“Don’t be a thumbs-downer.” — @jerrycraft
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Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury and more are back and this time they’re headed to Paris for a school trip they’ll never forget. Before they leave, though, Jordan finds out he’s been accepted to art school. Is he ready to make that jump and risk being the new kid again or should he stay at Riverdale Academy Day school where his best friends are? This decision doesn’t come easy, especially when Jordan is so thrilled with the sights, sounds and artwork in France. Unfortunately their chaperones get switched at the last minute and they don’t get the art teacher they thought they would have. Many of the problems they had back home follow them on their trip and all the characters learn about themselves and who they want to be during their time abroad.
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Craft can do no wrong in my eyes. Just when I think a graphic novel can’t get better than New Kid, Class Act comes along. Can lightning strike three times though? Yes, it absolutely can. Craft has an amazing gift of talking about big issues in a way kids can understand and relate to them. He hits so many great topics here from bullying to microaggressions to book banning to racism to classism to diversity to learning about other cultures—I could go on and on. Needless to say: this MG book will be just as popular as its predecessors and I can’t wait for April 4 to get it into students’ hands. Also: can we make it a requirement every adult read this? It’s a 5⭐️ read for me.

CW: racism, microaggressions, bullying, absentee parent

Jordan Banks returns in this sequel to the award-winning “New Kid” with all the heart, smarts, and humor of the original. Poised on the brink of some big decisions about where he’s going to high school next year (stay in prestigious private school or apply for admission to a specialized arts school), Jordan knows one thing for sure – he’s off to Paris for a school trip. Some student pranksters have gained illicit access to the computer of the teacher in charge of making decisions about who’s going where on a variety of these trips and made some ‘changes’, causing a bit of havoc for students and teachers alike.

One outcome is that Jordan ends up having to room with one of his worst nightmares, Andy, who is still pretty much a jerk, albeit ignorant of just why he comes across that way. Throughout this great book, the author weaves in subtle lessons on issues such as ‘shopping while black”, how the French view life vs. Americans (hint – they would never eat and walk at the same time), and what constitutes an acceptable way to insult someone vs. how not to do that. Some of these are even more pointed when set in the ‘comic within a comic’ – black and white pages drawn by Jordan to illustrate a point or concept. It’s never heavy handed, but it also never fails to land the punch, such as the discussion of why we prioritize diversity in choice when it comes to consumerism, but not when it comes to people.

One of the richer kids, Maury, could have been drawn and written to come off as pompous, but instead he is a hilarious voice interpreting all things Parisian (his family has made multiple trips there), and saves the day several times when the teachers’ credit cards get denied, and a classmate needs a friend. When something Andy says finally triggers an outburst about the years of bullying that Ramon has had to endure, Maury is one of the students who steps in to help. At the end of the story, there’s affirmation by Jordan’s friends about the need to not be a ‘thumbs-downer’ on everything (something we all can learn in the current toxic and polarized society we live in), but also some indication that it’s sinking in for some of the bullies as well. Hurrah!

I heartily recommend this book for its insight, humor and great ability to hear authentic teen voices. The adults come across as humans as well – prone to mistakes, but at the end of the day, good hearted. Now I’m going to find my copy of “New Kid” for a reread, and borrow “Class Act” from my local library. All Hail Jerry Craft – keep ‘em coming!