March: Book One by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

March: Book One (March #1) by John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell (Top Shelf Productions, 2013)

★★★☆☆

The first volume of a graphic-history trilogy adapting the autobiography of John Lewis, covering his childhood in rural Alabama and early nonviolent actions during the 1960 Nashville lunch counter sit-ins.

I certainly found the graphic novel format more accessible and intimate than a typical history lesson, and the struggles depicted herein to be worthwhile and important subject matter. Though I’m not sure I connected to this volume to the degree that I did, say, A Brief History of Seven Killings, I think that’s less the fault of the work than my relationship with nonfiction. Ultimately, I’m glad this testimonial exists—and ashamed it took Congressperson Lewis’s passing to get me to read it—and plan to reserve full judgment until after I’ve read the remaining volumes.