Some graphic novels entertain. Others quietly change how a reader sees the world. New Kid by Jerry Craft belongs firmly in the second category, and it earned every bit of the praise that eventually landed it a Newbery Medal, the first graphic novel in history to receive one. After reading through the book twice, once purely for the story and once with a highlighter in hand, it became clear why teachers, librarians, and parents keep recommending it years after its release.

This review walks through the plot, the themes, and the reasons the book still resonates, along with a broader look at where it fits among Jerry Craft’s other work.

New Kid Book by Jerry Craft: A Quick Overview

The new kid book by Jerry Craft follows Jordan Banks, a seventh grader from Washington Heights who loves drawing more than almost anything. Jordan’s parents enroll him at Riverdale Academy Day School, a mostly white private school far from his home neighborhood, hoping it will open doors for his future. Jordan would rather attend art school, and that tension between his own dreams and his parents’ expectations sets the emotional foundation for everything that follows.

What makes the book stand apart from a typical school-transition story is how honestly it handles identity, code-switching, and the small daily moments that add up to something bigger. Craft illustrated the book himself, and his art style shifts subtly depending on Jordan’s mood, which is a detail easy to miss on a first read but rewarding to notice on a second one.

New Kid by Jerry Craft Story: What Actually Happens

The new kid by Jerry Craft story unfolds over Jordan’s first year at Riverdale Academy. He navigates awkward assumptions from classmates, well-meaning but tone-deaf teachers, and the exhausting effort of being one of the few Black students in his grade. Along the way, he builds real friendships, including with Liam, a wealthy classmate who becomes an unlikely but genuine ally, and Drew, another new student dealing with his own version of the same pressures Jordan feels.

Craft doesn’t rely on a single dramatic climax to carry the book. Instead, the story builds through a series of smaller, sharply observed incidents, a teacher who can’t remember Black students’ names, a security guard who assumes the worst without reason, a friend group that shifts and reshuffles the way middle school friend groups actually do. It’s a slice-of-life story, but every slice has weight.

New Kid Jerry Craft Summary: The Short Version

For readers who want the new kid Jerry Craft summary without the full read-through: Jordan Banks starts seventh grade at a new private school, struggles to balance his home life and school life, faces microaggressions and misunderstandings from both peers and staff, and slowly finds his footing by staying true to his art and his sense of self. By the end of the year, he hasn’t solved every problem the school represents, but he’s grown into someone more confident about who he is and where he belongs.

Our New Kid Jerry Craft Review

This new kid jerry craft review comes from someone who has handed the book to more than one reluctant reader and watched them finish it in a single sitting, which says a lot on its own. The pacing is quick without feeling rushed, the humor lands naturally, and the art carries emotional beats that dialogue alone couldn’t manage.

What stands out most is the balance Craft strikes. The book takes on heavy subject matter, race, class, belonging, but it never feels like a lecture. Jordan is funny, self-aware, and relatable in a way that pulls readers of any background into his perspective. Teachers who’ve used it in classrooms often mention how it opens up conversations that textbooks can’t reach on their own, and that tracks with how naturally the story invites discussion without forcing it.

If there’s a criticism worth mentioning, it’s that some side characters get less development than Jordan and his closest friends. A few classmates feel more like types than fully rounded people. It’s a minor issue in an otherwise tightly built story, and the sequels give some of those characters more room to grow.

More Jerry Craft Books Worth Reading

Jordan’s story didn’t end with the first book. Jerry Craft books now form a small but excellent series set in the same world, and each one builds on the themes introduced in New Kid.

Jerry Craft Books in Order

For anyone wanting to read through the series properly, here’s how the Jerry Craft books in order line up:

1. New Kid (2019) — Introduces Jordan Banks and his first year at Riverdale Academy Day School.
2. Class Act (2020) — Shifts focus partly to Drew, exploring class differences among Jordan’s friend group in more depth.
3. School Trip (2023) — Follows Jordan and his classmates on a trip to Paris, closing out the trilogy with fresh challenges and growth.

Reading them in order isn’t strictly necessary, since each book can stand alone, but the emotional payoff is stronger when the series is read start to finish.

Final Thoughts

New Kid holds up as one of the more important middle-grade graphic novels published in the last decade. It’s funny, honest, and drawn with real care, and it manages to talk about difficult topics without ever feeling heavy-handed. For readers new to graphic novels or longtime fans of the format, it’s an easy recommendation.

For readers new to graphic novels… check out our YA Graphic Novels: The Ultimate Guide to the Best Graphic Novel Books for Teens and Adults.