New Kid

Jerry Craft is aptly named–as he has crafted a wonderful and engaging graphic novel about middle school student Jordan Banks, who’s about to enter 7th grade at Riverdale Academy Day School (RAD), an exclusive private school. Truthfully, he’d rather go to Art school. His well-intentioned upwardly mobile parents know this, and they’ve agreed to send him there if, after two years, he decides RAD is not for him. Most of the students at RAD come from families that are wealthier than Jordan’s, and he has a tough time fitting in as the “new kid–there are only a few other Black students at the school, and he experiences some bullying from other students and microaggressions from some of the teachers. He doesn’t enjoy sports, yet he is able to bond with some of his classmates over videogames and other common interests. A minor altercation in the lunch room is about as dramatic as this story gets, but I suspect the book’s target audience will enjoy its authenticity. Jordan is a likeable kid, and this text is a great way to get tweens to think about prejudice and class differences. Highly recommended.

Jordan Banks is the new kid at one of the best private schools in the state that offers a wealth of academic and extra-curricular opportunities and experiences for its students and while its prestige is praiseworthy, it is woefully lacking in diversity. Jordan is one of a small number of students of color at the school but just like every other twelve-year-old middle school student has to navigate making new friends, avoiding awkward crushes, getting good grades, and making time to do what he loves most-drawing cartoons. His art is embedded throughout the text and gives the reader an inside look at Jordan’s thoughts on well, just about everything. His drawings are informative, oftentimes laugh-out-loud hilarious, and honest. There’s a gaping void as it concerns the representation of African American youths in books in general across all genres but especially in graphic novels. Jerry Craft expertly enters into this space and gifts us with New Kid. It is a relevant read. A cool, down-to-earth middle school story for everyone. I want to hug this book! I want to read it over and over and then wrap it up and give a copy to every child I know. No doubt that Jerry Craft upholds his mission to “write the books he wishes he had when he was a kid” because this is the sort of book I wish I’d had as a child. No offense to The Baby-Sitters Club series from back in my day, but what about books with characters that look like me and share in my experiences? I would have loved a book like this! I would recommend this book for intermediate elementary students (4th-5th grade), middle school and high school too. I honestly think it will have a wide range of interest much like books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet, Sisters, and Drama that are read from elementary school straight through high school.

If you have a child that grew up reading every single Dog Man book written, but they've aged out of them these type of graphic novels are an awesome way to level up and keep your tween reading. Lightly introduces children to racial stereotyping and the possible outcomes of that situation. My son read this in 1 week and wants to start the next.

This book would be good for someone who is going into late elementary early middle school. It about a boy named Jordan Banks who goes to a new school that has mostly white kids. It is a graphic novel with lots of pictures. The art style is very cool.

My 10 year old daughter checked this book out so many times from our library that we had to purchase it. She loves it! Her face lit up when she unwrapped it for Christmas. Highly Recommend!

This is a great book for middle school students. It’s a perfect addition to my student library and a nice graphic novel!

I greatly enjoyed this book. It made me laugh, it made me cry. I am an emigrant in the interracial marriage. I hope that each child will have a grandparent or a friend who can point them in the right direction and help them to see things differently. I hope each child will have a friend who is willing to stand up against injustice. I believe that love is the only way. Thank you for a wonderful book.

Okay, everyone should read this book!! EVERYONE!! 😍 Even IF it’s “just for kids” (I’m not a kid, obviously, nor do I have a kid of my own yet)! I first heard of this book from an interview on NPR on the “This American Life” podcast & what made me want to read it for myself is that it has been banned in some middle school libraries . . . 🥺 I, then, offered it up as one of my book choices for my book club. I honestly thought that they weren’t gonna pick it (none of the members are kids, obviously—much less middle school kids 😉), but I am SO glad they did! 😁 I LOVED it! Jordan (the MC) is a laugh-out-loud funny kid & I SO feel for everything he’s going through in this new school. Anyway, would 1,000% recommend for your kid OR ANYONE!! 👍🏻😁😍