Autobiographical in nature, March: Book One is the first part of a trilogy about U.S. Congressman John Lewis’ experiences during the Civil Rights Movement. The narrative contrasts the past and the present by regularly juxtaposing Lewis’ own boyhood experiences growing up in rural Alabama with his current status as a congressman. This allows the reader to gain perspective on the gains made, but also frames the march towards equality as a continuous ongoing struggle. Only through understanding our history can we make any sort of progress. This graphic memoir is engaging, stunning and introspective, but it doesn’t sacrifice anything for historical accuracy. It does not sugar-coat the past and brings us face to face with current (and ongoing) atrocities.
Like other graphic memoirs on our recommendation list, the art in this work is black and white. This use of colour sets the tone for non-fiction and in this case, it really adds depth and a feeling of realness to the page. The book uses a traditional linear panel structure for most of the story, but it does not shy away from breaking the borders or gutter spaces. There’s very vivid use of shadow and darkness throughout the novel that helps bring the novel alive.
Published in 2013, March: Book One received an “Author Honour” from the American Library Association’s 2014 Coretta Scott King Book Awards. It also became the first graphic novel to win a Robert F. Kennedy Book Award, receiving a Special Recognition bust in 2014. It has received wide-spread critical acclaim and academic attention, having been selected for first-year reading programs in several American universities. Its sequels, March: Book Two and March: Book Three were published in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
You can find the David Wilson Library’s copy on the 3rd floor. Check it out for a thrilling, engaging and (for some of us) educational read!
