Class Act

Class Act, Jerry Craft's graphic novel sequel to New Kid, centers on Drew Ellis, an African American eighth-grader navigating life at the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School (RAD). Drew faces daily challenges as one of the few students of color at RAD, from classmates touching his hair without permission to wrestling with the stark differences between his neighborhood and his wealthy peers' homes. The story follows his friendships with Jordan Banks and Liam Landers as they deal with school dynamics, identity, and growing up. The graphic novel format combines traditional panels with Drew's own sketch-style "intermissions," reflecting his perspective on his experiences at RAD and at home. This middle-grade story explores themes of privilege, belonging, and the complexities of maintaining friendships across social and economic divides.

Readers call Class Act a relatable story that authentically portrays middle school dynamics and racial identity. Parents and teachers note it helps start conversations about privilege, code-switching, and friendship across social divides. Likes: - Strong character development from Drew's perspective - Detailed, expressive art that enhances storytelling - Tackles complex social issues in an age-appropriate way - Appeals to both reluctant and enthusiastic readers Dislikes: - Some found the pacing slower than New Kid (the previous book) - A few readers wanted more resolution to certain plot threads - Occasional references readers felt required reading New Kid first Ratings: Goodreads: 4.3/5 (14,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (2,100+ ratings) Common Sense Media: 5/5 "The art and writing work together perfectly," notes one teacher reviewer on Goodreads. A student reviewer on Amazon wrote, "I could relate to Drew's experiences at school and with friends."

New Kid by Jerry Craft A seventh-grade African American student faces similar challenges of identity and belonging at a prestigious private school through vibrant graphic novel storytelling.

Ghost by Jason Reynolds The story follows Castle Cranshaw's journey from a tough neighborhood onto an elite track team, navigating two different worlds as he pursues his dreams.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone A Black prep school student writes letters to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while processing his experiences with racism and privilege at his predominantly white school.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang A young immigrant girl manages her family's motel while dealing with economic disparities between herself and her classmates at school.

Look Both Ways by Jason Reynolds Ten interconnected stories follow different middle school students walking home from school, revealing the varied socioeconomic backgrounds and experiences within one community.

🏆 Jerry Craft became the first African American to win the Newbery Medal in 2020 for "New Kid," the companion book to "Class Act" 📚 The author draws from his own experiences attending a predominantly white private school in New York City during his youth 🎨 Before writing graphic novels, Jerry Craft worked as an editorial cartoonist and created the pioneering comic strip "Mama's Boyz" 🌟 "Class Act" addresses code-switching - how students of color often feel pressure to adjust their behavior and speech in different social contexts 📖 The book's distinctive visual style includes "pencil sketch breaks" that represent the main character Drew's personal sketchbook, offering deeper insights into his thoughts and feelings