Jerry Craft

Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

New Kid

Riverdale Academy Day School is the last place that seventh grader Jordan wants to go to school, but his family thinks it is the best place for him to get on the path to a good college.  The first day is culture shock for Jordan because things are so different than his old school.  As the teachers and faculty try hard not to be prejudiced, it actually comes shining through, but after making some friends, things begin to change for Jordan.

New Kid is a scathing look at private schools and the way students are treated there. Jerry Craft does a really good job of showing, through the eyes of Jordan and his friends, how society's perception of racial differences is glaringly obvious.  Jordan and his friends are well developed as characters, while the writing and artwork are easy to follow and understand for an audience anywhere from preteen to adult.  Overall, New Kid is a fun story with a very powerful message

Lynn Braden

Riverdale Academy Day School is the last place that seventh grader Jordan wants to go to school, but his family thinks it is the best place for him to get on the path to a good college.  The first day is culture shock for Jordan because things are so different than his old school.  As the teachers and faculty try hard not to be prejudiced, it actually comes shining through, but after making some friends, things begin to change for Jordan.

New Kid is a scathing look at private schools and the way students are treated there. Jerry Craft does a really good job of showing, through the eyes of Jordan and his friends, how society's perception of racial differences is glaringly obvious.  Jordan and his friends are well developed as characters, while the writing and artwork are easy to follow and understand for an audience anywhere from preteen to adult.  Overall, New Kid is a fun story with a very powerful message

Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds--and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?

Jeannette Ordas

A very sweet and at times heartbreaking book about a Black kid from the wrong neighborhood going to a rich kid school in a new neighborhood. 100% charming and a great graphic novel for middle schoolers.

Wes Michaud

I didn’t like this book much I picked it up because I thought my brother would like it and he did then he gave it back to me so I could return it to the library but I decided to read it first because it said it was a book that fans of smile and sisters would like because it was similar to it but I did see any similarities between the books and I couldn’t relate to the characters at all

Ashley Wendt

4.5 I get the hype! This is such a great middle grade graphic novel. Jerry Craft created a story, that even as an adult, I could relate to and learn something from.

Celeste Richardson

This was such a fun middle grade graphic novel. It speaks a lot about diversity, and about finding your place in a school or other setting where you stand out by simply being there. The art was great, the content was well handled, and the story was compelling. They characters were well fleshed out, and I think this would be a wonderful graphic novel for every teacher to keep in their classrooms.

Nadine 

This book is so darn clever. A young person of colour has a scholarship for a fancy school and his day to day experiences with micro-aggressions are faithfully documented. It's smart and funny and totally hits the target. We need more books like this - like one for girls as well. I have just the incident for the girls one - a teacher in assembly last week saying "well done boys" to the robotics team - that included a girl.

Caroline Lewicki

One of the best graphic novels I've had the pleasure to read. Jerry Craft so perfectly captures what it's like to be a new kid - which is an experience anyone can relate to - with the added experience of kids of color struggling to fight against microaggressions, figuring out how to code switch, and just generally working to fit in among their peers. I loved "New Kid" and can't wait to read "Class Act"!

Fiona Coffey

I don’t know why I’ve picked up so many middle grade graphic novels this year... this one was a good one though! I’m not a middle schooler, or a teacher, parent or librarian. In other words I’m almost definitely not this book’s intended audience, but I loved it. It’s about middle school, changing schools, racism, and bullying, and features a young black protagonist in a story where... he gets to tell his story. If i had read this when I was younger I would have loved it then too.

Samirah Arif

I really liked it! The representation was really good and the characters were lovable. It did a good job of explaining racial bias without really explaining it. Plus, the art style was nice and really fit the story!

laura

I really loved this read. I thought the art style was so fun and loved exploring a year in his life. This book tackled so many issues like diversity, racism, friendship, new school and parent dynamics. It really liked how this story was so diverse in so many different ways. I also liked how this book had a art focus because the main character loved art. I am really hoping we will be getting my volumes in this series. It was a very eye opening read!

Samantha Seeman

This was actually really good! Young artist transfers to a new school despite his desire to attend an art school. This new school is very well known for their academics and prestige, which on paper sounds great however, Jordan finds that he is one of very few kids of color within it’s walls. There are many cringe-y moments that just slap you into reality and make you realize just how hurtful our actions and our words can be. A lot of this story made me uncomfortable but that was the point. It showed another side to this coin. You don’t have to have a shooting or conflict similar to that to show diversity or the daily struggles of a person of color. Sometimes it is as simple as getting your name wrong, or assuming things about another person based on stereotype. It was a worthwhile read, and like I said, a different version of that narrative that we are so familiar with at this point.

Tayler Park

Sabrina D. 

Hannah DCamp

Winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft. Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade. As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself? This middle grade graphic novel is an excellent choice for tween readers, including for summer reading. New Kid is a selection of the Schomburg Center's Black Liberation Reading List. Plus don't miss Jerry Craft's Class Act!

New Kid

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