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Chapter Book · Ages 8–12 · 2019 · Est. 2.5 hour read

New Kid

Written and illustrated by Jerry Craft

Book #1 in the New Kid series

A young artist navigates two worlds, struggling to fit in at a new school.

5.8/7 Bookroo experts·4.1/5 Goodreads · 62,507 ratings

249 pages· 14,169 words· Est. 2.5 hour read

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Bookroo's summary

Seventh grader Jordan Banks dreams of art school, but his parents send him to a prestigious academy where he's one of the few kids of color. Torn between his diverse neighborhood and the elite school, Jordan must find a way to fit in without losing himself. Can he balance these worlds and stay true to his passion for drawing? Discover the challenges and triumphs of a young artist caught between two cultures in this compelling graphic novel.

"Never comfort someone with a lie."

— from the book

From the publisher

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?

Awards

Newbery Medal (2020)Coretta Scott King Award (2020)Cybils Award (2019)

At a glance

Format
Pages: 249
Words: 14,169
Reading age: 8–12
Audience: Middle Grade
Lexile: GN320L

Themes & topics

Books about private schools Books about self-discovery Books about prejudice and racism Books about drawing Books about diversity

After the last page

Talk about it together

This story offers multiple opportunities to discuss weighty matters—explicit racism, systemic racism, social classes, preconceived stereotypes, misunderstandings, lack of self-esteem, and more. As a graphic novel, its read time is short, so consider taking time to have discussions about these important topics along the way as they arise and revisiting them and their resolution at the end of the story.

Some important points in the story are insightfully conveyed by the illustrations as they play out in the text. For example, Jordan expects he and Maury will have a lot in common. But as they visit, they realize they don't. At the same moment, Craft depicts them standing on two separate worlds. What point does this emphasize? Where else did you notice the illustrations telling part of the story?

Inside the book

A peek between the covers

Good to know

Stories behind the story

On his inspiration for New Kid

"More than anything, I wanted to give 10-year-old Jerry Craft a book he could read and say was his own. That was probably the reason I was not a reader until I was an adult. The things I had to read in school couldn’t have been further from my life. Or if it was someone who looked like me, it couldn’t be further from the life I wanted to live when I got older."

What readers & critics say

Reviews

5.8

out of 7

6.0

“I read this book to my two boys who are five and seven years old. They are still innocent to the prejudices of the world. They see all people with equality and don't understand why we would look down on others because of skin color. I love this about children and want to keep them that way as long as possible. All three of us really enjoyed reading this book. It showed insecurities that each of the characters had and portrayed racism from each of their points of view, which was so powerful. It had me laughing and feeling so grateful for good kids, good choices and good friends.”

Mom of Boys

Trusted reviewer

5.5

“I liked the story's lessons about not judging people based on stereotypes but instead getting to know them and the unifying impact of serving others.”

The Goodfather

Trusted reviewer

“Jordan's black-and-white notebook drawings are the highlight of this work, combining effective social commentary with the protagonist's humorous voice.”

School Library Journal

Critic

“This engaging story . . . captures the high jinks of middle schoolers and . . . tensions that come with being a person of color in a traditionally white space.”

Publisher's Weekly

Critic

“Craft skillfully employs the graphic-novel format to its full advantage, giving his readers a delightful and authentic cast of characters who, along with New York itself, pop off the page with vibrancy and nuance.”

Kirkus

Critic · Starred review

For readers who can't stop at one