SYNOPSIS

When Jordan Banks begins 7th grade at a new school, he has more to contend with than just disappointment at not attending the art school he dreamed of. A largely white, wealthy Manhattan school community seems unable to stop offending its few diverse members – name mix-ups; athletic and financial stereotyping; well-intentioned (or not) patronizing; double standards. While struggling to acclimate, Jordan also begins to find commonalities with his classmates, appreciate their own challenges, and make new friends. Through his art and his brave actions, Jordan educates students and teachers about their unconscious biases. In turn, his classmates and teachers (and grandpa!) convince Jordan to be open-minded to new people and activities, and to embrace what the school has to offer.

PERFECT AGE 9 – 14

THEMES

• Feeling misunderstood, out of place, not fitting in
• Dealing with / being subject of social stereotypes
• Trying new challenges, making “unusual” friends
• Parenting, pursuing success for children, cost of sacrificing comfort for future success

We love

• So grateful to Jerry Craft for coming to my son’s school to discuss his art and autograph New Kid!
• Accessible approach – age-appropriate without sugar-coating – toward addressing social stereotypes and demonstrating the harm of unconscious bias for tween audiences
• Jordan is brave, thoughtful, flexible and empathetic – hugely important for middle schoolers to witness and emulate
• Real-life, relatable situations as opportunities to engage readers in conversations about biases / fitting in / achievement / perspectives, etc.
• Gorgeous, often hysterical illustrations

CONVERSATION STARTERS

• How do you interpret Jordan’s gran’pa’s Chinese food metaphor – what advice was he trying to give Jordan? Did Jordan follow it – how so?
• Why is wrong-name calling worse than “plain” name-calling, according to Jordan?
• During the year, Jordan tries many new things. Let’s think of a few and what he may have learned from them. 
• On a number of occasions, teachers misunderstand situations and jump to conclusions – let’s detangle their mis-steps together
• Students often assume that the African American students are good at basketball or receive financial aid – why is this over-simplification harmful?
• Jordan’s mom speaks about succeeding in corporate America as a minority and “playing the game” – what might she mean? What challenges might she face at work? Why did Jordan’s dad not want to partake in all that?