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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