young men gave his scarf. But the best part I really love when he meet Dr. King. It was pretty sad when a young boy got kill by whites.
I think the book march is amazing because they were brave and strong. And it will help you by telling you about the past and how white people treat black people. But it has little word that I can’t read it but it is okay. So if you want to read something that is NOT boring you need to read the Book March. So go and read the book March.

Review by D.T.:
First they did a march then John went to his office spoke to kids they did sit-ins, they got arrested they desegregated lunch counters, then the lawyer got bombed.
In my opinion this book is bad and racist I think this because it’s a waste of time and it’s a very long book. It’s racist because they killed an African American boy named Emit Till and the white people that killed him weren’t arrested. I think it’s boring because it has so many flashbacks to random times for no reason and no one cares about the sit-ins that they did or the marches.an example of a flashbacks was he, was he was in his office talking to kids and it flashes back to when he was a little boy and for the next 25 pages it’s about chickens and in those pages you start thinking about not reading the rest of the book. Another reason is nothing is really happening in the book it’s just flashbacks and him in his office talking to kids. If you read the book you will see what I’m talking about. Another reason is why you shouldn’t read it is because it has a lot of curse words in it so you can read it just don’t give it to a child under the age of 7. This is why you shouldn’t read this book it’s a complete waste of time and nothing is really happening in the book its very boring don’t buy it. It is horrible.

Review by E.S.:
This book is about a guy name John Luwis and he was talking about his childhood. when he was younger the white people would say the n word, even though the white people were being racist he didn’t he didn’t really care he stand up for his people.
When he was younger he loved chicken and he even played preacher with the chicken and almost killed a baby chicken by baptizing it. When john uncle came he was so happy to see him. So they went on a road trip to go to New York and when they got there he was so surprise because white people where living next to them and he liked it there when john got back home he was crying because he was so happy to be back. So when john got older he ask Dr. king if he could march but Dr. king said if you march you have to sign this paper and if you march your home would get attack by the white people.
I think that this book is bad because this book was not for kids and it has to many curse words. For an example when john was in the car with his uncle the white people looked at him and said what are those n words doing in a car the n word it even said the b word for an example John was sitting at a counter and this man said you son of b word. The final reason why it was bad because they show a dead guy and that’s not fair because those white people who killed the guy didn’t get arrested the two person. And that’s why you should not read the book it only for adult not for kids.

Review by H.W.:
The story march was about john Lewis it talk about His life when he was little and when he was an adult love chicken but he hate Seeing his parent catching it and killing it for dinner. For dinner he would hide in his room one day he Almost kill one of his chicken but he had a idea so He put the chicken outside so it can get dry so it can Come back alive so it did work. sometimes he would Preach to his chickens because he love his chicken So bad one day When he was little he he and his uncle Otis and aunt took Trip on June 51 they would pack a lot of food by The Time he and his uncle and aunt reach lake erie And Turned east toward buffalo ,he was about ready To Get burst with excitement he said arriving in Buffalo After seventeen hours of travel was an otherworldly Experience it was busy ,almost FRANTIC WHEN THEY REACH HIS UNCLE O.C’S HOUSE HE COULDN’T BELIEVE IT BY LATE AUGUST WHEN IT WAS TIME FOR HIM TO RETURNED TO ALABAMA HE WAS MORE THEN READY AND WHEN HE ARRIVE HOME HE WAS CRY BECAUSE HE MISS HIS MON AND DAD WHE HE WAS A TEENAGER HE WANTED TO GO TO THIS COLLEGE IT WAS ONLY FOR WHITE KID’’S SO HE WENT TO ANOTHER SCHOOL ONE DAY HE MARCH TO THE RESTRANT BUT THE WHITE PEOPLE WOULDN’T SERVED THEM SO THEY WAITED QUITELY BUT THEY GOT ARRESTED BECAUSE THEY WOULDN’T GET OUT SO THEIR AT JAIL SINGING AND THE POLICE GOT ANOYING AND THEY WANT THEM TO BE RELEASE THEY GOT RELEASE AT 11:00 P.M. BY THE THE END OF THE MONTH THEY DECIDED THEY WAITED LONG ENOUGH SO FRIDAY THE 25 MORE OF THEM MARCHEDFROM FRIST THE BAPTIST HURCH THEN THEY MURCH TO NINE DOWNTOWN STORES AND THEIR WERE NO ARREST THAT DAY on May 10, 1960 those six downtown Nashville store served food to black costumers for the first time in the city’s history.
In my opinion john Lewis LIKES TO HELP THE WORLD TO BE NICE TO EACH OTHER. FOR ONE REASON IS HE WANTED TO GO TO THE BUT THE WHITE PEOPLE DIDN’T SERVED THEM. FOR AN EXAMPLE HE DID SIT-INS. That why I think john Lewis is helpful.

Review by C.J.V.:
The summary is about when JOHN LEWIS remembering everything when some talks about it and then we will talk about all the things he went through out everything and how he hated when his family killed a chicken… And a graphic novel and + had a lot of cause words like *****,N,****.
And that’s why I think it’s shocking because it say a lot of cause wow a lot of it. And another reson I say it is bad because a lot of books I read never said a cause word, never In today I read it and a lot of cause word I promise. For ex I read a part were they were so volince were they killed Emmett Till and beat him up and druwn him(and he got killed). So then why I think it’s bad is even when they get arrested and black go to a wagon and whites go to anther I know right why. I also ask myself why???????. And another reason why is bad is because it also had resist people getting scared of the black people, if there not going to harm anybody!!!@@!@!So all this is why I give it a 3 star is because half was nothing was interesting, and the other is because I like it and 12% was ignoring it.

Review by M.S.:
THE SUMMARY IS ABOUT JOHN LEWIS STORY ON MARCH BOOK ONE. At the beginning Lewis was marching at Selma to Montgomery. But they got killed. And took use forward in time. Which was boring to see that happen. Then 3 people went to Lewis office. There were 2 kids and 1 adult in Lewis’s office. After that Lewis told the 2 kids a story. And then Lewis told another story just because the phone rang like crazy and by crazy I mean crazy.
Opinion statement March book one: I think this book is shocking. I feel this way because it says too many curse words. For example the n word is use not just the n word the f b d and a word is used a lot of times. Another reason is shocking because Emmett Till died so badly. For example he got beaten and drowned to death. My final reason it is that it was shocking is that it keeps flash backing and forward a lot of times. For example, at the begging it went from the march to the 2009 like what. Now that you know this book is shocking let`s read march book one today.

Review by K.O.:
The Book March is an autobiography. It talks about the life of John Lewis. It tells how John wanted to be a preacher like MLK he even tried to baptizing his chickens he almost killed his chickens. He also had to eat his chickens the even worst part he had to kill them☹. He also went on a road trip whit his uncle to New York and he saw his city can change tow like New York. At the age of 15 he wanted to go to a white only college so he met MLK to see if there’s any way to get in but he had Sue the state. So he went to a different college. He also became a ladder of sit-ins. He got arrested during a sit-in the major dialed him out but he still needed to go to court. The judge was so rude that he didn’t even look at the layer while he was taking. After that his layer got boomed so he and other black people marched to major. The major told them that they can sit at the center of a restaurant only if the managers let the
My opinion I think this book is shocking. I think this because it has a lot of violence. For example, it shows a dead body. Another reason it is shocking it is resist. For example, it says the N word. Anotor reason is too much cussing. For example, it says the n word. I think you should read this book.

Review by R.T.:
When he was a little boy he wanted to be preacher he wanted to go to school but his parents did not allow him to go to school. His parents did that so he can help his mom farming. One day he went to a road trip to new work people were way nicer there. When he grew up his mom was working part time job his mom found a paper about collage for black woman and men he wanted to go and he was accepted. After few years black woman and men wore getting beat up and he went to help them but got beat up the police arrested the black People Instead of white in the jail. Black people kept saying we shall overcome someday we are not alone and the police let them go because the police thought they were annoying or maybe the mayor let them out. I’ll tell you more in 1 year lol.
I think March book one is a good book but if a kid reads and thinks the book cover was about a superhero. The kid will buy the book and when he starts to read the book he will turn bad because the book is violent beating up and killing it says bad words. Such as b words n words so the people who are reading this. If u parents have a child that loves reading and find the book march don’t order it because it will turn your kid bad. The ones who wants there kid to be bad order this book for them I say this book is bad for kids it might make your child bad by reading this book. It’s only for Grownups or age 12 11 or higher ages. So I want u parents not to buy or let them read this book your kids will turn bad because the book has bad words and violent killing beating up it will make your child bad or mite make them a gangster. It’s only for people 12 11 or higher so watch out parents.

I had a different expectation. The print was too small to read. Even though all the facts were there I had a hard time concentrating. I would have chosen a better artist who could depict the scene better catching the emotion of people during that time. If this book is for school children I THINK IT TOTALLY LOST ITS VALUE. Such an important historical book and I would try to make it better in next edition than to be shelved and locked.

I.m not a fan of graffic publications and ordered this one because discrediting the period. I think it is very well done and brought many memories back. It brought out many thlngs I did not know,especially that it started as peaceful demonstrations by the blacks. I was a white high school senior in HUntsville when the MARCH on Selma happened. Issued with the Negroes because my mother taught me to respect everyone. She grew up very poor and several times they moved into houses the Methods moved out of. It's tragic that our nation seems to be going back to those days under Republican control of house and congress. Frankly, I think President Obama has done a good job, considering the mess he inherited and Congressional opposition. We need more men like him and John Lewis.

An effective way to educate new generations about the intense cruelty experienced by the non-violent civil rights activists and the victories their actions achieved. It's critical that this history be known.

A couple of times I had to backtrack to catch the full story because it jumps around in time and I didn't catch it in the graphics, but the history contained in its pages is important and interesting.

Rather superficial coverage of the author's personal experiences during the pre Civil Rights movement. I bought this, because a review of it on the Diane Rehm Show made it sound like a work steeped in emotion and inner reflection. Frankly, for the cost of the book, I could've watched a month of FOX News and been moved more by all the lies and distortions coming out of Hannity's mouth.

This could be a really good graphic novel and my review is by no means based on the quality of the novel, it’s strictly because it’s a “first-hand account“ by a man that I believe is a Sellout.

The comic book format was very hard to read even after expanding the page. Tried reading a couple of pages and got very frustrated. I then deleted all three books. I didn't know how to get a refund but would like a credit on the store.

I did not expect the book to be all in cartoon style, my fault on that. The words were very small on the kindle and had to take my glasses off. Was really expecting more info as this author was there. Very little insight into it, in my opinion. Would not recommend it.