Author /
Illustrator: Jerry
Craft
Publication Year: 2019
Genre / Category: Graphic Novel (Newbery Medal Winner)
Target Age Group: Grades 5–8
Format Read: e-book (graphic novel)
Summary
New Kid chronicles middle school student Jordan Banks’ experience transitioning into his new private school and finding where he fits in amongst feelings of displacement, identity, and expectations.
Justification
for Selection
New Kid reflects emotional situations that are
common in middle school, including loneliness, insecurity, and the pressure to
fit in. The graphic novel addresses these topics in a way that feels direct but
not overly didactic. Rather than spelling out its messages, the story allows
readers to recognize these challenges through everyday experiences, making it a
useful resource for students who are beginning to explore questions of identity
and belonging.
Evaluation
Jordan Banks
felt like he was juggling multiple obstacles all at once pressure of a new
school, feeling out of place because of his age, and learning about social
differences and social class. These themes recurred throughout the book but did
not feel overbearing. There was a good blend of these topics being laid out
clearly but also not being too on the nose.
Many scenes
portray feelings of claustrophobia and unfamiliarity that are common during the
middle school years. The character’s exaggerated reactions to relatively small
situations introduce humor that helps balance heavier emotional moments.
Overall, humor functions as a way to acknowledge and process difficult feelings
rather than minimizing or dismissing them.
As a graphic
novel there were moments where the pictures leaned more muted and others where
there was heavy use of color and contrast. Moments of intensity were depicted
with the drawings and not always through text. I thought there was a good use
of pictures vs words. Overall I thought the graphics were impactful but not
overbearing.
References
Craft, J.
(2019). New kid. HarperCollins. https://www.hoopladigital.com