Brown Bag Book

Paul McNeil will lead a discussion of Congressman John Lewis's graphic novel trilogy, March. The autobiographical series spans Lewis's early life in rural Alabama, joining the civil rights movement with Martin Luther King, Jr., and the historic march from Selma to Montgomery.

Participants are encouraged (but not required) to read the book in advance. Ask for a copy at the library’s information desk.

From School Library Journal: Simultaneously epic and intimate, this dynamic work spotlights pivotal moments (the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, AL; the Freedom Summer murders; the 1964 Democratic National Convention; and the Selma to Montgomery marches) through the lens of one who was there from the beginning.

Lewis's willingness to speak from the heart about moments of doubt and anguish imbues the book with emotional depth. Complex material is tackled but never oversimplified. Many pages are positively crammed with text; and, as in previous volumes, discussion of tensions among the various factions of the movement adds nuance and should spark conversation among readers.

Through images of steely-eyed police, motion lines, and the use of stark black backgrounds for particularly painful moments, Powell underscores Lewis's statement that he and his cohorts "...were in the middle of a war." These vivid black-and-white visuals soar, conveying expressions of hope, scorn, and devastation and making storied figures such as Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, and Fannie Lou Hamer feel three-dimensional and familiar.

VERDICT: This essential addition to graphic novel shelves, history curricula, and memoir collections will resonate with teens and adults alike.