What do you think?
Rate this book
Rosa Parks
Montgomery, Alabama, December 1, 1955: at the end of the working day, 42-year-old Rosa Parks, a black leather dressmaker, takes bus 2857, heading home. She sits in a center row, but when a white passenger gets on after a few stops, the driver asks her to get up to give him her seat, as required by the rules. Rosa knows them well: the blacks sit in the back, the whites in front, while the center seats are mixed and can only be used if all the others are occupied, but the whites retain priority. "No," Rosa replies without thinking too much, she doesn't intend to get up. That simple refusal turns her into a heroine of black rights, engaged in the fight against segregation that oppresses Alabama and other southern states, becoming the propellant of the historic bus boycott in Montgomery led by Martin Luther King. This is her story shown in a context of why it is still so resonant today.
128 pages, Hardcover
First published October 22, 2020
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
March 18, 2022
A case of a story that always needs retelling, but maybe not like this.
The book runs into a tangle of complications. The story itself is told dryly, and it feels like it undersells the personalities of the people involved. I was expecting a quite emotional story, but it isn't told that way, as if it's more occupied with retelling the history correctly. Yes, of course, the historical part of the story absolutely has to be correct, but it also has to be brought to life for the reader, which is where characters and emotions would come in. Everyone speaks in slogans and speeches, which are important and should be included, but they are limiting on a humane level.
Maybe some more time should've been spent on the racists - I know, why give those people the time of day, this story isn't about them.. except it also is. I think it would've been helpful to show those people as normal day-to-day people with extraordinarily despiccable thoughts. Now the racists come across as an amorphous evil blob, and it is important to show how racism nestles in the most 'normal' people.
One thing that really bothers me about the book is the framing structure. We start the book in a major American city in 2014, and an older Black taxi driver picks up a young Black guy in his early 20s. And it turns out the young guy doesn't know about Rosa Parks, aaand I just find it hard to believe that any person, let alone a Black individual, in the 2010s wouldn't have some basic knowledge about Rosa Parks, especially because of police brutality being in the news and the start of Black Lives Matter. Anyway, the taxi driver starts to school our young guy on Parks, because he was there when he was a kid. This whole section has some of the cringiest writing I've read in comics in a long time. If you can't write for a young Black person, do not attempt it. Just don't. The whole thing comes off as tonedeaf and patronising.
I do think the art is nice, but the colouring threw me off. Everyone seems to have the same skin colour, be they Black or White. There are scenes where Parks talks to her lawyer, who I presume is White, but they look the same tonally. It's the weirdest thing.
Good story, sadly fails in its execution.
(Thanks to NBM Publishing for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
The book runs into a tangle of complications. The story itself is told dryly, and it feels like it undersells the personalities of the people involved. I was expecting a quite emotional story, but it isn't told that way, as if it's more occupied with retelling the history correctly. Yes, of course, the historical part of the story absolutely has to be correct, but it also has to be brought to life for the reader, which is where characters and emotions would come in. Everyone speaks in slogans and speeches, which are important and should be included, but they are limiting on a humane level.
Maybe some more time should've been spent on the racists - I know, why give those people the time of day, this story isn't about them.. except it also is. I think it would've been helpful to show those people as normal day-to-day people with extraordinarily despiccable thoughts. Now the racists come across as an amorphous evil blob, and it is important to show how racism nestles in the most 'normal' people.
One thing that really bothers me about the book is the framing structure. We start the book in a major American city in 2014, and an older Black taxi driver picks up a young Black guy in his early 20s. And it turns out the young guy doesn't know about Rosa Parks, aaand I just find it hard to believe that any person, let alone a Black individual, in the 2010s wouldn't have some basic knowledge about Rosa Parks, especially because of police brutality being in the news and the start of Black Lives Matter. Anyway, the taxi driver starts to school our young guy on Parks, because he was there when he was a kid. This whole section has some of the cringiest writing I've read in comics in a long time. If you can't write for a young Black person, do not attempt it. Just don't. The whole thing comes off as tonedeaf and patronising.
I do think the art is nice, but the colouring threw me off. Everyone seems to have the same skin colour, be they Black or White. There are scenes where Parks talks to her lawyer, who I presume is White, but they look the same tonally. It's the weirdest thing.
Good story, sadly fails in its execution.
(Thanks to NBM Publishing for providing me with a review copy through Edelweiss)
April 23, 2022
I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.
Rosa Parks is a graphic novel of the story of Rosa Parks and how her bus boycott made a change to black history.
The novel starts off with a cab driver and a young man in the back of his cab arguing. The young man has some serious attitude and the cabbie is trying to explain what the I CANT BREATHE logo on his t-shirt actually means. The story then goes into that of Rosa Parks and includes Martin Luthor King Jr too. The book itself is a little dark and grey throughout and I'm not sure if this was to create an effect for the time of the story. The illustrations were great but I felt there was something missing but cannot put my finger on it. This is an important story but I'm not too sure if most of this will go above most children's heads in this graphic novel.
Rosa Parks is a graphic novel of the story of Rosa Parks and how her bus boycott made a change to black history.
The novel starts off with a cab driver and a young man in the back of his cab arguing. The young man has some serious attitude and the cabbie is trying to explain what the I CANT BREATHE logo on his t-shirt actually means. The story then goes into that of Rosa Parks and includes Martin Luthor King Jr too. The book itself is a little dark and grey throughout and I'm not sure if this was to create an effect for the time of the story. The illustrations were great but I felt there was something missing but cannot put my finger on it. This is an important story but I'm not too sure if most of this will go above most children's heads in this graphic novel.
February 23, 2022
This is a Graphic Novel about Rosa Parks. I love the Rosa Parks story, and I have always love her story. This Graphic Novel I do not love the pictures, and I think the pictures is a big part of a graphic novel's reading experience. I received an ARC of this book. This review is my own honest opinion about the book like all my reviews are.
February 2, 2022
Instead of forcing kids to read classics in schools it’ll be more efficient to make them pick something similar to this book, where it contains a very important historical context, movements, and is so enjoyable. Really liked this one.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
*I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
February 3, 2022
3.5 stars. Rosa Parks and how she made history. The story starts in 2014 when a taxi driver tells a story from his childhood to a young boy. His story stretches from 1952 to 1956 and is about Rosa’s protest on the bus, her arrest, and her role in the Montgomery bus boycott.
I liked the story. In the beginning, the boy’s ignorance quite surprised me. I would expect he knew the basic historical facts and why he wears the t-shirt.
Art is ok, maybe not my favorite style. Gray and brown colors are dominant and give us the feeling from the 1950s. All the faces are almost the same shade. So it was not immediately obvious to me who was white. But this could be intentional to emphasize that people of all colors are the same and equal. I also confused mother and daughter a few times.
Thanks to Papercutz for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
I liked the story. In the beginning, the boy’s ignorance quite surprised me. I would expect he knew the basic historical facts and why he wears the t-shirt.
Art is ok, maybe not my favorite style. Gray and brown colors are dominant and give us the feeling from the 1950s. All the faces are almost the same shade. So it was not immediately obvious to me who was white. But this could be intentional to emphasize that people of all colors are the same and equal. I also confused mother and daughter a few times.
Thanks to Papercutz for the ARC and this opportunity! This is a voluntary review, and all opinions are my own.
September 1, 2021
Tutti conosciamo la storia di Rosa Parks come quella della signora che si rifiutò di alzarsi dal proprio posto sull'autobus per darlo a una persona bianca, iniziando quel processo che portò a definire anticostituzionale le leggi razziali americane.
Non tutti sanno però che Rosa era un'attivista competente e preparata, supportata da una comunità compatta che raggiunse il proprio scopo grazie a una protesta non violenta.
Mi è piaciuto molto il pretesto con cui la graphic novel presenta la storia di Rosa: un anziano tassista ha come cliente un giovane nero di successo, una promessa dello sport con l'atteggiamento da rapper, che non sa nulla delle lotte della propria gente. Fermi nel traffico, il vecchio "obbliga" il giovane ad ascoltare, e il giovane prende coscienza della storia della propria gente.
Non tutti sanno però che Rosa era un'attivista competente e preparata, supportata da una comunità compatta che raggiunse il proprio scopo grazie a una protesta non violenta.
Mi è piaciuto molto il pretesto con cui la graphic novel presenta la storia di Rosa: un anziano tassista ha come cliente un giovane nero di successo, una promessa dello sport con l'atteggiamento da rapper, che non sa nulla delle lotte della propria gente. Fermi nel traffico, il vecchio "obbliga" il giovane ad ascoltare, e il giovane prende coscienza della storia della propria gente.
February 17, 2022
Tod@s hemos escuchado la historia de Rosa Parks y lo que supuso para la lucha de igualdad y derechos en Estados Unidos.
Esta historia está narrada bajo un prisma del presente, pero con una mirada al pasado.
Conocía lo que hizo Rosa, pero no me había sumergido en su vida, ni sabía nada de ella.
Un acercamiento maravilloso a su figura.
Esta historia está narrada bajo un prisma del presente, pero con una mirada al pasado.
Conocía lo que hizo Rosa, pero no me había sumergido en su vida, ni sabía nada de ella.
Un acercamiento maravilloso a su figura.
December 22, 2022
Rosa Parks is a graphic novel of the story of Rosa Parks and how the Montgomery bus boycott was responsible for a major change to the equality of Black Americans. The story begins with a young black man getting into a cab. He was wearing a t-shirt with the "I Can't Breathe" logo on it and when the elderly cab driver asked him about it, he gave him attitude. The cab driver shares his story, as well as the meaning of the logo. That story is the story of Rosa Parks refusing to give up her seat to a white woman on the bus, getting arrested and the people organizing and carrying out the famous Montgomery Bus Boycott. With support of Reverend Martin Luther King, the people didn't back down and eventually segregated buses were illegal in the U.S. This was not easy as there were arrests, people beaten, KKK burning crosses etc. (although it is alluded to and not a major part of the story). I found this to be a well written graphic novel, with illustrations that were dark and foreboding adding to the seriousness of the issue. This is an important time in history, with this just being the tip of the iceberg. There are resources in the back for future reading and study as well as a brief biography of what happened to Rosa Parks after the fact. I would recommend this graphic novel to children 10 and up and think it would be a great one to have in libraries in middle and high schools.
January 4, 2021
Che senso ha parlare ancora di Rosa Parks? Ebbene si, la graphic novel inizia proprio con questa domanda e la risposta è sì, occorre ancora e si ha il bisogno di parlare di questa grande donna, viste le notizie di cronaca recenti. Rosa Parks non è stata la prima a ribellarsi, ma è stata quella giusta al momento giusto. Questa graphic novel propone la storia di questa grande eroina per i diritti civili delle persone di colore, una lotta non violenta, fatta di uno sciopero, costante e prolungato nel corso degli anni, che è riuscito a lasciare il segno e a far cambiare una norma ingiusta. Penso che la cosa più importante è proprio quella di non arrendersi mai, impegnarsi con tutte le forze che si ha per portare avanti il proprio progetto e il proprio pensiero. Oggi Rosa Parks è ricordato proprio per questo.
Una graphic novel interessantissima e ricca di significati, con illustrazioni curate nei minimi dettagli.
Una graphic novel interessantissima e ricca di significati, con illustrazioni curate nei minimi dettagli.
April 2, 2022
I feel like this was an over simplified version of the Rosa Parks story, and it really wasn't just focused on her. It's good for a general overview for someone just learning about the Bus Boycotts and Rosa Parks. However, if you want a more in depth look at this time in history, this is not the graphic novel for you.
February 8, 2022
Big thanks to Net Galley and Papercutz publishing for allowing me to read and review this incredible story! This is the story of Rosa Parks told within a beautifully illustrated graphic novel. Rosa Parks journey is something everyone should read and learn about. They did a beautiful job artistically explaining all of the hardships she endured and just how hard she fought for basic human rights
January 31, 2022
A well-meaning book, but one that may get lost for lack of subtitle, and one that doesn't make itself nearly as successful as it should anyway. The hand-crafted artwork pulls away from being colourful, either with the intention or the result that a lot of people just look grey – either that or it's a book that just wants to show the 1950s as completely dour. What was much worse however was the opening – a modern-set scene where an elderly New York crabby cabbie wants his young customer to know what the "I Can't Breathe" T-shirt the youngster is wearing actually means. It's unnecessary, and it really just riles the reader from the start, giving a feeling of antagonism and bickering and lack of togetherness nobody like Rosa Parks would wish to live through.
Also, it would appear quite obvious at the end that the young punk doesn't pay for his cab, although that may well be the intentional loop back to the 1950s. For this is, and always was, a story much wider than just one woman saying she wouldn't get up and shift bus seat because a white woman wanted a seat and allegedly deserved the ones nearer the door. For in sheer disgust at white cops doing what the law told them to do, thousands of shop staff, seamstresses, factory workers and domestics all boycotted the bus network, leaving it running at a huge loss, and leaving them relying on the good hearts of other drivers. Luckily said uber-men were able to be charitable enough, taking no or little payment, until the law changed.
Dr King and Rosa Parks act as equals in this story, almost, with her inspiration for the bus strike leading to his taking care of how people reacted en masse both then and when the laws changed. It is a valid look at peaceful protest, with nothing been thrown bar the accusation the law was an ass. Which makes it doubly annoying, to repeat, that the opening has people at each other's throats. Is the moral that knowing about Parks makes a pacifist out of everyone? Clearly not as the book is 'narrated' by the cabbie, and even if that were the case this isn't that distinctive a way of learning the story.
Also, it would appear quite obvious at the end that the young punk doesn't pay for his cab, although that may well be the intentional loop back to the 1950s. For this is, and always was, a story much wider than just one woman saying she wouldn't get up and shift bus seat because a white woman wanted a seat and allegedly deserved the ones nearer the door. For in sheer disgust at white cops doing what the law told them to do, thousands of shop staff, seamstresses, factory workers and domestics all boycotted the bus network, leaving it running at a huge loss, and leaving them relying on the good hearts of other drivers. Luckily said uber-men were able to be charitable enough, taking no or little payment, until the law changed.
Dr King and Rosa Parks act as equals in this story, almost, with her inspiration for the bus strike leading to his taking care of how people reacted en masse both then and when the laws changed. It is a valid look at peaceful protest, with nothing been thrown bar the accusation the law was an ass. Which makes it doubly annoying, to repeat, that the opening has people at each other's throats. Is the moral that knowing about Parks makes a pacifist out of everyone? Clearly not as the book is 'narrated' by the cabbie, and even if that were the case this isn't that distinctive a way of learning the story.
February 4, 2022
Thank you to Papercutz, NBM Publishing, and NetGalley for allowing me to access this title and honestly review the content.
A graphic novel begins with a man telling a young adult the story of Rosa Parks.
I enjoyed the artwork and how the story drew comparisons about the fight for civil rights and racism from present-day events/tragedies like Eric Garber (noted with the t-shirt) and how it connected with the older man's life and family history to the movement.
There was a lot to cover in this short book, and it didn't show or display it all, but it did well!
A graphic novel begins with a man telling a young adult the story of Rosa Parks.
I enjoyed the artwork and how the story drew comparisons about the fight for civil rights and racism from present-day events/tragedies like Eric Garber (noted with the t-shirt) and how it connected with the older man's life and family history to the movement.
There was a lot to cover in this short book, and it didn't show or display it all, but it did well!
February 1, 2022
3.5*
This story started with indifference and a sense of freedom of speech on the part of a youthful person, who was sitting in a cab. Before him, few others were also shown but they're not of much significance. It is to him the cab driver narrated the story seeing the tshirt he was wearing (I can't breathe) which knowing the actual meaning of it, the struggles it took on behalf of people he never met for him.
Rosa Parks, who refused to give her seat to a white person when it was a law, because she paid fair price for the ticket thus deserved to sit.
And that started the revolution.
It was well-illustrated, i loved how the light effect was shown, it was beautiful.
And the story was more horrifying than inspiring because it was too unjust, to survive in that time was full of struggles yet they've had to have the utmost patience because they may be citizens of America but they weren't deemed equal.
It's a good book to get the story if you're short on time.
I got the ARC via Netgalley, thanks to the publishers.
This story started with indifference and a sense of freedom of speech on the part of a youthful person, who was sitting in a cab. Before him, few others were also shown but they're not of much significance. It is to him the cab driver narrated the story seeing the tshirt he was wearing (I can't breathe) which knowing the actual meaning of it, the struggles it took on behalf of people he never met for him.
Rosa Parks, who refused to give her seat to a white person when it was a law, because she paid fair price for the ticket thus deserved to sit.
And that started the revolution.
It was well-illustrated, i loved how the light effect was shown, it was beautiful.
And the story was more horrifying than inspiring because it was too unjust, to survive in that time was full of struggles yet they've had to have the utmost patience because they may be citizens of America but they weren't deemed equal.
It's a good book to get the story if you're short on time.
I got the ARC via Netgalley, thanks to the publishers.
February 23, 2026
Eingebettet in eine Rahmenhandlung, die den Bezug zur Gegenwart herstellt, wird die Geschichte rund um Rosa Parks und Martin Luther King erzählt. Ganz simpel und unaufgeregt, aber unverändert wichtig.
Durch die zarten Zeichnungen entsteht eine eigene Stimmung, die auf den ersten Blick nicht zu passen scheint, aber doch genau richtig ist.
Durch die zarten Zeichnungen entsteht eine eigene Stimmung, die auf den ersten Blick nicht zu passen scheint, aber doch genau richtig ist.
April 7, 2022
On December 1st 1955, a 42-year old black woman named Rosa Parks, took on bus 2857 for a ride home after work. She sits in the middle section of the bus but after a few stops, when a white passenger gets on the bus and the bus driver told her to move out of her seats as required by the rules,she refused to budge and her courageous and defiant action became the catalyst for one of the most important fights against segregations and one of the most influential bus boycott in history!. Her most famous quote,"i was not tired physically or no more tired than i usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old,although some people have an image of me being old then. I was forty-two. No,the only tired i was, was tired of giving in".
This graphic novel provides a glimpse into that fateful bus boycott incident,Rosa's and the NAACP's (The National Association For The Advancement Of The Colored People) involvement in the fight against oppressions and segregations by the White towards the Black people in the South. The format of the story takes on a rather roundabout way by introducing to other characters in a more recent year and in a modern setting,instead of jumping straight on to Rosa's story and the year of great segregations and oppressions,the story begin with an old black taxi driver was telling about his life story in Montgomery back in the year of the 1950's to a young black man.
Then, slowly the story unfolds through the old black man's parents coincidentally met with Rosa Parks and her husband, Raymond at the church on September 1952 (this incident and the old black man's family characters however are fictional characters added to give the story a different take as this novel is still a work of fiction/a fictional biography). Starting from then onwards, the readers are introduced to Rosa's story. Rather than covering the whole story about Rosa's life and involvement, this graphic novel only focuses on a few of her major involvement and contributions for the black people of the South as a secretary of the NAACP,particularly focusing on the bus segregations and bus boycott incidents,where Rosa is widely known for. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's character is also included in the story as one of the most important and influential figures fighting towards the rights and the advancements of the black people.
I believe the main intended audience of this graphic novel is for the youngsters and the teenagers. Therefore, the story is revealed in a more tone down, subdued manner and positive light minus the violent scenes whereby we all know how very badly the black people were treated and had suffered in those days. Even, the cuss words are dimmed.
One of the main objectives of this novel is to create awareness and to educate,the young and ignorant people on why this issue (racism and segregation is still very important to be addressed and still relevant and occuring even until today in recent time,as we can see many cases of police brutality against black people,for example like the case of Eric Gardner,etc.
Overall, this novel is okay if you want to get an overview and a general story about Rosa,NAACP, the bus segregations issue and the Civil-Rights Movement. However, for more in-depth read,i would suggest anyone to read an biography penned by Rosa herself title Rosa Parks: My Story as a supplementary reading.
The only thing that is not to my liking is the illustrations of this graphic novel which i find confusing. I keep mixing up and getting confused with the black mother and daughter character as the daughter looks rather old for a supposed to be a young woman! and sometimes even the black young boys character faces look as old as their fathers!. I even had some issue with the tone colour and facial features between the black and the white people,for some parts they look rather similar with each other until i hardly can tell them apart from each other. Perhaps, you might want to improve more on the illustrations part in the future.
Still,this a very inspiring story which is relevant at any time and for anyone,especially in fighting for our rights,respect and equality. All lives matter and everyone deserves to be treated better regardless what but respect needs to be earned. I felt an honour to get to know about this courageous and remarkable icon of the Civil-Rights Movement. She truly deserves the highest honours and awards for all her hard work and endless dedications. May her story inspire everyone in standing up against oppressions,injustices and unfair treatments.
"I have spent over half my life teaching love and brotherhood, and i feel that it is better to continue to try to teach or live equality and love than it would be to have hatred and prejudice. Everyone living together in peace and harmony and love that's the goal that we seek, and i think that the more people there are who reach that state of mind, the better we will all be" (Rosa Parks: My Story).
I rated this book a 3.5🌟 out of 5, rounded up to 4🌟.
Thank you Papercutz,NBM Publishing for this review copy.
This graphic novel provides a glimpse into that fateful bus boycott incident,Rosa's and the NAACP's (The National Association For The Advancement Of The Colored People) involvement in the fight against oppressions and segregations by the White towards the Black people in the South. The format of the story takes on a rather roundabout way by introducing to other characters in a more recent year and in a modern setting,instead of jumping straight on to Rosa's story and the year of great segregations and oppressions,the story begin with an old black taxi driver was telling about his life story in Montgomery back in the year of the 1950's to a young black man.
Then, slowly the story unfolds through the old black man's parents coincidentally met with Rosa Parks and her husband, Raymond at the church on September 1952 (this incident and the old black man's family characters however are fictional characters added to give the story a different take as this novel is still a work of fiction/a fictional biography). Starting from then onwards, the readers are introduced to Rosa's story. Rather than covering the whole story about Rosa's life and involvement, this graphic novel only focuses on a few of her major involvement and contributions for the black people of the South as a secretary of the NAACP,particularly focusing on the bus segregations and bus boycott incidents,where Rosa is widely known for. Reverend Martin Luther King Jr's character is also included in the story as one of the most important and influential figures fighting towards the rights and the advancements of the black people.
I believe the main intended audience of this graphic novel is for the youngsters and the teenagers. Therefore, the story is revealed in a more tone down, subdued manner and positive light minus the violent scenes whereby we all know how very badly the black people were treated and had suffered in those days. Even, the cuss words are dimmed.
One of the main objectives of this novel is to create awareness and to educate,the young and ignorant people on why this issue (racism and segregation is still very important to be addressed and still relevant and occuring even until today in recent time,as we can see many cases of police brutality against black people,for example like the case of Eric Gardner,etc.
Overall, this novel is okay if you want to get an overview and a general story about Rosa,NAACP, the bus segregations issue and the Civil-Rights Movement. However, for more in-depth read,i would suggest anyone to read an biography penned by Rosa herself title Rosa Parks: My Story as a supplementary reading.
The only thing that is not to my liking is the illustrations of this graphic novel which i find confusing. I keep mixing up and getting confused with the black mother and daughter character as the daughter looks rather old for a supposed to be a young woman! and sometimes even the black young boys character faces look as old as their fathers!. I even had some issue with the tone colour and facial features between the black and the white people,for some parts they look rather similar with each other until i hardly can tell them apart from each other. Perhaps, you might want to improve more on the illustrations part in the future.
Still,this a very inspiring story which is relevant at any time and for anyone,especially in fighting for our rights,respect and equality. All lives matter and everyone deserves to be treated better regardless what but respect needs to be earned. I felt an honour to get to know about this courageous and remarkable icon of the Civil-Rights Movement. She truly deserves the highest honours and awards for all her hard work and endless dedications. May her story inspire everyone in standing up against oppressions,injustices and unfair treatments.
"I have spent over half my life teaching love and brotherhood, and i feel that it is better to continue to try to teach or live equality and love than it would be to have hatred and prejudice. Everyone living together in peace and harmony and love that's the goal that we seek, and i think that the more people there are who reach that state of mind, the better we will all be" (Rosa Parks: My Story).
I rated this book a 3.5🌟 out of 5, rounded up to 4🌟.
Thank you Papercutz,NBM Publishing for this review copy.
October 22, 2020
Edita Beccogiallo, Rosa Parks narra la storia dell’attivista americana nota per le sue battaglie per i diritti delle persone nere nell'America degli anni '50 e '60. Le vicende si svolgono inizialmente nel 2014, tra le strade trafficate di una grande metropoli, in un taxi giallo come tanti; qui, un ragazzo di colore che insegue il sogno di diventare famoso incontra un tassista anziano, un po’ ficcanaso, ma che molto ha da dire. La loro conversazione inizia con una considerazione di quest’ultimo sulla maglietta che il giovane indossa, sulla quale sono stampate le tristemente famose parole che, proprio in questi ultimi mesi, tutti noi abbiamo visto ovunque nelle piazze di mezzo mondo: I can’t breath.
Da queste tre parole parte anche la storia di Rosa Parks e della comunità nera di Montgomery, costretta a subire giorno dopo giorno le folli e disumane regole che la segregazione impone in quel paese: prima tra tutti la legge che impone ai neri di lasciare il posto ai bianchi sui mezzi pubblici.
Rosa Parks è una donna forte, benvoluta dalla comunità e conosciuta da tutti, impegnata da anni per far cambiare le regole; la sua, come quella del reverendo King, è una lotta collettiva e non violenta, ma che allo stesso tempo vuole lanciare messaggi forti e chiari. Ed è per questo che, in una serata come tante, Rosa Parks decide di non lasciare il suo posto sul bus a un uomo bianco, di infrangere la legge ed essere processata davanti a un giudice per quello che ha fatto. La legge sarà anche legge, sostiene, ma la legge deve cambiare!
In queste vicenda le saranno accanto persone comuni, cittadini stanchi di essere discriminati e pronti a lanciare un forte messaggio, ma anche figure storiche illustre come il succitato Reverendo King: il suo è un personaggio che, seppur carismatico, non va mai a imporsi sugli altri o sul procedere della storia e questo mi è piaciuto molto. Mi è piaciuto come, seppur questo sia un lavoro dedicato a una singola donna, nello stesso tempo risuoni come una storia corale, dove il singolo e la collettività si intrecciano e diventano un tutt’uno per denunciare e combattere lo stesso nemico.
Rosa Parks è un romanzo a fumetti che fa riflettere su quanto ancora ci sia bisogno di queste storie, di raccontare la vita e le gesta di personaggi simili, denunciare i soprusi dei bianchi avvenuti non solo negli anni ’50, ma anche adesso, mentre sto scrivendo questa recensione. La supremazia della razza, il KKK, la paura del diverso, tutte queste cose non sono così lontane da noi, e se pensiamo che siano parte del passato, per sempre dimenticate e date alla Storia, allora ci sbagliamo di grosso.
Passando ai disegni, questi mi sono piaciuti moltissimo: i loro toni ricordano la terra, i campi di cotone da cui i neri sono stati liberati; l’acquerello è sempre elegante, un evergreen che non stanca mai e che apprezzo sempre. Molto belli anche i disegni preparatori a fine libro, che danno al volume quel tocco in più e ci fanno vedere il dietro le quinte, come questo lavoro sia venuto alla luce.
Voglio sottolineare, inoltre, l’italianità di questo volume: quasi tutti i libri che si trovano in giro su questo argomento sono scritti da americani o gente estera, mentre Rosa Parks è in tutto e per tutto italiano, figlio di due illustratori che, oltre alla passione, hanno messo qui dentro lo studio della Storia e hanno attinto a fonti molto interessanti. La lettera finale di Martin Luther King alla fine, poi, è la ciliegina sulla torta.
Se non conoscete Rosa Parks, se ne siete appassionati o, ancora, volete far conoscere questa straordinaria donna ai più giovani, non dovete farvi scappare la graphic novel di Mancini e Pesce.
4.5/5
March 18, 2022
**Disclaimer: I recieved a free eARC of Rosa Parks by Matteo Mancini and Mariapaola Pesce through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this opportunity.
Rosa Parks by Matteo Mancini and Mariapaola Pesce is a historical graphic novel about Rosa Parks and her refusal to leave her seat on the bus, and the events leading up to that moment. It was published on February 1st, 2022. I rated it four stars on Goodreads.
Here's the summary from Goodreads:
Montgomery, Alabama, December 1, 1955: at the end of the working day, 42-year-old Rosa Parks, a black leather dressmaker, takes bus 2857, heading home. She sits in a center row, but when a white passenger gets on after a few stops, the driver asks her to get up to give him her seat, as required by the rules. Rosa knows them well: the blacks sit in the back, the whites in front, while the center seats are mixed and can only be used if all the others are occupied, but the whites retain priority. "No," Rosa replies without thinking too much, she doesn't intend to get up. That simple refusal turns her into a heroine of black rights, engaged in the fight against segregation that oppresses Alabama and other southern states, becoming the propellant of the historic bus boycott in Montgomery led by Martin Luther King. This is her story shown in a context of why it is still so resonant today.
As a Canadian, I don't necessarily know a lot about American history but there are always bits that get through and that I have learned about over the years. The story of Rosa Parks was one that I vaguely knew of and was interested in learning more about. So when I saw this graphic novel on NetGalley, I thought it would be a good one to request.
I found this graphic novel really informative. There was a lot of detail included, but it was presented in a really informative way. You weren't overwhelmed with detail and then lost out on information. It was really nice in that way.
I really enjoyed the art of the graphic novel. It had a really lovely design for the characters and the colours were really beautiful. It's a really beautifully illustrated story. The characters are clear in who they are, and I'm really impressed with the art in general.
The story was really well structured as well. They told the story of Rosa Parks in hindsight, through the structure of a cab driver educating his younger passenger about Rosa's story and the history of the civil rights movement. It waws a really good way of passing along the story.
If you're interested in the story, I highly recommend that you check it out.
Rosa Parks by Matteo Mancini and Mariapaola Pesce is a historical graphic novel about Rosa Parks and her refusal to leave her seat on the bus, and the events leading up to that moment. It was published on February 1st, 2022. I rated it four stars on Goodreads.
Here's the summary from Goodreads:
Montgomery, Alabama, December 1, 1955: at the end of the working day, 42-year-old Rosa Parks, a black leather dressmaker, takes bus 2857, heading home. She sits in a center row, but when a white passenger gets on after a few stops, the driver asks her to get up to give him her seat, as required by the rules. Rosa knows them well: the blacks sit in the back, the whites in front, while the center seats are mixed and can only be used if all the others are occupied, but the whites retain priority. "No," Rosa replies without thinking too much, she doesn't intend to get up. That simple refusal turns her into a heroine of black rights, engaged in the fight against segregation that oppresses Alabama and other southern states, becoming the propellant of the historic bus boycott in Montgomery led by Martin Luther King. This is her story shown in a context of why it is still so resonant today.
As a Canadian, I don't necessarily know a lot about American history but there are always bits that get through and that I have learned about over the years. The story of Rosa Parks was one that I vaguely knew of and was interested in learning more about. So when I saw this graphic novel on NetGalley, I thought it would be a good one to request.
I found this graphic novel really informative. There was a lot of detail included, but it was presented in a really informative way. You weren't overwhelmed with detail and then lost out on information. It was really nice in that way.
I really enjoyed the art of the graphic novel. It had a really lovely design for the characters and the colours were really beautiful. It's a really beautifully illustrated story. The characters are clear in who they are, and I'm really impressed with the art in general.
The story was really well structured as well. They told the story of Rosa Parks in hindsight, through the structure of a cab driver educating his younger passenger about Rosa's story and the history of the civil rights movement. It waws a really good way of passing along the story.
If you're interested in the story, I highly recommend that you check it out.
October 22, 2026
Le récit comporte deux temporalités : la soirée du premier décembre 2014 d’une part, et d’autre part, des événements, présentés dans l’ordre chronologique, se déroulant entre 1952 et 21 décembre 1956. Graphiquement, c’est surtout au niveau de la coloration que l’on passe du présent au passé et inversement. Des aplats en noir et blanc avec des reflets très « flashy » de couleurs primaires, comme pour soutenir cette atmosphère de soirée un peu psychédélique dans les rues de New York (?), en tout cas d’une grande ville américaine, pour la conversation dans le taxi entre la star Fharell Anderson et Aloysius (né 1948), le narrateur. Ensuite, des tons pastels, ocres et gris, pour l’histoire de la lutte contre la ségrégation raciale dans les bus, combat mené pacifiquement par les Noirs de la ville de Montgomery, lieu de naissance d’Aloysius. Celui-ci, fait prendre conscience, à son passager plutôt ignare, de la situation passée des Noirs, ainsi que de ce que « les gens, même ceux de bonne volonté, oublient souvent », ce qui peut constituer une nouvelle menace de l’égalité de traitement, comme l’a hélas prouvé le cas d'Eric Garner (« I can't breath »).
Le récit du passé est mené de façon pédagogique, sous forme de témoignage, malgré le très jeune âge du narrateur à l’époque des faits. Cela ajoute de l’empathie pour l’histoire de Rosa Parks, responsable de la section locale de la N.A.A.C.P (cf, note de la page 40) [Association nationale pour la promotion des personnes de couleur] créée en 1909. En septembre 1952, à la sortie de l’église où l’on voit déjà le révérend, dont on n’apprendra le nom qu’à la page 76, Martin Luther King, Corina, la mère d’Aloysius fait la connaissance de Rosa Parks. Le boycott des bus par les Noirs, majoritaires dans la ville, est rapporté avec rigueur et un certain suspens donc. Les éléments de discours sont brefs, mais très marquants et se caractérisent par l’expression d’une grande détermination, mais aussi un appel à la dignité et à la non-violence.
La prise de conscience devient vite aussi celle du lecteur, qui aura, il y a de grandes chances, une forte envie de poursuivre la découverte de ce combat pour l’égalité des droits. Que de chemin parcouru depuis la loi de 1875 interdisant la ségrégation !
Mémorables, et, toute proportion gardée, de « circonstance » pour notre actualité française, me paraissent les mots de Martin Luther King (p. 84) : « Si nous nous arrêtons là, ce serait comme de dire aux blancs : “Excusez-nous, nous nous sommes trompés. Nous n’avons pas les mêmes droits que vous. Piétinez-nous comme bon vous semble !” Mais ce n’est pas le cas ! »
Le récit du passé est mené de façon pédagogique, sous forme de témoignage, malgré le très jeune âge du narrateur à l’époque des faits. Cela ajoute de l’empathie pour l’histoire de Rosa Parks, responsable de la section locale de la N.A.A.C.P (cf, note de la page 40) [Association nationale pour la promotion des personnes de couleur] créée en 1909. En septembre 1952, à la sortie de l’église où l’on voit déjà le révérend, dont on n’apprendra le nom qu’à la page 76, Martin Luther King, Corina, la mère d’Aloysius fait la connaissance de Rosa Parks. Le boycott des bus par les Noirs, majoritaires dans la ville, est rapporté avec rigueur et un certain suspens donc. Les éléments de discours sont brefs, mais très marquants et se caractérisent par l’expression d’une grande détermination, mais aussi un appel à la dignité et à la non-violence.
La prise de conscience devient vite aussi celle du lecteur, qui aura, il y a de grandes chances, une forte envie de poursuivre la découverte de ce combat pour l’égalité des droits. Que de chemin parcouru depuis la loi de 1875 interdisant la ségrégation !
Mémorables, et, toute proportion gardée, de « circonstance » pour notre actualité française, me paraissent les mots de Martin Luther King (p. 84) : « Si nous nous arrêtons là, ce serait comme de dire aux blancs : “Excusez-nous, nous nous sommes trompés. Nous n’avons pas les mêmes droits que vous. Piétinez-nous comme bon vous semble !” Mais ce n’est pas le cas ! »
October 27, 2020
Tramite immagini particolareggiate e curate viene raccontata la storia di una donna che ha lasciato una grande impronta nella Storia, la cui presenza rimarrà impressa non solo nei libri scolastici, ma anche nella mente di tutti coloro che ogni giorno si battono per l'uguaglianza e il rispetto nella società.
Negli anni sono già stati dedicati numerosi libri e biografie a Rosa Parks, ma questo volume riesce comunque a distinguersi dal resto presentando un nuovo format di lettura ed aprendosi così ad un pubblico più ampio e variegato.
Vignette e colori permettono infatti anche a coloro che non hanno dimestichezza con gli avvenimenti di Montgomery di comprendere la portata di ciò che è successo, entrando così in sintonia con l'attivista statunitense e ciò che ha realizzato.
[...]
Innocenza e candore infantile si alternano con brutalità e ignoranza degli atteggiamenti segregazionisti, andando a creare un interessante e calibrato equilibrio che rende la storia di Rosa Parks accessibile a tutti.
Una graphic novel assolutamente consigliata, che a livello pratico richiede veramente poco tempo, ma il cui messaggio resta per molto nella mente dei lettori!
Puoi trovare la recensione completa di questo libro sul blog: clicca qui per leggerla!
Negli anni sono già stati dedicati numerosi libri e biografie a Rosa Parks, ma questo volume riesce comunque a distinguersi dal resto presentando un nuovo format di lettura ed aprendosi così ad un pubblico più ampio e variegato.
Vignette e colori permettono infatti anche a coloro che non hanno dimestichezza con gli avvenimenti di Montgomery di comprendere la portata di ciò che è successo, entrando così in sintonia con l'attivista statunitense e ciò che ha realizzato.
[...]
Innocenza e candore infantile si alternano con brutalità e ignoranza degli atteggiamenti segregazionisti, andando a creare un interessante e calibrato equilibrio che rende la storia di Rosa Parks accessibile a tutti.
Una graphic novel assolutamente consigliata, che a livello pratico richiede veramente poco tempo, ma il cui messaggio resta per molto nella mente dei lettori!
Puoi trovare la recensione completa di questo libro sul blog: clicca qui per leggerla!
February 3, 2022
"For such a time as this" applies to this timely graphic novel about Rosa Parks.
Told in present day, a cab driver teaches a young man just why the words on his shirt "I can't breathe" [Eric Garner 1970 -2014] mean more than the young man realizes and tells him the story of the Birmingham Bus Boycott and the rise of the amazing and strong Rosa Parks, who with her quiet voice, calm demeanor and belief that the laws of having to give up her seat to a white person after she too had paid for her ticket, started the ball rolling for deep and lasting change both in the south and in America in general.
In the end, the boy learns something and sets out to learn more, to educate others, and to be come an activist himself. It is a moving story, complimented by gorgeous illustrations, that, in this time of severe unrest, is timely and much needed. The stories and battles fought and won in the past need to be remembered and told again and again so we will not give up the fight and the hope and the dream of freedom and equality for all, no matter your skin color.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariapaola Pesce, Matteo Mancini [Illustrator] and Papercutz/NBM Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Told in present day, a cab driver teaches a young man just why the words on his shirt "I can't breathe" [Eric Garner 1970 -2014] mean more than the young man realizes and tells him the story of the Birmingham Bus Boycott and the rise of the amazing and strong Rosa Parks, who with her quiet voice, calm demeanor and belief that the laws of having to give up her seat to a white person after she too had paid for her ticket, started the ball rolling for deep and lasting change both in the south and in America in general.
In the end, the boy learns something and sets out to learn more, to educate others, and to be come an activist himself. It is a moving story, complimented by gorgeous illustrations, that, in this time of severe unrest, is timely and much needed. The stories and battles fought and won in the past need to be remembered and told again and again so we will not give up the fight and the hope and the dream of freedom and equality for all, no matter your skin color.
Thank you to NetGalley, Mariapaola Pesce, Matteo Mancini [Illustrator] and Papercutz/NBM Publishing for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 28, 2022
I really enjoyed the art style of this. It appeared as though the images were watercolored and I don't typically see that when reading graphic novels.
This is a good starting point for middle grade students to be introduced to Rosa Parks.
It doesn't paint a rosy colored, white washed version of her story in which she's a mild mannered older woman who was too tired to give up her seat. In reality, she was an active participant in the civil rights movement, and her choice was an intentional, non-violent protest that helped to spark a massive boycott. The sacrifices Black folks had to make during the boycott was explored and how they supported the movement as a community.
Often with historical figures we often present such a narrow, one dimensional view of them. Tokenizing and rolling them out as an example. I appreciated that there was an epilogue at the end that dove a bit deeper into what happened to Rosa after the boycott because her life was very difficult afterwards including poverty, debt, chronic illness and job insecurity, and through all that she still continued to fight for equal rights.
***Thank you to Papercutz & NBM Publishing for providing me with the eBook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.
This is a good starting point for middle grade students to be introduced to Rosa Parks.
It doesn't paint a rosy colored, white washed version of her story in which she's a mild mannered older woman who was too tired to give up her seat. In reality, she was an active participant in the civil rights movement, and her choice was an intentional, non-violent protest that helped to spark a massive boycott. The sacrifices Black folks had to make during the boycott was explored and how they supported the movement as a community.
Often with historical figures we often present such a narrow, one dimensional view of them. Tokenizing and rolling them out as an example. I appreciated that there was an epilogue at the end that dove a bit deeper into what happened to Rosa after the boycott because her life was very difficult afterwards including poverty, debt, chronic illness and job insecurity, and through all that she still continued to fight for equal rights.
***Thank you to Papercutz & NBM Publishing for providing me with the eBook for free via NetGalley for an unbiased review.
March 21, 2022
A beautiful picture book that's not just for Black children but also for children and adults everywhere and of every ethnicity. If you're aware of American history, you should be aware of the Civil Rights Movement and the name Rosa Parks. A 42-year-old black leather dressmaker and wife of Raymond Parks, she contributed greatly to desegregation in public transportation. Her one action of saying No to racial injustice engulfed the entire city of Montgomery, the entire state of Alabama, and the entire country of USA into a revolutionary change. No is a complete sentence and Rosa Parks knew it and implemented it and it scared the white folks. Her courage, determination, and resilience inspired every single Black people in America from the 1950s to this date. Told in flashbacks by an elderly Black taxi driver to a younger Black passenger, ROSA PARKS tells us a story of Black people fighting for their rights. I learned a lot more about Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement from this book. A great read for people of all age, race, nationality, and faith.
Thank you, NetGalley and Papercuts, NBM Publishing, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
Thank you, NetGalley and Papercuts, NBM Publishing, for providing me with an eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
October 28, 2020
4.5* https://lalettricesullenuvole.blogspo...
C’era bisogno di un altro libro su Rosa Parks? La graphic novel inizia con questa domanda e la risposta data dall’autrice, che condivido in pieno, è sì, ce n’è schifosamente sicuramente bisogno, viste le notizie di cronaca recenti.
Conosciamo (o ricordiamo) la storia di questa eroina per i diritti civili delle persone di colore, che senza violenza ma con costanza ha messo in moto un meccanismo che è riuscito a cambiare la legge, sbagliata, per cui le persone di colore avevano posti appositi sui pullman e dovevano lasciarli ai bianchi se necessario. Una lotta non violenta, fatta di uno sciopero, costante e prolungato nel tempo, che è riuscito a lasciare il segno e a far cambiare una norma ingiusta.
Mi ha fatto molto riflettere sull’idea di costanza e perseveranza, su come un’idea giusta necessiti dello sforzo di tante persone, per più tempo. Non arrendersi, non cedere alla rabbia, quello è il grande impegno.
... continua sul blog
C’era bisogno di un altro libro su Rosa Parks? La graphic novel inizia con questa domanda e la risposta data dall’autrice, che condivido in pieno, è sì, ce n’è schifosamente sicuramente bisogno, viste le notizie di cronaca recenti.
Conosciamo (o ricordiamo) la storia di questa eroina per i diritti civili delle persone di colore, che senza violenza ma con costanza ha messo in moto un meccanismo che è riuscito a cambiare la legge, sbagliata, per cui le persone di colore avevano posti appositi sui pullman e dovevano lasciarli ai bianchi se necessario. Una lotta non violenta, fatta di uno sciopero, costante e prolungato nel tempo, che è riuscito a lasciare il segno e a far cambiare una norma ingiusta.
Mi ha fatto molto riflettere sull’idea di costanza e perseveranza, su come un’idea giusta necessiti dello sforzo di tante persone, per più tempo. Non arrendersi, non cedere alla rabbia, quello è il grande impegno.
... continua sul blog
January 12, 2024
An old cabbie recounts the saga of Rosa Parks for (the reader and) a young social media influencer who has never heard of her. ...Or of Eric Garner, despite the fact that he's wearing an I CAN'T BREATHE shirt.
Parks' story is a great story, of course. I'm consistently amazed by the extent of the planning and strategizing that went into the civil rights movements of the '50s and '60s. When I was young, my ignorant impression of the movements was of spontaneous outrage. That things had changed (to the extent that they did change) simply because it was time. But it took intent, blood, and sacrifice to achieve progress. We can't sit back and expect the world to coast inevitably towards justice and freedom for all. Books like this one serve as an important reminder.
While I liked the framing device overall, I was throw by the cabbie--the educating voice-of-reason character--waxing nostalgic for the days when parents would beat their children for saying a swear word. This is the source of wisdom we're supposed to listen to?
Parks' story is a great story, of course. I'm consistently amazed by the extent of the planning and strategizing that went into the civil rights movements of the '50s and '60s. When I was young, my ignorant impression of the movements was of spontaneous outrage. That things had changed (to the extent that they did change) simply because it was time. But it took intent, blood, and sacrifice to achieve progress. We can't sit back and expect the world to coast inevitably towards justice and freedom for all. Books like this one serve as an important reminder.
While I liked the framing device overall, I was throw by the cabbie--the educating voice-of-reason character--waxing nostalgic for the days when parents would beat their children for saying a swear word. This is the source of wisdom we're supposed to listen to?
February 20, 2022
The story of Rosa Parks should be known by everyone, regardless of age, race or political or religious beliefs, since the fight of Mrs. Parks, as well as the fight of Reverend King and many others, is about equality between all beings. after all, the first article of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights establishes that "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood."
Unfortunately, there are currently groups that claim these rights only for certain individuals or races, establishing in a frighteningly similar way to Hitler the superiority of one race over the others...
I hope that after reading this book, we will understand that actually, all lives matter.
Unfortunately, there are currently groups that claim these rights only for certain individuals or races, establishing in a frighteningly similar way to Hitler the superiority of one race over the others...
I hope that after reading this book, we will understand that actually, all lives matter.
December 29, 2023
A story that needs to be retold every few years because people keep forgetting things like this happened only 60 years ago and keep rising back up. The beginning scene is a bit cringy. It's about a young black man today taking a taxi cab to an event. He has no idea who Rosa Parks is even though he's wearing an "I can't breath" shirt. The old man driving the cab begins to educate the man on what happened while they drive across town as he was there when he was a kid and then the story flashes back to the 1950s. I will warn you. There's is a lot of derogatory language in this as there should be. Stories like this shouldn't be white washed to make the reader feel better. It should make you feel awful that people were treated as less than human for the color of their skin. Only by remembering the mistakes of our past can we safeguard that they don't return.
February 12, 2022
This is a beautifully told tale of Rosa Parks - it's her story and so much more. It shows the interconnection of life and people and history. I LOVE all the water colored texture of this graphic novel. It was well designed, well researched and the color scheme was tasteful and classy.
When a famous celebrity wearing a "I can't breathe" t-shirt gets stuck in traffic with a taxi driver who likes to tell stories and talk history, the magic of this graphic novel unfolds. This is a story ABOUT Rosa Parks as told from the descendant of a friend of hers. This story touches on her life before, during and after she was arrested on the bus. It only briefly touches on the trauma she endured in her lifetime, choosing instead to focus on her legacy and inspiration. I did learn a little bit more about Rosa Parks because of this novel.
Highly recommend it as a complimentary text to any history unit on Rosa Parks and Civil Rights. A must in any 4-9th grade classroom library's graphic novel shelf.
When a famous celebrity wearing a "I can't breathe" t-shirt gets stuck in traffic with a taxi driver who likes to tell stories and talk history, the magic of this graphic novel unfolds. This is a story ABOUT Rosa Parks as told from the descendant of a friend of hers. This story touches on her life before, during and after she was arrested on the bus. It only briefly touches on the trauma she endured in her lifetime, choosing instead to focus on her legacy and inspiration. I did learn a little bit more about Rosa Parks because of this novel.
Highly recommend it as a complimentary text to any history unit on Rosa Parks and Civil Rights. A must in any 4-9th grade classroom library's graphic novel shelf.
March 27, 2022
I won a copy of this book through Goodreads Giveaways, and I'm happy I got a chance to read it.
I love the story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and I really liked the way that the story was framed in this version through the lens of a modern young person learning about the past from an older taxi driver. I also liked the graphics quite a bit, and I felt that they really helped bring the story to life in a new way for me. I found the writing style a bit dry and the story a bit slow, but I do think that overall the storytelling style worked for the story it was trying to tell. I think this is a good addition to the genre, and it could be a good format for reluctant readers to learn about this important piece of history.
I love the story of Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, and I really liked the way that the story was framed in this version through the lens of a modern young person learning about the past from an older taxi driver. I also liked the graphics quite a bit, and I felt that they really helped bring the story to life in a new way for me. I found the writing style a bit dry and the story a bit slow, but I do think that overall the storytelling style worked for the story it was trying to tell. I think this is a good addition to the genre, and it could be a good format for reluctant readers to learn about this important piece of history.
February 6, 2023
Growing up, I learned about Rosa Parks and always admired her bravery and her tenacity to stand up for what she knew was wrong. However, whenever I read this, I just admired her even more. She was so courageous and strong, even in the face of adversity. (Which at that time, I can only imagine how difficult it was.) It’s so important to continue educating not only our children on these topics, but also ourselves. The story of Rosa Parks should not just be shared to children, but it should be known to everyone, regardless of age, race, political or religious beliefs.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -MLK JR.
Rosa Parks, thank you for NOT being silent about your seat on the bus.
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” -MLK JR.
Rosa Parks, thank you for NOT being silent about your seat on the bus.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews