Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin Civil rights heroes

From the reliable History Comics series comes this story about the brave women who played instrumental roles in the civil rights movement and the events that took place in Montgomery, Alabama, where bus segregation law was challenged and a movement began. Many know the iconic story of Rosa Parks; fewer have heard of Claudette Colvin, the young girl who was arrested on similar charges months before, and it's her story that receives the primary focus here. The inviting format and rounded artwork give the comic a conversational tone, which nicely suits Baptiste's narrative choices. Grant's colorful and warm artwork softens some of the harder realities of the events, though she never turns away from the violence directed at the activists. With strong visuals and a wealth of information, Baptiste and Grant have done a superb job of recounting this history in impressive detail, including the long-lasting consequences of Parks' and Colvin's actions--both struggled to find work after the boycotts. A powerful and thoughtfully executed volume, ideal for supplementing history textbooks.

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

"Most people know Mrs. Parks, but few know who I am." This work of graphic nonfiction makes clear that the Montgomery Bus Boycott began not with Rosa Parks but with 15-year-old Claudette Colvin, who refused to give up her seat to a White woman on a crowded bus. It was then that she met Rosa Parks, who encouraged her to get involved with the NAACP Youth Council. Claudette was found guilty of breaking the segregation laws, but organizers opted not to rally around her (she was seen as "too young, too dark, and too poor"); instead the boycott was organized around Rosa Parks, who nine months later refused to give up her seat. Claudette was glad something was being done, but she felt pushed to the sidelines. The boycott was difficult, and there were threats and violence directed at those involved. For many years, Rosa Parks was the name associated with the bus boycott, but gradually, Claudette Colvin's role in the actions and lawsuit that ended bus segregation became known. This book explores the many issues surrounding the Montgomery Bus Boycott, such as the age, gender, and class barriers that factored into decisions and the internal struggles that those involved in the movement grappled with. The choice to tell the story through Claudette's eyes will appeal to young readers, as will the colorful comic drawings that highlight the actions and feelings. A valuable addition to the growing swath of graphic novels drawing attention to civil rights history. (afterword) (Graphic nonfiction. 8-12) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.