Nominated by: Becky L.

Finalist blurb: Georgia Congressman John Lewis's memoir about his time as a leader in the Civil Rights Movement uses stark black and white artistry to evoke painful emotions about a pressing time in our nation's history and the fight that continues today. The three volumes in the series use President Obama's 2009 inauguration as an opportunity for John Lewis to reflect on how much progress our country has made, but even that optimism doesn't quite soften the blow for the unnecessary deaths and inconceivable injustices participants on the front lines of the Civil Rights Movement faced. Police violence, elected officials who turn a blind eye, allies who think of politics before justice, and in-group fighting among the protesters -- this book feels more like a how-to manual for ethical protest in today's world than a history of what was.

Winner blurb: March Volume 3 concludes the story of Congressman John Lewis?s early career as a crusader for human rights, covering the battle for voting rights and the all the events culminating in the March on Selma. The March trilogy has won many awards to date, and it?s clear why: the subject matter is timely and important, its execution is literary while also remaining accessible enough for a wide audience, and it brings history alive in a way that will appeal to a variety of readers. It also doesn?t shy away from the horrors of violence that black Americans suffered during the civil rights movement. The story touches on key figures such as Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X as well as the roles of many lesser-known heroes of the civil rights era. The drawing style adds drama and a sense of action, making this much more than a static depiction of historical events. Above all, March reminds readers that despite all the progress that has been made, there?s still a lot of work to be done?and history can help inform and inspire us in our current era of protest.