Lewis, J. (2013). March: Book One. Marietta, GA: Top Shelf Productions. March: Book One  is a graphic novel authored by John Lewis in collaboration with Andrew Aydin. It opens with the morning of President Barack Obama's first inauguration. Congressman Lewis recounts his early life and the beginnings of the Civil Right as he became involved.  He tells his story to two young boys and their mother as they are there for the inauguration.  John Lewis' early life was filled with poverty and growing up in the country taking care of chickens.  As he grew, he was convinced he wanted to become a preacher, he even preach to his chickens. He was called the Boy from Troy after a newspaper took his picture because he was a boy preacher.  The story follows Lewis tells about how differently he saw the world once he made a trip to the north with his uncle.  People of color were treated better and weren't at nervous around other races.  Lewis came home and said he was never the same. During the next few years he was awarded a scholarship to Baptist college and met Dr. Martin Luther King.  He eventually transferred and became immersed in the Civil Rights struggles in the 50s and 60s.  In the story, the tenets of nonviolence and how the students were taught is explained and shown in detail. He tells of the confrontations of the sit-ins, violence and jail of his experience. The book ends as Mayor West is challenged at Tennessee State after the bombing of one of the activist.
March: Book One is a trilogy of books written by Lewis and Aydin, books March: Book Two and Three are the continuing story started in the first book.Nate Powell provides powerful black and white illustrations in graphic novel style.  The use of shadows and the clarity of his drawing are very compelling and draw the reader into the story.  Congressman John Lewis is now 77  years and has been serving in Congress since 1987.  On July 7th on his twitter account he posted about being released from jail for going to a "white bathroom" in Jackson, MS, 56 years ago. John Lewis' tweet, July 7, 2017 with the hashtag of #goodtrouble.
The classroom connections are endless as students explore the Civil Rights movement, American history, Black history, Congressmen and racism.  The books are tremendous in creating a visual documentation of history in which students can embrace in an understandable manner. We as librarians are on the forefront of educating our staff and administrations about graphic novels.  Many do not see the value of this medium and this trilogy of books in part shows the merit of graphic novels.
March: Book One has won many awards including YALSA's One of YALSA’s Top 10 Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults (2016), Top 10 Great Graphic Novels for Teens (2014) and Outstanding Books for the College Bound (2014) as well as a Coretta Scott King honor book. The goals of these books in his words  and Dr. Martin Luther King's Dad, "to make it real, to make it plain" Here is an interview with Congressman John Lewis speaking about the books, Congressman John Lewis' interview..

                                       Book Trailer - March: Book One by JD Smith