In the third installment of the graphic novel series, we are back at Riverdale Academy Day School with friends Jordan, Drew, Liam, and Maury. This year, Jordan is accepted to art school and has to decide if he really wants to be the “new kid” all over again or stay with his friends at Riverdale. Also this year, the students are going on class trips all over the world. Jordan and his friends are going to Paris. Of course, things don’t go as planned and that leads to lots of adventures in the city of lights.

Overall, I really enjoyed this graphic novel. As a former black student and now an educator in a predominately white school, I can relate to the microaggressions and stereotypes that Jordan and Drew face. Ideas like racial profiling in stores and the assumption that all students of color are either at the school on scholarship or will steal your purse was was handled very honestly and portrayed the reality of being black in America.

But please don’t think the plot is only about race and the stereotypes people of color face. There are lots of life lessons the students learn along the way and plenty of laugh-out-loud moments. Craft touches upon essential themes such as acceptance and friendship.

This graphic novel was honest, heart-warming, funny, and relatable. This was a great addition to the series. I would recommend parents and teachers add this book to their libraries.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. It's the third in a series by Jerry Craft that has always been popular with my middle school students. I like that it addresses social issues such as race, bullying, banned books and income inequality in a way that is still entertaining and realistic. There are a lot of subtle lessons to be learned from reading this book.

I love this series. It is a huge hit in the library with the students. This book will be a hit as well. I love that Crafts books promote discussion of tough topics. This will be a book kids can relate to or learn from.

In his final weeks of junior high, African-American Jordan contemplates his future – either art school, where he will be surrounded by people who “get” him, or staying on at his ritzy private school, where he’s no longer the new kid. A class trip to Paris, with friends and frenemies, is the perfect opportunity to reflect on both the importance of getting outside one’s comfort zone and on the fact that getting what one wants may not always be what one needs. Black and white cartoon musings, seemingly taken from Jordan’s sketch book, are interspersed among the colorful cartoon panels that tell the story of the diverse group’s adventures in Paris. While lots of topics are covered, from socioeconomic inequity to racially insensitive bullying, Craft keeps the mood positive and kid-centered. A focus on Ramón, the lone Hispanic classmate, and panels devoted to Samira, a Muslim classmate, broadens the group of core characters and provides opportunities for all the characters to evolve. A few clunky lines of dialog feel more adult than tween, but don’t distract from an otherwise enjoyable and insightful series installment. Thanks to Quill Tree and NetGalley for a ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

SCHOOL TRIP is another A+ graphic novel from Jerry Craft. In School Trip, favorite characters from CLASS ACT and NEW KID travel abroad to Paris. The change in scenery creates a new environment for the students to explore their similarities and differences, challenge harmful stereotypes and learn to appreciate other cultures. Libraries won't be able to keep this title on shelves!

Our illustrious main character is now in 8th grade. Instead of focusing on the school year, this is all about a school trip to Paris. There's some hokey shenanigans involved that I felt skewed a little younger than the previous books or maybe this really is 8th grade humor (minus the toilet humor). I wasn't enjoying the book all that much until they got to Paris. There's this nice combination of how your outlook changes once you've began to travel to other countries (I personally think everyone should travel abroad to keep from having a myopic world view.). There's also some moments where they finally talk to Andy and he begins to get how his "humor" is harmful. While he's certainly still annoying and often a jerk by the end of this, he does grow some too, to not be such a huge asshole. Samara's character goes a long way to explain how some humor is used to put others down while some humor is just funny. So by the end of this, I was happy with it, even if it's not quite on the same level as the first 2 books.

This book was amazing. It was a perfect edition to the New Kid series. I loved that Black kids were given the opportunity to travel in literature. I love that the fact that Black kids were given the opportunity to travel in a book was discussed in this novel. The conversations had between these friends were priceless along with Jordan's asides. Jerry Craft has a way of tackling race relations with simplicity and care so that the youngest reads can understand while seasoned readers can appreciate his words and their intentions. School Trip was my favorite in the series thus far, Thank you for writing Black kids into white spaces with purpose and promise. I loved this book!

I love everything about this graphic novel. Jordan is back and he has a huge decision to make: stay at RAD or go to art school. Before he has to make a decision (and he makes a pro/con list!), he is going on his school trip. His classmates have several different destinations, but Jordan is slotted to go to Paris (think of all the art he can soak in!) with a few of his new bestie friends. Paris has a few bumps (cards not being activated and roommate assignments and lots of walking), but overall proves to be educational in more than one way.

What I loved most: the side paneled stories which teach lessons, the difficult conversations the characters have about privilege, race, humor, and friendship, the brief tour of Paris

Jordan Banks is in his final year of junior high at Riverdale Academy Day School (RAD) and has been accepted to the magnet school for art, which would mean leaving his friends behind if he decides to go. However, that decision is about to take a back seat to the many life lessons and personal growth experiences he is about to learn. Class trips to various locales have been organized and are about to depart, with Jordan and his group heading to Paris France. After a few logistical problems, such as the wrong chaperones going on the trip, the school credit card not working, and the usual annoying roommate situation, they start to experience a new culture . The trip provides a real time exercise in respecting for differences, whether it is the French lifestyle, or personality differences. On a more important scale, the group examines their own cultural misconceptions, like racism, which includes a discussion of blackness, prejudice, and microaggressions. A lot of thoughts are offered through illustrations and dialogue, almost too much as it slows down the plot, but my favorite lesson was that if a person isn't going to change, then change your approach to them.
Thank you to Quill Tree Books, and imprint of HarperCollins Children's Books, and Netgalley for the digital arc.

School Trip has easily been my most anticipated title of 2023 both personally and professionally. The first two books in this series, New Kid and Class Act, are two of the most popular books in my elementary school library as well as two of my favorite middle grade books ever. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but School Trip is the best one in the series. It hits on every level - the dialogue, the illustrations, the storytelling, the message, the humor, the emotion - it’s all there and done masterfully.

I have two sons (13 and 9), and one of the only times they’ve ever thought their librarian mother was cool was the day I told them that I got to preview School Trip. They immediately started vying for my device so they could read it themselves! My 13 year old claims that “it’s better than Class Act but not as good as New Kid,” and my 9 year old says that “they’re all so good, I can’t pick a favorite” in case you were wondering what the targeted demographic for this book has to say about this one. My 13 year old also says that he wanted to jump inside the book and punch one of the characters in the face, which I think means “the writing was so compelling that it caused a deeply emotional response in the reader” in teenager-speak.

The messages are so strong and will resonate with any reader, whether as a mirror, window, or a door to a different perspective. I feel like everything Jerry Craft has said during the other books is said in this one with such clarity and precision. It’s not preachy in the least, and it never sacrifices plot in order to get a message across. I know it sounds like I’m just fangirling over here, but this book is just that good. I’m ready to call this one the best graphic novel I’ve ever read. Well done, Jerry Craft! Thank you for writing these important books and not letting the thumbs downers stop you!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for the Advanced Reader’s Copy! I already have three copies preordered - two for my school and one for my home library!

School Trip is a cute book. I love the diversity, the comedy and the non busy graphics. Very easy to read. A quick read to. I had to get over the white kid in the beginning saying he was going on the civil rights trip and can't wait to get woke. It rubbed me the wrong way and I moved past it. Overall, a cute book for young readers. Well done to expose to new ideas and people.

A great addition to the New Kid series! I enjoyed reading all about Jordan and friends and their crazy adventures in Paris. This series is perfect for reluctant readers and my students love Jerry Craft’s books. I cannot wait to add this one to my classroom library!!

I received an electronic ARC from HarperCollins Children's Books through NetGalley.
Craft continues Jordan's story in this third book. The yearly trips take center stage as Jordan and some of his classmates head for Paris. Readers see the students who often make mischief make changes to the chaperones, flights and trips to surprise everyone on the day they leave. The stage is set for disaster but the attendees bond together to make it work. Craft presents a realistic look at middle school and the clashes and insecurities that challenge all of the characters. They share about themselves and about how others make them feel to make others think about lives beyond their own. The artwork is amazing and captures the characters and the setting. Readers will feel they are standing with them in Paris. The final pages show some of the changes people are capable of if they are willing to commit to the hard work involved. Looking forward to this one being checked out by my students.

The third book in the New Kid series does not disappoint, as the group goes to Paris! Although everyone is excited to go to Paris, it ends up being trickier and with bumps that were unexpected. It also looks at how identity changed depending on your setting.

While I enjoyed this iteration in the New Kid graphic novel series, it wasn't my favorite. I feel like there were aspects of the book that were very disjointed and were just included to make a point and not b/c it was actually part of the story.

The New Kid series definitely hits on some hard discussed topics on racial problems in schools. I like how each of the kids in school learned a hard lesson and helped them become better friends and better for themselves too. I think I liked the first book best out of the series.

As much as I love New Kid, I have to say that this book strikes me as the best in the series. By a wide margin. The characters are developed enough to get into a real story. Their adventures in Paris are hilarious. Craft does an amazing and sensitive job explaining the difference between being considerate of other people and so called 'political correctness'/'Critical Race Theory.' Also, damn you for making me feel sympathy for Andy.

I LOVE LOVE LOVE this series. Jerry Craft just has a way of telling meaningful heartfelt middle grade stories of acceptance, and learning about those whose experiences are similar or different from yours while also making kids of all types feel seen in books that they can enjoy! Cannot wait to add this to our collection.

I am a big fan of Jerry Craft and have multiple copies of New Kid and Class Act in my library. It was also selected by our district as a book for classroom libraries. We currently have it in all 6-8 grade ELA rooms. It's a fantastic series for reluctant readers, for sparking conversations about class and race, as well as a great narrative with humor and heart. I will definitely be buying this for my library.

Wonderful addition to Jerry Craft's "New Kid" graphic novel series. It works as a stand-alone, but integrates best when read as the third in the series. Characters are real and engaging with a very exciting storyline. Artwork is at it's best for captivating and colorful graphic novels.