History Comics: Rosa Parks & Claudette Colvin: Civil Rights Heroes

by Tracey Baptiste, Shauna J. Grant (Illustrator)

Overview

A 2024 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Award Winner

Turn back the clock with History Comics! In this volume, learn about two brave women who stood up against segregation, setting in motion the Montgomery Bus Boycott!

A Black woman who refused to give up her seat on a segregated bus sparked a bus boycott and became part of one of the most iconic moments in American history. Yet, few know that Rosa Parks had actively worked toward social justice her whole life. And even fewer know that the seeds of the statewide bus boycott were first planted by a teenager named Claudette Colvin, who was arrested on similar charges months earlier. Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin inspired a nation, showing how positive change can start with a single defiant act. Their actions have become the stuff of legend, but there is so much more to their lives, their stories, and the movement they began.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781250908506
Publisher:	First Second
Publication date:	01/03/2023
Series:	History Comics
Sold by:	Macmillan
Format:	eBook
Pages:	128
File size:	182 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.
Age Range:	8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Tracey Baptiste is a New York Times–bestselling author best known for the popular Jumbies series, including The Jumbies, Rise of the Jumbies, and The Jumbie God’s Revenge. She is also the author of the picture book Looking for a Jumbie and the middle grade nonfiction African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History.

Shauna J. Grant is a cartoonist who creates cuteness. Her work has appeared in Black Comix Returns and Noisemakers by Kazoo magazine, and she’s the creator of the early readers graphic novel Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe.

Shauna J. Grant is a cartoonist who creates cuteness. Her work has appeared in Black Comix Returns and Noisemakers by Kazoo magazine. She’s the creator of the early readers graphic novel Mimi and the Cutie Catastrophe and the illustrator of History Comics: Rosa Parks and Claudette Colvin.

Editorial Reviews

A 2024 Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Award Winner

"A valuable addition to the growing swath of graphic novels drawing attention to civil rights history"—Kirkus

"The full-color, cartoon-style illustrations will[...]draw in readers of all ages to this raw look at history."—School Library Journal

From the Publisher

02/01/2023

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

School Library Journal

2022-10-26
“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)

Kirkus Reviews