New Kid by Jerry Craft

 

Title: New Kid

Genre: Realistic fiction

Author/Illustrator: Jerry Craft

Major awards: Newberry Award & Coretta Scott King Award

Age group: 4th-10th

Summary

This story is written in the format of a graphic novel, this is like comic book style.  It follows the life of student Jordan Banks as he attends a new prestigious school.  Jordan comes from an urban area in New York and has grown up this way his entire life.  At this new school diversity is slim to say the least.  On his journey Jordan wrestles with finding his fit because of how all his classmates were raised and how his race is highly misrepresented at the school.  He wants to make friends but no one talks to him or when they do stereotypes and microaggressions run amuck.  In the beginning Jordan does not even want to befriend the other black student in his grade because of how that ma be perceived to others.

Through it all Jordan is able to be aware of the stereotypes but not let them dictate his story.  He learns that he can be friends with who he wants regardless of their skin color or social status.  This a a wonderful comin of age novel because by the end Jordan has completed evolved into his own person and to who he has always wanted to be and he does not let anyone get in the way of that,

Evaluation

I loved this story so much!  Graphic novels have really never been my niche but this story line and the raw realness that Jerry Craft portrays is immaculate.  I was able to read it in one sitting because I did not want to put it down at all.  I would actually use this story in my high school classroom in order to portray the realities of social injustices that all minority groups face.  Jerry Craft writes in a way that portrays the reality but also keeps it light enough for readers of many ages to effectively digest.