New Kid by Jerry Craft

Bibliography

Craft, J. (2019). New kid. Quill Tree Books. ISBN 9780062691200

Plot Summary

Going to art school is all Jordan can dream about, but his mother has other plans for him. Finding that Jordan was offered a scholarship to attend a distinguished private school in a ritzy part of town, Jordan’s mother makes him attend despite his opposition. Attending such a prestigious school in a well-to-do area means he will be one of the few kids of color. Worrying about fitting in and dealing with stereotyping, Jordan tries to find a way to make the best of his situation at his new middle school. 

Critical Analysis
Author Jerry Craft created a novel that will resonate with middle schoolers abound. Newbery Medal-winning novel New Kid will be a graphic novel that children will not want to put down. In a blended text and visual format, Craft takes the reader on the main character's journey each day from his Washington Heights apartment to his new upscale private school. Being one of a few scholarship students selected to attend, the main character encounters racism and microaggression. Learning to handle such misperceptions, keeping up with school work, and finding time to be himself around his neighborhood friends turns out to be a challenge the main character Jordan eventually learns to navigate through.

Review Excerpt(s)

“Possibly one of the most important graphic novels of the year.” — Booklist
“An engrossing, humorous, and vitally important graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in America.” — Kirkus
“This is more than a story about being the new kid—it’s a complex examination of the micro- and macroaggressions that Jordan endures from classmates and teachers. Highly recommended for all middle grade shelves.” — School Library Journal

Newbery Medal Winner
Coretta Scott King Author Award
Kirkus Prize for Young Readers’ Literature

Connections

For additional activities related to the book:

• Students will create a character map of the characters in New Kid, paying close attention to the physical attributes and the traits of both major and minor characters. Students can also provide detailed information regarding the challenges the character faces, the challenges the character imposes, and the importance of the character to the plot of the story.
• Students will identify and illustrate two of the themes in New Kid.
• Having students choose a favorite quote or dialogue from the book allows them to express which parts of the story resonated with them on a personal level. In this way, students are making a text-to-self connection that demonstrates their understanding of the characters and their development or the themes of the novel. Students can share their storyboards afterward and have a short discussion about what the quote or dialogue means to them and why they chose it.

Other recommended books if you liked this one:

• Class Act by Jerry Craft
• Akissi by Marguerite Abouet
• Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson