History Comics

February 1, 2023

Gr 5 Up-Told through the first-person perspective of Claudette Colvin, this nonfiction graphic account of the Montgomery Bus Boycott starts with its roots. While many readers will be familiar with Rosa Parks, the narrative begins with a lesser-known figure in the Civil Rights movement. At age 15, Colvin was forcibly removed from a public bus in Montgomery, AL, after refusing to move so that a white woman would not have to sit next to her. Initially thought to be a test case to challenge segregation laws, Colvin was found guilty, and the movement discarded her as being, "Too young, too dark, and too poor." Nine months later, Rosa Parks, also an active member of the Civil Rights movement, found herself in a similar situation, but this time she was able to mobilize the community to fight for justice. Colvin's narration is unvarnished about the realities of colorism, race, sex, and violence, including mentions of rape, though there are no illustrations that would be concerning to young readers. The full-color, cartoon-style illustrations will, in fact, draw in readers of all ages to this raw look at history. An afterword from the author and illustrator is included, though there are no references or source notes. VERDICT Recommended for purchase for upper elementary through high school collections, this would pair well with John Lewis's "March" trilogy.-Monisha Blair

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