Class Act Graphic Novel - Jerry Craft

Class Act - Jerry Craft (Graphic Novel)

In this follow-up to the Newbery Medal-winning New Kid, Jerry Craft shifts the focus to Jordan’s friend, Drew Lawson. While New Kid explored the experience of being "the new kid," Class Act dives deeper into the complexities of colorism, class disparity, and the effort required to maintain friendships when two people live in very different worlds.

Plot Summary

Eighth-grader Drew Lawson is a high achiever at Riverdale Academy Day School, but he can’t help feeling that he has to work twice as hard as his privileged peers just to be seen as equal. While his friend Liam is well-meaning but oblivious to his own wealth, Drew struggles with the reality of his own neighborhood and the assumptions people make about him. As the school year progresses, Drew, Jordan, and Liam must navigate uncomfortable conversations and social hurdles to keep their friendship intact.

Key Features

• Expanded Perspectives: Moves beyond Jordan’s story to provide a rich, nuanced look at Drew’s internal life and his specific struggles with academic pressure and social expectations.

• Sharp Social Commentary: Addresses sensitive topics like "performance" vs. "reality" in diversity efforts, handled with the same trademark humor and honesty found in the first book.

• Graphic Storytelling: Uses inventive layouts and visual metaphors to illustrate the invisible "walls" that can exist between friends of different socioeconomic backgrounds.

• Growth and Maturity: Captures the shift from early to mid-adolescence, where social dynamics become more layered and the stakes for being "authentic" feel higher.

Specifications

• Author/Illustrator: Jerry Craft

• Format: Graphic Novel

• Target Age: 8–12 years (Grades 3–7)

• Series: Book 2 of the New Kid series

Note for Readers: While Class Act works as a standalone story, reading it alongside New Kid provides a more comprehensive view of the cast's development and the overarching themes of the series.

<p><strong>Condition:</strong> Gently used, excellent condition.</p>