New Kid

New Kid follows Jordan Banks, a 12-year-old African American student from Washington Heights who enrolls at the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School. His passion for creating art and cartoons contrasts with his mother's wishes for him to receive an elite private school education. At RAD, Jordan must navigate unfamiliar social dynamics as one of few black students at the school. He finds support through new friendships while continuing to express himself through his artwork, which appears throughout the graphic novel in multiple artistic styles. This Newbery Medal-winning book breaks ground as the first graphic novel to receive this prestigious award. The story draws from author Jerry Craft's personal experiences and those of his sons in private school settings. The narrative explores themes of identity, belonging, and the complexities of code-switching between different cultural environments, while maintaining an accessible and engaging format for middle-grade readers.

Readers connect with the authentic portrayal of navigating middle school as a student of color, with many noting the book helped their own children feel seen and understood. Parents and teachers report the story opens conversations about racism, microaggressions, and identity. Readers appreciated: - The blend of humor with serious topics - Relatable school and family dynamics - Expressive artwork that enhances the storytelling - Character development and friendship storylines Common criticisms: - Some found the pacing slow in the middle sections - A few readers wanted more resolution to certain plotlines - Several mentioned the art style took time to get used to Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (44,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (5,800+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 5/5 "This book helped my son understand he's not alone in his experiences," noted one parent reviewer. A middle school teacher wrote, "My students see themselves in these characters and can't put it down."

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🏆 "New Kid" won the 2020 Newbery Medal, making it the first graphic novel ever to receive this prestigious award ✏️ Jerry Craft drew inspiration for the story from his own sons' experiences at private school, as well as his personal experiences growing up in Washington Heights 🎨 The book's unique artistic style combines traditional comic panels with Jordan's notebook sketches, creating two distinct visual narratives that complement each other 📚 Several schools have added "New Kid" to their curricula to help facilitate discussions about diversity, microaggressions, and cultural identity in educational settings 🖋️ Jerry Craft started his career creating "Mama's Boyz," a syndicated comic strip that ran in African American newspapers for over two decades before writing "New Kid"