March: Book Three

Printz Winner 2017

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"If there's one thing I've believed my entire life, it's taking a stand when it's time to take a stand." -John Lewis

Justification: I was excited to see a graphic novel on the list of Printz award winners. Not only was March: Book Three awarded the Printz in 2017, it won the Coretta Scott King Book award recognizing an African-American author and illustrator of outstanding books for children and young adults; the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award for the most distinguished informational book for children; and the YALSA Award for excellence in nonfiction for young adults. March: Book Three also won the National Book Award. I was also drawn to this text because of the recent passing of the late great statesman, Congressman John Lewis, whose story March: Book Three showcases.

Reader's Response: In this graphic memoir, Congressman John Lewis takes us on a pictorial journey progressively through the Civil Rights Movement. The graphic renderings are oftentimes bleak, conveying violence, intimidation, death and social unrest. In fact, every panel is emotionally charged: Powell's stark imagery is portrayed only in sketches of black and white underscoring the divisiveness between Whites and Blacks in America. It is through these images, and the poignant text, that readers really begin to understand the tumultuous time that was the 1960's in America.

The novel shows us that Lewis possessed fortitude, strength of character, and an innate ability to lead others. He was also unassuming and assiduous in his work. He suffered from brutal beatings and over forty imprisonments during his activism to end racial segregation. In fact, this book reads like the classic superhero graphic novel, and it's apropos: John Lewis was a modern-day real life superhero. His activism and tireless dedication to the Civil Rights Movement to end racial discrimination was his mission. His voice, leadership, and commitment to non-violence were his powers.

One of the larger features of this novel is the emotional March 7, 1965 march on Selma, Alabama. The book's title itself is a play on words: March is the action they took and the month in which it occurred. When Lewis was asked why he was marching, he replied: "We are marching today to dramatize to the nation, and to the world, that hundreds and thousands of negro citizens of Alabama, but particularly here in the Black Belt area, are denied the right to vote. We intend to march to Montgomery to present certain grievances to Governor George C. Wallace." (p.194) At the end of the bridge, marchers were forcibly stopped by Alabama State Troopers who ordered them to disperse. When marchers stopped to pray, the police discharged tear gas and mounted troopers charged the demonstrators, beating them with nightsticks. Lewis's skull was fractured in this horrific, violent skirmish. This day in Selma, Alabama became famously known in history as "Bloody Sunday".

I learned a tremendous amount about the Civil Rights Movement from this graphic novel. Although I was aware of the significance of the Civil Rights Act (1964)--mainly because of the banning of racial discrimination in public places--I learned that this Act neglected the rights of African Americans to vote. Bogus "literacy tests" and other voting restrictions were still in place until the 1965 Voting Rights Act was signed into law---a law which was propelled into action by persistent non-violent demonstration.

Conclusion: March: Book Three is text-heavy and laden with historical information. When studying the Civil Rights Movement in school, students would be well-served if teachers offered them an educational graphic novel of this ilk. March: Book Three is a great example of using trade paperbacks in the classroom to supplement textbooks, which can be dry and uninspiring. We see John Lewis interacting with seminal figures like President Lyndon Johnson, Martin Luther King, Jr., and Malcom X. It's hard not to be inspired by Lewis's memoir. This graphic memoir could be required reading for students learning about the Civil Rights Movement in America. I would recommend the book for grades 8 and up.

APA Reference: Lewis, J., Aydin A. (2016). March: Book Three. Marietta, GA: Top Shelf Productions.