Class Act

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A companion to Newbery and Coretta Scott King American Library Award winner, The New Kid, Class Act follows Jordan’s friend Drew Ellis, an eighth-grader at Riverdale Academy Day School. This highly anticipated graphic novel for ages eight and above take the reader through Drew’s experience of working 10 times harder than his privileged peers for the same opportunities, while dealing with prejudices and microaggressions from his classmates and teachers. Illustrating tough situations with humor and compassion, Craft writes and illustrates from an authentic voice. Recommended By Kim T., Powells.com

New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft returns with a companion book to New Kid, winner of the 2020 Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize. This time, it's Jordan's friend Drew who takes center stage in another laugh-out-loud funny, powerful, and important story about being one of the few kids of color in a prestigious private school.

Eighth grader Drew Ellis is no stranger to the saying "You have to work twice as hard to be just as good." His grandmother has reminded him his entire life. But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn't afforded the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the Riverdale Academy Day School take for granted?

To make matters worse, Drew begins to feel as if his good friend Liam might be one of those privileged kids. He wants to pretend like everything is fine, but it's hard not to withdraw, and even their mutual friend Jordan doesn't know how to keep the group together.

As the pressures mount, will Drew find a way to bridge the divide so he and his friends can truly accept each other? And most important, will he finally be able to accept himself?

New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal, is now joined by Jerry Craft's powerful Class Act.

"A well-Crafted, visually rich, truth-telling tale for our troubled times that affirms the eternal importance of friends." Kirkus Reviews (Starred Review)

Jerry Craft is the winner of the Newbery Medal for his graphic novel New Kid. He has worked on numerous picture books, graphic novels, and middle grade novels. Jerry is the creator of Mama's Boyz, an award-winning syndicated comic strip. He has won five African American Literary Awards, and he is a cofounder of the Schomburg Center's Annual Black Comic Book Festival. He received his BFA from the School of Visual Arts and now lives in Connecticut. Visit him online at www.jerrycraft.com.