Book Review-
Bibliography:
Craft, J. (2019). NEW KID. Quill
Tree Books.
Plot Summary:
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?
Critical Analysis:
Craft uses the power of text and
visuals to tell a vivid story narrated by Jordan Banks, who is the ambitious
and talented main character. The other characters in the story, Maury, Liam,
Drew and Mr. Garner are relatable and easy to identify with. The style of the text is
written with sharp and effective humor, along with some sincerity too. Craft’s artistic talents
jump right off the pages to add value to the story and keep readers interested. The abundantly clear
distinction between the black students in the book is pointedly made in a way
that could never have been made even in a traditionally illustrated children’s
book. The themes
in the book are microaggression, privilege, and race relations, which are all
relevant today. There is a conflict between Jordan's expectations in his new
school and his identity crisis because he is a black American studying in a
white dominated school full of racism. The existence of microaggressions as an
everyday part of the educational system in America is an essential theme
explored throughout the story. The way controversial topics are discussed in
NEW KID reveals the power of the graphic novel and justifies that it can make
the same impact as traditional books.
Review Excerpts:
Newberry Medal Award
Coretta Scott King Author Award
Kirkus Starred Review: “An engrossing, humorous, and vitally important
graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in
America.”
School Library Journal Starred Review: “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.”
Connections:
-Using Canva, students can create a storyboard, include:
characters, plot summary, new vocabulary and favorite quote.
-Focusing on character development, students can create a
chart with the main characters (using graphic organizer or other digital
resources). They can use pages from the text to get information such as: character
name, important details about them, are they round or flat, static or dynamic.
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