Medgar Evers and the NAACP

November 1, 2012

Gr 3-5-Focusing on action and drama, these titles highlight the lives of Civil Rights heroes. The author makes effective use of the graphic-novel format. At times, the illustrations are realistic enough to border on photo-realism. Each volume begins and ends with pages of narrative information and photos. The texts of the comic-style sections are easy to follow. Dialogue appears in white speech bubbles, while explanations and background information are presented in gray boxes. Shifting visual perspectives add interest. One vantage point is looking over Lincoln's massive stone shoulder while Martin Luther King, Jr. addresses a crowd from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Another panel shows the contemplative face of Rosa Parks looking out a bus window, street signs reflecting on the glass. Unfortunately, sources are not cited. Still, these titles offer an exciting look at important history in an appealing format.

Copyright 2012 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2013
Grades 4-7 Though there is no way for a short graphic novel to convey the nuance necessary to understand Medgar Evers, this entry in the A Graphic History of the Civil Rights Movement series succeeds in drawing readers into the drama of Evers' last day while still building an understanding of the underlying issues. Jeffrey depicts Evers as a proud African American undeterred as a young man by the armed guards keeping him out of polling places. As an adult, he became Mississippi State Field Secretary for the NAACP, where he helped black citizens acquire bank loans, register to vote, and more. Spender's realistic comic art feels hasty at times, but it does a nice job capturing Evers' likeness and comes to life in the final few pages, which feature a firebomb, Evers' assassination, his funeral, and a 4,000-person protest march that became part of the service. Explanatory text, endnotes, and photos complete this solid offering. Consider the whole series as an option for reluctant readers.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)