Name: March, Book One Book Discussion Kit
ISBN: 9781603093002

Andrew Aydin

Ann Bausum

This graphic novel is Congressman John Lewis' first-hand account of his lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement. Book One spans Lewis' youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a climax on the steps of City Hall.

Kits for Teens

March, Book One Book Discussion Kit

John Lewis

Nate Powell

Welcome to the stunning conclusion of the award-winning and best-selling MARCH trilogy. Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, joins co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell to bring the lessons of history to vivid life for a new generation, urgently relevant for today's world.

March

Sarah Sammis

Where the first two were released midway through President Obama's second term, this volume was released at the end. There is still a sense of hope that things will continue on the progressive path with a Clinton win. Reading this five years later the violence and protests depicted take on new meaning, new urgency.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2021/comm...

March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell is the start of a trilogy that recounts Senator Lewis's participation in the civil rights movement. Lewis's memoir is framed in the story of him meeting with some attendees to President Obama's second inauguration. 

http://pussreboots.pair.com/blog/2017...

The award-winning, best-selling series returns, as John Lewis' story continues through Freedom Rides and the legendary 1963 March on Washington. Original.

Riders, such as author John Lewis, faced arrests, beatings, the threat of lynchings, and firebombing of the busses. Busses were often stopped at state lines, refused passage, refused maintenance or gas, or delayed until riders gave up.

http://pussreboots.com/blog/2018/comm...

Stephanie Denton

Really interesting story of John Lewis and the peaceful protests of the 1960's. I'd recommend it for upper middle school, 7th or 8th, and up, depending on maturity. There's some violence, and the "n" word is said often. The fact that it's an autobiography is what makes it so powerful. This is book one. I'm looking forward to reading two and three.

chloe rae

What an incredible human being. A true hero. I can’t wait to read more about John Lewis and his story! Off to read the next one.

Mani Mohan

After reading Maus and Persepolis, this was my next outing in the world of graphic novels. What a wonderful read and amazing illustration by Nate Powell. This part showcases the younger days of John Lewis - from being a boy to keenly following the Montgomery bus boycott - and then organizing Nashville sit-in and finally about his meet with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 

Looking forward to the next two parts of this series. 

"Get in good trouble, necessary trouble.". RIP John Lewis!

Lara Engle

Once again, the comic book format helps personalize a difficult topic, bringing readers of all ages and races into the thick of the origins of the civil rights movement. John Lewis is one of those people who know so many important figures and was involved in so many key events that it starts to seem unbelievable. But it's all true.

This book is well-written, well-structured, and well-illustrated. My only complaint is that they split it into three books instead of letting me read it all as one.

The second installment of March takes us through freedom rides, the establishment of the Big Six, the march on Washington, and the bombing of a Birmingham church. Lewis's voice of experience and authority, together with the striking black and white drawings, bring an emotion and immediacy to the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s that makes us feel like we were there. No matter your age, race, gender, or other identifying factors, the March series is for you.

Like many third books of trilogies, this one is mired in political details. Yes, these ones are true and crucial to the civil rights movement, but it still makes it harder to follow and understand. But, like the first two books, this one has stunning and effective artwork and a first-hand description of events that only someone entrenched in the movement could give. Overall, an informative and moving trilogy.

Lynette Pedersen

I think the third book improved on the second in that the illustrations conveyed more of the information they were trying to convey without the narrative. I got lost a couple times wondering what was going on on a few pages of the second one, but not this one. There were several parts that were very moving, but it is still very troubling to realize that all of this happened in my parents' adulthood, and the culmination just two years before my older sister was born. The freshness is both comforting and disturbing. Comforting in that it helps explain why this problem still hasn't gone away, but still deeply disturbing in that we forget the struggle, brutality, and deaths so easily.

Congressman John Lewis (GA-5) is an American icon, one of the key figures of the civil rights movement. His commitment to justice and nonviolence has taken him from an Alabama sharecropper's farm to the halls of Congress, from a segregated schoolroom to the 1963 March on Washington, and from receiving beatings from state troopers to receiving the Medal of Freedom from the first African-American president. Now, to share his remarkable story with new generations, Lewis presents March, a graphic novel trilogy, in collaboration with co-writer Andrew Aydin and New York Times best-selling artist Nate Powell (winner of the Eisner Award and LA Times Book Prize finalist for Swallow Me Whole). March is a vivid first-hand account of John Lewis' lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis' personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement. Book One spans John Lewis' youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., the birth of the Nashville Student Movement, and their battle to tear down segregation through nonviolent lunch counter sit-ins, building to a stunning climax on the steps of City Hall. Many years ago, John Lewis and other student activists drew inspiration from the 1958 comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story. Now, his own comics bring those days to life for a new audience, testifying to a movement whose echoes will be heard for generations.

March: Book One

Patty Pforte

A great third act in john lewis' story 

Great storytelling and powerful images to accompany this important and well told history through John Lewis' eyes! A must read!

Melanie Richards

Felt emotionally tied to this personal account. The graphic novel format is used beautifully for John Lewis's story.

The story of the civil rights movement is a familiar one, but reading an account so personal as this one deepens your understanding of how much personal sacrifice and courage was required for progress. I feel even more gratitude to these brave men and women, and I see reflections in their struggle now and how much more work there is to be done.

Caroline Lewicki

Another spectacular piece of history told by John Lewis. The second volume of the March series highlights the March on Washington, the Freedom Rides, and Lewis' work with SNCC. I learned a lot more about the history of Freedom Rides from this sequel. I look forward to reading the third in the series, as the second leaves you wanting more in general, but ends with a cliffhanger as well.

An inspiring conclusion to the incredible graphic novel series. I was surprised that this last installment did not include the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., as it highlighted the assassinations and deaths of so many other crucial members of the Civil Rights Movement; nonetheless, this was a stunning series that I thoroughly enjoyed and one that I think is more important than ever.

Such an incredible graphic novel about the beginnings of the Civil Rights Movement. I had expected to really hear John Lewis' voice throughout, but it felt like John Lewis was talking straight to me. I almost forgot that he stops narrating it to the young visitors at some point, it was so personal. I can't wait to continue this series!

Sahi K

As my knowledge of American history is relatively very new, I only got to know about Rep. John Lewis and his contribution to the Civil Rights movement a few years ago when I was living in Atlanta; around the same time the third part of this graphic novel won the National Book Award. I’ve wanted to read this series since then but it never worked out, and it’s such a shame on my part that it took this great leader’s demise to make me pick it up. But even if it’s late, I still think it’s the correct time because of all the Black Lives Matter protests that are taking place again across the country, and I think it’s never not the right time to remember our history and learn more about the people who are the reason for us having so many of our rights today.

I thought the story was really endearing because it’s told as Rep. Lewis getting ready to attend President Obama’s inauguration, but stopping to answer some questions for a couple of little Black boys visiting his office. And learning about an innocent boy who loved taking care of the chickens on the form, his profound desire to become a preacher which even led to sermonizing to the chickens, and ultimately realizing that he can do so much more in the fight for civil rights while studying at a seminary - it’s a very very inspirational narrative. I had only heard about the lunch counter sit-ins but reading/seeing it and understanding how it was all being done by masses of students who felt called to fight for their rights is really admirable, and reminds us again why we see so many young people on the streets these days - they are always on the forefront when fighting for radical changes. 

The art style is kept black and white, probably to evoke the aesthetic of the 50s and it’s simple but very evocative and powerful. The violence depicted is also kept very sanitized, probably because this book is catering towards a much younger audience but I’m sure it might not be fully avoidable in the next parts. 

On the whole, I think this book/series is a wonderful resource for young Americans to know more about their Civil Rights history and one of its most powerful leaders, especially the events which might always be taught in detail in school. I found it to be very powerful, emotional and inspirational, and I can’t wait to get to part two. And let’s all remember this great leader who suffered so much for the lives we enjoy today, and take up the mantle upon our shoulders to continue to cause “good trouble”, as he called it.

Laura Yaneth Martinez

I love it. 

I need to start reading more historical books.

Grace O'Callaghan

CW: Animal death, violence, racial slurs, police brutality

An extremely heart breaking and powerful graphic memoir about John Lewis and the Civil Rights Movement.

The style is perfect for the tone of the story. It’s in black and white and is extremely effective in telling the story as it makes every image and piece of text stand out instead of getting washed out by colour.

I think this is the perfect introduction for anyone to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. It’s quick and easy to read as well as being accessible to children. I wasn’t taught much about the black experience in school, just a bit about Martin Luther King and I’m just so disappointed in the education system for not teaching us about lots of different histories from people of all walks of life.

We learn quite a bit about John Lewis and his early life. About how he was inspired by MLK’s words and wanted to make a difference.
It was also interesting how the younger generation wanted things to change more than the older ones as the older generation have learned that if they keep their heads down and do as their told, they’ll have a better chance at being accepted.

All in all this was an emotional read and I can’t wait to read the second volume.

Rose Stanley

I'm letting this review stand for all 3 volumes of this story. Every school library should have a copy.

Jennifer Dieter

This series is really well done. The juxtaposition between President Obama’s inauguration and the events leading up to the March on Selma is very powerful. The art is engaging and heightens the emotional experience of reading Civil Rights history told through John Lewis’ words.

Tiffany Robinson

This was a great story. Very moving and aspiring. The artwork really made the story come alive.

March, Book One Book Discussion Kit Kits for Teens