If you liked Jerry Craft's New Kid, Class Act (New Kid #2) gives you more of what you liked about that book and more! If you like books by Raina Telgemeier, Jarett Krosoczka’s Hey, Kiddo, and works by Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft is an author to read, admire, and follow!  

Recommended for kids ages 11 and up

Parents/Caregivers (and curious kids): 

Like many readers, I was quite taken with Jerry Craft’s award-winning breakout graphic novel New Kid from last year. This book endeared itself to so many people with its ability to blend complex social commentary with coming-of-age themes in a way that felt honest, pure, and real. We followed that book’s main character Jordan Banks as he navigates his first year at a private middle school while feeling like a complete outsider. When the next book set in Craft’s New Kid world arrived for me, I was very excited. So, how does it stack up next to New Kid? I am happy to report that Craft avoided the sophomore slump and delivered what is perhaps an even better book! 

This book takes what Craft accomplished in New Kid and builds on it in ways that are even more clever, nuanced, insightful, and charming. In Class Act, which takes place a year later, Jordan’s friend Drew is the de facto protagonist this time around, and we get to see more day-to-day life at Riverdale Academy Day School through his eyes. Shifting the focus to a different character in Jordan’s circle of friends was a smart move, as it allows the thematic heart of this series to be tempered by different perspectives as it continues and its world gradually expands. With Drew as our leading man for this story, we see him grapple with his lack of privilege and matters of race, class, feelings of isolation, loneliness, and more. It all gets worked into the mix organically and believably, and Craft is able to immerse the reader into what feels like an authentic middle school experience. 

The beauty of books like New Kid and Class Act is their ability to weave challenging themes into their stories while remaining fun and engaging throughout. People of all ages can learn something from these pages, such as the effect of microaggressions on people, and how to consider intersectionality and its influence on how we live and interact with each other. I also appreciated Craft’s artistic nod to other middle grade book series at the beginning of each chapter (I won’t spoil it here – let’s see how many references you can spot while you read!). 

All and all, there’s plenty to admire and ponder, as Class Act truly has something to offer for readers of all ages. It seems like Jerry Craft is on a hot streak with this new series, and I’m excited to read the next installment! Definitely recommended. 

New Kid and Hey Kiddo also available in eBook format