This is the first Jerry Craft graphic novel that I have read. Both my kids have read New Kid and Class Act, which I now have to go back and read. This book is so relatable to kids in middle school, my son is 12 years old and I can see him having the same experiences as the kids in this novel. So many current-day topics, bullying, kids not finding a place to fit in, and kids of different ethnicities not having relatable content in their school education. The characters in this book were so diverse, it was nice to see kids with different backgrounds experiencing something new together (like traveling to Paris). I also loved that the kids did not give up on Andy, the bully, they really tried to show him the error of his ways and tried to teach him empathy. I really appreciated the hand-drawn life lesson vignettes between the chapters. Jerry Craft also made the adults human as well, they were not perfect and had very realistic personalities. I think this book will definitely be a hit.

I was excited to receive this third installment in the New Kid series as an ARC, as I really loved the first two! Jerry Craft has a way of explaining and displaying social realities and disparities in a way that is easily accessible for young audiences. In this addition to the New Kid series, we see our characters tackle cultural and personal differences on their school trip to Paris. The story is set outside of school, unlike the first two books, so we get to see our supporting characters in a new light. It addressed confronting bullies and speaking up for yourself even when it feels hard to do so. Like Craft's previous two works, it is a very culturally relevant read and makes readers think about how behavior affects others in a gentle but firm way. I do wish this story progressed our characters along a bit further, however. The first two books in the series really built upon the characterization of Jordan and Drew, and I wished to see that same level of development in either of them or another side character in this book. Overall, because the book took place over a much shorter period of time, it didn't get the chance to see that development occur. I gave both New Kid and Class Act five stars, but Class Trip was more of a 4-star read for me. It didn’t advance the characters as well as the first two did in my opinion but was still an enjoyable installment.

If you loved, New Kid and Class Act, you will love School Trip even more (if that is at all possible!) Jerry Craft takes all of the characters you rooted for in the first two books, throws in the ones you didn’t root for at all, and sends them all to Paris. New friendships are forged, eyes are opened, and fears are overcome. Perhaps the best parts of School Trip are Jordan’s “lessons” that are scattered throughout. I found them to be educational and thoughtful without being too judgmental. And I must mention the artwork. It is fantastic! It’s not necessary to have read the first two books before reading School Trip, but it will enhance the reader’s understanding and experience to do so. It is a must purchase for all middle school libraries.

Jerry Craft does it again with another addition to his terrific New Kid series. This time the gang is globetrotting and head to Paris on a school trip. The kids learn a lot about each other and the world over the course of the book. This is an important and accessible book for readers of all ages. I'll for sure be adding this to my middle school office's shelves when it comes out.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this e-galley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I absolutely loved Jerry Craft's first 2 books in the series, but this one was just...meh.
There are a lot of pages, but the story felt rushed and uneven.
Worst of all--unrealistic. (Spoilers!)
The principal leaves 3 misbehaving students alone in her office for a few minutes with her computer left with the browser open? Umm...not likely.
The students are able to switch around all of the teachers going on the different class trips--in just a few minutes' time, no less? Implausible.
The teachers never reallized until the day of the trip--and once they got to school!?! Just no. Somehow the ones now taking a group to France managed to have their passports, while the one going to a hot location packed for Alaska? Huh?
It's just all too implausible, and the story just wasn't much fun.
I don't know that my largely African-American, mostly poor students are going to feel vested in this one. I don't mind that Craft wanted his characters to experience an amazing field trip to Europe--I just felt it was a clumsy introduction.
I will still get this book for the cultural options for diverse students and because my students love the previous books.

This book featured diverse characters in situations that books traditionally haven't shown. Readers are able to view the world through another person's perspective and come away with a better understanding of the ways that the world currently works. They also see how these problems can be solved by students who are similar to themselves.

I loved New Kid. I enjoyed Class Act. School Trip was a bit too much. A bit too unbelievable. A bit too forceful in its message. My students love graphic novels, and this will go in my shelf. It just wasn't for me.

I made it about 60% of the way through. I just felt like nothing was really happening. At halfway through, I would have preferred some conflict. On top of that, there are a lot of things that just didn't add up: a kid having access to everyone's personal information in order to switch up who's going on what trip, that the issue wasn't found before they were getting on the busses, that everyone had their passports on them and could go on an international flight.

Some lessons were important though, like the offensive kid getting phased out of the group and simply ignored, but there was a part where I started to feel sorry for him because it was clear he didn't understand why he was being cut out. Not that that excuses his behavior, but sometimes confrontation is important.

I loved all three of the New Kid books! To me, what I appreciate the most is that it's a combination of getting kids to think about things while also being a great story with characters who feel like real kids. And I especially love when creators give nods to each other in their works!

School Trip by Jerry Craft is the third installment in the New Kid graphic novel series. This time Jordan and his friends are headed to Paris as part of a school trip. All the kids are excited for the trip, Jordan especially, though he worries that he won't seem as cultured as some of his other friends who have traveled overseas many times.

But as the trip hits some last minute problems with their chaperones (an unfortunate mix-up from the booking agent) to issues with roommate situation, which includes him rooming with his school bully, it is going to take all of Jordan's patience and learning from the last couple of years to help get through this class trip.

Craft's gift for storytelling and art makes this installment equal to his previous works. I love that he brings sensitive topics that are facing kids in caring but pointed ways, encouraging kids to think of alternative options toaddress book banning, bullying and racist behavior. I also love that he shares some of his own lived experiences through Jordan.

I would highly recommend this and the two previous books in the series and I look forward to more books from Craft in the future.

Note: Special thanks to Netgalley for providing a copy for review.

What an entertaining reading experience! Craft never disappoints.
My elementary school students loved New Kid and Class Act. The latest adventures of Jordan, Drew, Liam, Maury and the rest of the Riverdale Academy crew are sure to delight my readers. They're off to Paris this time
and the zany adventures begin.
This artistic graphic novel is vibrant and fun. The characters seem to include many diverse personalities, and is, thereby, inclusive in appealing to all readers. Humor prevails while, simultaneously, tackling contemporary themes. It's certain to be a hit!

Netgalley gave me a preview copy of this graphic novel in exchange for an honest review. I already read New Kid and Class Act in 2022, so I was excited to get this chance to read School Trip early. This is my favorite of the series! The kids and RAD are going on school trips, but not everything goes as planned. There are mix ups and awkward situations, as well as lessons learned and conflicts resolved. Most of the action takes place in Paris and that was a lot of fun, too!

I read New Kid back in 2019 and I loved it. One of my favorite books that year, for sure.

While this one wasn’t quite as good as New Kid, it was still so, so, so good.

I love the way social issues are presented in this series and I’m a huge sucker for class trip stories. The Paris setting was great and the character development—particularly for Andy—was great.

I don’t know if the series will continue, but I would LOVE to follow Jordan and Drew and Liam into high school.

Good for fans of Marvel’s Far From Home.

If you loved New Kid and Class Act, you'll love this one as well!

Note: I was given an Advanced Reading Copy from Net Galley in exchange for an honest review.

I was so excited to get to read this book so far in advance of its publication. I work in the children's department of a public library and am so glad that we have copies of Jerry Craft's heavily challenged, frequently banned, and highly applauded New Kid and Class Act.

The crew is back, this time on a school trip to Paris! Drew, Jordan, Liam, Samira, Girl Alex, Ashley, Maury, Ramon, and Andy adventure across Paris, in these brightly illustrated pages. As usual, it's not just kids who learn life lessons. Even the adult trip sponsors take a lesson from these Europeans who critique Americans' habits of living to work, rather than working to live. The whole group takes a rest by the Seine in one scene, and it's a very sweet moment.

Andy's character gets a little more time on the page, and the girls do as well, which I really appreciated!

It's not just girls on a page to bring in a broader audience, they have struggles and triumphs of their own, just like the boys.

I could go on, but you already know you're going to read it and recommend it to all the middle schoolers in your life, right? Right. Then my work here is done!

Another fantastic story of Jordan Banks' junior high experience from Jerry Craft. It's Jordan's final year in junior high and the big news is their school trip. Jordan, Drew, and Liam are all going to Paris! Too bad unlikable bully Andy is going as well. Plus, a mix-up means Mr. Roche and Mr. Garner will be the group chaperones instead of the art teacher and French teacher.

I was really confused by the school trip situation. Does the school choose where they go? Is this included in tuition? Because I think a trip to Paris is way more expensive than Nantucket or Mississippi. Maybe it's a private school thing.

Pros:
Subject matter: Craft is masterful at sharing what it's like to be Black and showing the differences Black kids experience from white kids. When Drew buys a sweater and the security tag isn't removed, he can't just go ask for it to be removed because he already threw the receipt away. Clueless Andy doesn't get it because he loses his receipt all the time and it's never a big deal for him. Jordan's mom even sides with Drew, saying she'll buy him a new one. Before she can though, white classmate Ashley is able to take the sweater and get the tag removed with no problem. I love how Craft uses expression and exaggeration to really show how obvious micro-aggressions are perceived by the boys. The panels meeting Liam's grandparents are just perfect.

Cons:
The artwork is probably the weakest part. Not the characters as much as the backgrounds. They just don't seem to match in style. I wish the backgrounds were more consistent with the look of the characters.

I really enjoyed this graphic novel. So far all of the books in this series with these characters are good. Even though there are not private schools around here, my students can still relate to the situations. Everyone has that one friend that is negative or puts others down. That person is also the one that won’t try anything new. This story has a character like that. The book shows how all the characters learn to adjust to change and learn to accept others for who they are. I enjoyed the book the was it was and wouldn’t change anything.

This is a fun follow up to New Kid. The book is written in graphic novel format which appeals to a wider reader base, especially struggling readers. There are many diverse characters in this story which can help many youth find someone to relate to. There is humor sparkled throughout even for adults, such as the Radio Shaq store. There are multiple themes covered, some more discreetly than others. With the shirt tag incident, it definitely seems to be a racial issue of returning the shirt without a receipt.

Thank you to NetGally for the eARC for review.

Jerry craft has done it again! School Trip is the third book of his New kid series. The Riverdale Academy Kids are on a school trip to Paris. They have to navigate a country they have never been to with a language they don't speak.

This book is hillarious while tackling some deep topics. Jerry Craft is able to speak to kids about cIass differences, bullying, microaggressions, cultural differences, diversity and more in a very accessable way.

I know this will be as loved and desired as New Kid and Class Act in my classroom.

Another great book by Jerry Craft dealing with new experiences and racism. Craft's methods of exploring racism is clear, easy for the reader to understand, and expressed with a honesty of having experienced it. The depictions of Paris and the stress the characters had about going there was also presented well.

Jordan's cartoon asides between chapters help the reader understand what the characters are thinking about what happened in the last chapter. This give the reader a moment to notice what prejudice just occurred, but they might not have realized because it never happened to them. In this book, some of the characters finally speak up about what has been happening to them at RAD. How will this change their relationships? We will have to wait for the next book to see.

This review is based on an ARC obtained through NetGalley.

I absolutely love this series of graphic novels! The conversations in these books are so important and they are done so well. I enjoyed getting to see this cast of characters enjoy a school trip. I love the format and style of these books.