#1 March: Book One by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

March: Book One

Written by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin

Published in 2013 by Top Shelf Productions

Grades 7 & up

ISBN: 978-1-60309-300-2

Book Review

In this graphic novel, Congressman John Lewis shares stories about his childhood and adolescence growing up during the Civil Rights Movement in America. As a child, he begins to realize that whites and blacks are not treated equally and so he begins his lifelong quest to fight for equal rights. As a young adult, he participated in sit-ins and even met with Martin Luther King Jr. to discuss the integration of Troy University. John Lewis has spent his life advocating for equal rights for all. This book is a glimpse into his early life and sets the stage for the next two books in the trilogy. The detailed illustrations draw the reader into the Lewis’ world while the text moves the story along quickly. It is a compelling look at the historical Civil Rights Movement in the United States.

This graphic novel may have high appeal among males and struggling readers.

Professional Reviews

Kirkus Review

School Library Journal Review

Awards

Coretta Scott King Honor Book Award, 2014

Will Eisner Award Nominee

YALSA Top Ten Great Graphic Novels for Teens

Teaching Ideas

1. Grades 6-7

The Who’s Who of the Civil Rights Movement: Students will choose a key leader in the Civil Rights Movement to research. They will present their findings during an oral presentation that may be recorded or delivered in person. Students must have at least one visual element that accompanies the presentation. This visual can be a poster, slide presentation, or drawing using digital media.

SOL USII.9 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the key domestic and international issues during the second half of the twentieth and early twenty-first centuries by examining the Civil Rights Movement and identifying representative citizens from the time period who have influenced America scientifically, culturally, academically, and economically.

2. Grade 9

The Main Event: Students will research the events that took place during the Civil Rights Movement in America. Then, they will report a summary of each main event including important details related to the movement. Students should use online tools for research including, but not limited to, electronic databases and online resources. Students may present the summary of the events using print or digital resources. Students may use a blog, Smore, Glogster, or other digital tool. All products must include proper citations.

English SOL 9.8 The student will use print, electronic databases, online resources, and other media to access information to create a research product. a) Use technology as a tool for research to organize, evaluate, and communicate information. f) Credit the sources of quoted, paraphrased, and summarized ideas.

3. Grade 9

Acting out: Students will work in groups to act out parts of the graphic novel for the rest of the class. Students in the audience will write a brief summary of the presentation after each group presents their section of the graphic novel. Students will participate in a whole class discussion at the end of the presentations to discuss the important lessons and themes portrayed in the graphic novel.

English SOL 9.1 The student will make planned oral presentations independently and in small groups. k) Summarize and evaluate information presented orally by others. l) Assume shared responsibility for collaborative work.

4. Grade 9

D.I.Y.: After reading March: Book One, students will create their own short graphic novel. Students must include text and drawings to tell their story. Students may choose the topic of their graphic novel.

English SOL 9.6 The student will develop narrative, expository, and persuasive writings for a variety of audiences and purposes.

5. Grade 9

Hear All About It!: Students will create a booktalk video that will be posted on the class YouTube page or class blog. Students must create a visual (either print or digital) to accompany the booktalk. The booktalk should include information about the plot of the book including details about the main idea, characters, and theme. Additionally, students should provide their interpretation of the book and their recommendation.

English SOL 9.1 The student will make planned oral presentations independently and in small groups. b) Use relevant details to support main ideas. e) Use verbal and nonverbal techniques for presentation.          

Further Explorations  

This is the official webpage for Congressman John Lewis.  Lewis is the congressman for Georgia’s 5^th district. There is a biography about Lewis as well as other information about his role in Congress.

The American Experience presents a series of videos about the Civil Rights Movement. There are videos on Martin Luther King Jr., Malcom X, and the Freedom Riders. This is a great resource for struggling readers that may have a hard time reading higher level nonfiction text about the Civil Rights Movement.

Watch this insightful interview with Congressman John Lewis. Hear about his fascinating life story in his own words. This is a great example of a primary source.

This  video focuses on the year 1964 during the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The video is filled with authentic photographs along with an interesting narrative. The photographs and commentary will add support for struggling readers when learning about the Civil Rights Movement.

View this website to find out more about the Civil Rights Movement. There is an extensive overview of the important events that occurred during that era. Make sure to look through the tabs on the page. There you can find videos, pictures, and speeches. This is a wonderful nonfiction resource for all readers. Students will appreciate the videos and photographs that accompany the article.

The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel is located in Memphis, Tennessee. The Lorraine Motel is the site of the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.

Do you want to find more YA books about the Civil Rights Movement? YALSA has published a list of award winning books related to the Civil Rights Movement. The books on the list span several reading levels.

Learn more about the Freedom Riders. The Freedom Riders were brave civil rights activists 

that challenged the laws of segregation in the southern United States.

You can find lesson plans regarding the Civil Rights Movement. The first lesson plan is designed for middle grade students and will span 2-3 class periods. This unit on the Civil Rights Movement includes five well designed lesson plans for students of varying abilities.

Partner Titles  

The partner titles focus on the Civil Rights Movement in America. There is a mix of fiction and nonfiction books.

The Rock and The River by Kekla Magoon is about a young boy, Sam, whose father is a civil rights activist during the late 1960’s. This book was chosen because it is another account of life during the same time period as March: Book One and it deals with the topic of nonviolence and offers curricular connections. Congressman John Lewis was a huge supporter of nonviolence during the Civil Rights Movement. Also, this book won the 2010 Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award and was one of YALSA’s Best Books For Young Adults in 2010. This book is written at a reading level that would be appropriate for middle school students or struggling students in upper grades.

Marching for Freedom: Walk Together, Children, and Don’t You Grow Weary by Elizabeth Partridge uses original pictures and personal accounts to create an interesting nonfiction narrative about the events that took place during the 1965 march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. The book is focused on the experiences of children and teens during the protests and the march. This book was a YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction finalist in 2010 and one of YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adults in 2010. It will appeal to younger readers since it is based on the experiences of children and young adults. The School Library Journal states this book would be an “excellent addition to any library.”

Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus Boycott by Russell Freedman chronicles the everyday heroes of the Montgomery Bus Boycott. Rosa Parks wasn’t the only person to be arrested for riding on a bus. This book tells the story of others that fought for their cause.  This book was chosen because it provides other people’s account of events during the Civil Rights Movement and was authored by an authoritative source. Russell Freedman is a well known, award winning biographer. Reading this in conjunction with March: Book One will give the reader a more well-rounded perspective of the issues during that era.  The Kirkus Review positively reviews Freedom Walkers: The Story of the Montgomery Bus saying that this book is an “essential source” on the Civil Rights Movement. 

The Civil Rights Movement: A Photographic History, 1954-68 is a book filled with amazing historical photographs. This photographic history is an excellent resource for struggling or reluctant readers because they can use the visual cues from the pictures to learn about the Civil Rights Movement. This is an excellent source for teaching primary sources and matches well with the curriculum. The Kirkus Review says that the images are necessary reminders of our country’s brutal battle over civil rights.

We Troubled the Waters by Ntozake Shange is a series of brilliant poems written about the South during the Civil Rights Movement told from an African American perspective. The School Library Journal lists We Troubled the Waters as a book that celebrates the everyday heroes of the Civil Rights Movement. This book was chosen because it is poetry. The short poems are perfect for readers who struggle with stamina. The poems and mural-type paintings create vivid imagery which is beneficial for the visual learner. Some students might prefer poetry over traditional prose so this would be a good option for those readers. 

References

American Experience. (n.d.) Films: Civil rights [Website/videos]. PBS. Retrieved from

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/filter/civil-rights/

Bernstein, E. (2013). Congressman John Lewis interview on the Ed Bernstein show [YouTube

video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b6nq6XK-0Y&safe=active

Dickinson, K. (2014). Teens behaving historically: The civil rights movement in YA literature.

Retrieved from http://www.yalsa.ala.org/thehub/2014/01/20/teens-behaving-historically-the-civil-rights-movement-in-ya-literature/

Freedman, R. (2006). Freedom walkers: The story of the Montgomery bus boycott. New York, NY:

Holiday House.

Kasher, S. (1996). The civil rights movement: A photographic history, 1954-68. New York, NY:

Abbeville Press.

Lewis, J., & Aydin, A. (2013). March: Book one. Marietta, GA: Top Shelf Productions.

Lewis, J. (n.d.). Welcome to the website of Congressman John Lewis, serving the 5th congressional

district of Georgia. Retrieved from http://johnlewis.house.gov/

Magoon, K. (2010). The rock and the river. New York, NY: Aladdin.

Mississippi Public Broadcasting. (2014). 1964: The fight for a right [YouTube video]. Retrieved

fromhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MR3HEySXUY

Partridge, E. (2009). Marching for freedom: Walk together, children, and don’t you grow weary. New

York, NY: Viking Books for Young Readers.

PBS. (n.d.). Freedom riders. Retrieved from

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/freedomriders/

Raff, T. (n.d.). The civil rights movement. Retrieved from

http://www.discoveryeducation.com/teachers/free-lesson-plans/the-civil-rights-movement.cfm

Shange, N. (2009). We troubled the waters.  New York, NY: HarperCollins/Amistad.

Teaching Tolerance. (n.d.). A time for justice: America’s civil rights movement. Retrieved from

http://www.tolerance.org/sites/default/files/kits/A_Time_for_Justice_Teachers_Guide.pdf

The History Channel. (n.d). Civil rights movement. Retrieved from

http://www.history.com/topics/black-history/civil-rights-movement

The National Civil Rights Museum at the Lorraine Motel. (n.d.). Visit [Website homepage]. Retrieved

from http://civilrightsmuseum.org/

Hurricane Dancers: The First Caribbean Pirate Shipwreck by Margarita Engle

Engle, M. (2011). Hurricane dancers:The first Carribbean pirate shipwreck. New York, NY: Henry            Holt and Company.

Hurricane Dancers was written by Margarita Engle and published in 2011. In 2012, it won the Pura Belpre Author Honor book award. The entire story is told through a series of poems. Quebrado has spent his life bouncing around from pirate ship to pirate ship feeling like an outsider. On Captain Bernardino de Talavera’s ship, Quebrado is used as a translator until a horrible shipwreck that claims the lives of most of the crew onboard. Quebrado escapes to safety and then must learn to live on the land among new locals.

Since this novel is written entirely in poems, it would be a good mentor text for students to use to write their own poetry. Students could choose two or three poems from the novel as a model. Then they could create their own series of short poems that tell one cohesive story.

I am not a huge fan of poetry, but since I liked Love the Dog I decided to try out another novel written in poems. The plot of the novel was fairly good and engaging.  However, although, I can appreciate the author’s craft I did not like reading the whole story in poetry this time. The poems were a bit hard to follow at times and made the story less enjoyable. I would not recommend this novel for elementary aged students as it is better suited for older readers.

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)

Soldier Bear by Bibi Dumon Tak

Tak, B.D. (2011). Soldier Bear. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers.

Soldier Bear  was written by Bibi Dumon Tak and illustrated by Philip Hopman. It was first published in the United States in 2011 and received the Batchleder Award in 2012. Based on actual events, the story takes place during World War II. Polish soldiers adopt a bear, Voytek, while in Iran and then bring the bear with them on other missions in various countries. Voytek becomes a “soldier” and learns to work side by side with his comrades.

Soldier Bear would be a good book to use for a read aloud in an upper elementary classroom to allow for scaffolding for some complex vocabulary. This book would also be a good “hook” for a creative writing lesson. After hearing the story, students could write a story featuring a unique pet that helps humans in some way.

Personally, I enjoyed reading about Voytek, a quirky pet bear, and all his antics. Through Voytek’s mischievous actions, the author was able to infuse humor into a novel set in the bleak times of war. This is a charming story that children would be sure to love!

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)

Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy by Rhoda Blumberg

Blumberg, R. ( 2001). Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy. New York, NY: Harper         Collins Publishing.

Shipwrecked! The true adventures of a Japanese boy by Rhoda Blumberg is a biography about Manjiro, a Japanese man that was stranded on a deserted island after a shipwreck as a young man. Unable to return to his isolated homeland, Manjiro, is rescued by an American whaling boat captain and taken to the United States. He spends twelve years of his life in the United States and working on ships before finally returning to his homeland. Once there, he played an integral role in opening up the ports of Japan for trade between his country and the United States.

Much of this book is based on the whaling industry, ships, and trading as it affects Manjiro’s life. In the classroom, this book could be used as the catalyst for a  STEM unit on math and engineering. Students could research whaling ships of the 1800’s. Then, design and build a model of a whaling ship using various classroom materials.

I found this biography to be entertaining and easy to read. It reads more like a picture book rather than a non-fiction biographical story which I appreciate. I also loved the inclusion of Manjiro’s authentic sketches and the Japanese and American artwork. Manjiro’s incredible life story is sure to entertain and delight readers!

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Zusak, M. (2005). The Book Thief. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf.

The Book Thief  was written by Markus Kusak and published in 2005.  The story is told from Death’s perspective and revolves around the life and relationships of one young girl, Liesel.  Liesel lives in Nazi Germany with her foster parents during treacherous times. Times become even more dangerous when her family harbors a Jewish man in their basement and Liesel must help keep his presence a secret from everyone she knows even her best friend, Rudy. Throughout the story Liesel’s affinity for books and words grows prompting her to steal books from the mayor’s wife and even from Nazi book burnings.

The Book Thief would be a fantastic resource to use when learning about World War II and Nazi Germany. In particular, students could debate the censorship of books that is seen in the novel. Book burnings were common-place events in Liesel’s time. Students could conduct a debate about whether censorship is justifiable and the ramifications of censorship.

Overall, I liked the plot and theme of The Book Thief, however, it was a bit hard to get accustomed to reading the story from Death’s perspective. The writing is abrupt at times and includes atypical breaks in the action of the story to state facts or descriptions. Quickly, though, the reader is drawn into the story by Kusak’s  charming characters and suspenseful plot and thus able to look past some of the atypical elements. I believe this award winning book would be well loved by middle and high school aged students.

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman

Fleischman, P. (1993). Bull run. New York, NY: Harper Collins Publishers.

Bull Run by Paul Fleischman is a historical fiction novel about the First Battle of Bull Run during the American Civil War. Told from the perspective of 16 different people, Bull Run offers a glimpse of the battle both on the battlefield and behind the scenes. The sixteen characters are comprised of Northerners, Southerners, whites, African Americans, men, and women each giving their own account of the battle.

Bull Run could be used in a social studies lesson about the American Civil War. Students could read the story and then “adopt” one of the characters. Students would write a monologue for their character based on what they read in the book and create an appropriate costume as well. Then students would present their monologues to the class.

Reading about the battle from different perspectives is eye-opening! Generally, much of what we learn in history is told from one perspective which offers a limited of view of events. However, in Bull Run you come to understand the plight of people that come from all walks of life during that time period. The author’s writing is clear and succinct, but still creates a believable story. I would highly recommend this book to upper elementary and middle school aged children.

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)

The Way We Work by David Macaulay and Richard Walker

Macaulay, D. & Walker, R. (2008). The way we work. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin Books.

The Way We Work by David Macaulay and Richard Walker is an enormous nonfiction book filled with information about the inner workings of the human body. It contains hundreds of colorful, intricate illustrations and loads of interesting facts. Each chapter describes a body system in great detail.

This book would be a good resource when teaching nonfiction text features. Also, this book would be a good research tool when teaching about the human body and living systems. Students could use the book to research a body system and then create a diagram to be displayed in the classroom. A project like this would be a good way to incorporate both artistic and written elements.

The authors included a plethora of information in an organized and concise manner which made the book easy to read and understand. I also really like the detailed diagrams found throughout the book! They are intricately drawn and labeled. Students would love to peruse the illustrations in this book even if they are not able to understand some of the more complicated facts. I feel this book would be a nice addition to any library collection!

(Image retrieved from amazon.com)