by Jerry Craft; Harper, 2019.

 

Jerry Craft has created a stand-out contemporary graphic novel for middle school kids that is at once funny and thought-provoking. Twelve year-old Jordan Banks lives in two worlds—his Washington Heights neighborhood and the prestigious private school he commutes to daily. Over the course of his seventh grade school year, Jordan navigates new rules, new friends, and the expectations of his parents, teachers, and neighborhood friends. Throughout, his love of drawing cartoons sustains Jordan and helps him make sense of his world. Here’s a current, approachable, and engaging graphic novel that is sure to strike a chord with any middle-school student who is or has ever been a “new kid” in a school setting–or who encounters one.  

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“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”—Maya Angelou

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Why this Book? Why will it matter to kids?

New Kid begins with a full-page spread of Jordan free-falling toward the reader. A few spare sentences tell us how he is feeling (like he’s falling without a parachute), the fact that this is a metaphor (!!), insight into his character (he used to wish he was Superman so he could fly instead of falling), and his age (12).

And we’re off. Middle-grade readers will identify with Jordan’s journey. They will relate to his challenges with family dynamics as they witness Jordan’s realization and gradual acceptance that his mom has enrolled him in an academically rigorous, mostly white private school across town instead of the art academy he yearns to attend. Readers will follow Jordan as he navigates the tightrope his life becomes. They will root for him as he balances the highs and lows, fits and starts—and as he gradually but surely grows in his sense of self, his confidence, and his maturity. Best of all, readers will come to realize the power of friendship and communication, and the strength of self-reliance and a true sense of identity. Readers will laugh, but they also will have an opportunity to consider thoughtless actions and comments that unintentionally hurt others. As Jerry reflects, “Kids write to me, but so do teachers and principals. They tell me the book has helped them to become more aware of how they might stereotype students without

 

© Jerry Craft

Grade level: 5-8

Social-Emotional Learning Themes

self-confidence, identity, self-reliance, race, stereotypes, class, friendship, interpersonal relationships, family dynamics, kindness, concern, empathy, perspective, bullying, courage, courtesy, fortitude, civility, justice, integrity, perseverance, self-reliance, respect, tolerance

Content Area Connections

art, interpersonal relationships

 

Using This Book in the Classroom

Hit the Ground Running

Ready Resources for Educators, Homeschoolers, and Parents

 A teacher’s guide including discussion questions and extension activities is available from the publisher.

See also the in-depth guide developed by The Classroom Bookshelf.

Several additional resources are available to educators and students on Jerry’s website, including video clips.

Interviews with Jerry can be found here and here.

Write Away!
Ideas to prompt writing

Ask students to choose one of Jordan’s neighborhood friends or school classmates and write from his or her perspective about Jordan’s challenges and his choices. Be specific. Separately, list support for created thoughts and feelings; cite scenes from the story.

Explore different ways in which one can be the “new kid.” Ask students to write about a time in their lives when they were the new kid. Remind students to provide a setting, give specific details, create sensory images, use dialogue, and be aware of having a beginning, middle, and end to their personal story.

Jordan enjoys metaphors. Explore this writing device with students. Find examples in the book. Are they effective? Why? Have students create metaphors of their own. (See interview below for Jerry’s comments on the use of metaphors in New Kid.)   

See poetry-related prompt below.

The story ends as summer vacation begins. Have students write about what they imagine Jordan does over the summer.

 

© Jerry Craft

 

Poetry Break 

Related poetry to recite before or following the reading of this book

Poetry breaks fit perfectly into brief moments in the day—from opening or closing a learning period to transitioning from one subject to the next.  Reading a poem typically takes less than a minute, yet it can introduce or reinforce a concept; capture a pivotal moment; celebrate language; exemplify rhythm and imagery; enhance vocabulary; expand understanding; increase attention span; and summon a giggle or initiate reflection. And poetry soothes the spirit.

Poetry collections suggested for use with New Kid:

• What the Heart Knows: Chants, Charms, & Blessings by Joyce Sidman, illustrated by Pamela Zagarenski

With a nod to the visual aspects of New Kid, consider exploring concrete poems. Follow up by having students write a concrete poem of their own related to one of the SEL themes in New Kid. Collections of concrete poems for middle school and beyond include: 

• Blue Lipstick: Concrete Poems by John Grandest
• Wet Cement: A Mix of Concrete Poems by Bob Rack

And Then There’s This…

Enrichment activities, related books, online resources, craft projects, and ideas for further study

Consider your setting, your students, and their personal journeys. What growth experiences have your students had? What can you celebrate? How can you provide support?

In New Kid, Jerry’s drawings employ various perspectives such as those found in films: close-ups, long-views, bird’s-eye views, and other visual techniques keep readers engaged. Have students create a panel that depicts a personal school or home life moment.

Graphix, an imprint of Scholastic, has developed a useful in-depth discussion guide for teachers on using graphic novels with children and teens.

Additional online resources for educators on using graphic novels with students can be found here, here, and here.

See also the professional resource Wham! Teaching with Graphic Novels Across the Curriculum by William G. Brozo, Gary Moorman, and Carla K. Meyer.

 

About the Author   

 JERRY CRAFT is an author and illustrator. New Kid is his middle grade graphic novel that has earned five starred reviews, including one from Booklist magazine, which called it “possibly one of the most important graphic novels of the year.” Kirkus Reviews called it “an engrossing, humorous, and vitally important graphic novel that should be required reading in every middle school in America.” New Kid is #1 on the Indie Comics and Graphic Works Bestseller list. Jerry is currently working on the sequel to New Kid titled Class Act scheduled to be released in 2020.

Jerry is the creator of Mama’s Boyz, a comic strip that was distributed by King Features Syndicate from 1995-2013 and won five African American Literary Awards. He is a co-founder of the Schomburg’s Annual Black Comic Book Festival. Jerry was born in Harlem and grew up in nearby Washington Heights. He is a graduate of The Fieldston School and received his B.F.A. from the School of Visual Arts.

 

Q&A with Jerry Craft

Jerry graciously responded to a few questions about New Kid and his creative process.

Judy Bradbury: How did you come to write this book? What seeded its creation?

Jerry Craft: New Kid is loosely based on my school experience and also those of my two sons. I’ve always wanted to create characters as lovable as a Wimpy Kid or what you’ll see in Raina Telgemeier’s books [Guts, Smile, Sisters, Ghosts, Drama].

JB: Tell about one hurdle you experienced in the creation of New Kid or provide a memorable (or humorous!) anecdote related to the making of this book.

JC: One of the biggest hurdles was trying to convince publishers that a graphic novel showing boys in everyday school settings would sell. Especially boys of color. Most books with boys have them involved in great adventures or having to deal with horrible events. And most don’t use humor.

 

 

© Jerry Craft

JB: How do you see your book connecting to the curriculum?

JC: There’s so much that I wanted New Kid to accomplish. First, for kids to learn how important it is to treat each other with kindness and respect. Then to show faculty that the way they treat kids of color may not always accomplish what they set out to do, no matter how well-intentioned. I also have the main character, Jordan Banks, being a real fan of metaphors, so that could also be a fun class assignment. I wrote New Kid in a way that an English class could dissect and examine the plot and characters like they would do with any other book of prose.

JB: There are many social-emotional learning connections in this story, which adeptly treats age-appropriate themes of tackling new situations, fitting in, building and navigating friendships, bullying, and family dynamics. How did personal experiences help you to shape the way Jordan navigates the challenges he encounters?    

JC: There are so many personal experiences that I saw in my four years of attending a high school similar to the one in New Kid, as well as 17 years of being a dad and watching my sons navigate through similar situations: being called by the wrong names; assumptions of your family life or social economic standing; what it’s like to be very different from your classmates…  But also the response that your friends around your block suddenly have when you attend a private school. I wanted this to have subtleties and nuances without beating my readers over the head.

 

 

© Jerry Craft

JB: What did you learn from creating this book?

JC: I have gotten such an amazing response from kids (including reluctant readers), teachers, parents . . . plus five starred reviews, and a great review in the New York Times!  There is definitely a need and a desire for this book.

JB: What would surprise readers to learn about you or about the creation of this book?

JC: I think it might surprise readers to learn how long it took to find a publishing home. But HarperCollins is definitely the place for me. They gave me the freedom to tell exactly the story that I wanted, and needed, to tell! There’s also a really cool audio book with a full cast of actors.

JB: What do you hope readers will take away from your book?

JC: I hope those who read my book will realize how important it is to take the time to learn how to properly pronounce someone’s name or find out where they’re from. Little things that really do matter. We never stop being the “New Kid.”

JB: What is one question you wish I had asked, and what is your answer?

JC: How long did it take you to draw New Kid?

Answer: For the most part, I drew seven days a week, about 15 hours a day, from January 2017 until February 2018. The book was published in February 2019. I am currently working on the sequel, Class Act.

 

Opportunity Alert for Educators

If you live in the Western New York area, you will be excited to learn that Jerry will be a spotlight presenter at the 2019 Western New York Children’s Book Expo Educator Event on November 9th! Come listen to Jerry and fourteen other critically-acclaimed children’s authors and illustrators present at this CTLE-credit event designed exclusively for educators! Details and registration information can be found here.

Book Giveaway!

Subscribers who leave a comment will be entered in a drawing to win a copy of New Kid. A winner will be chosen randomly and announced when the next guide is posted.

And…the winner of a copy of The Night Diary by Veera Hiranandani is Tiffany Loveland. Congratulations! Please be in touch with your address so I can send the book off to you!