When discussing his confusion with a classmate, Drew’s friend asks him, “What good is having people like you if you don’t like you?” In addition, Drew isn’t sure where he fits in. To make matters worse, the neighborhood kids tease Drew for acting as if he is better than them. Going to Riverdal Academy is difficult because most of the students are white and the teachers have a difficult time discussing race. Middle school readers will relate to Drew as he tries to navigate junior high and all of the pressure that comes with growing older. While the first installment focused on Jordan, Class Act focuses on Drew. 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.Īs the pressures mount, and he starts to feel more isolated than ever, will Drew find a way to bridge the divide so he and his friends can truly see and accept each other? And most important, will he finally be able to accept himself. To make matters worse, Drew begins to feel as if his good friend Liam might be one of those privileged kids. But, lately, he’s been wondering: even if he works ten times as hard, will he ever have the same opportunities that his privileged classmates at the prestigious Riverdal Academy Day School take for granted? New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal, is now joined by Jerry Craft's powerful Class Act.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 told him that his entire life. 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.Īs 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?

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? 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.Įighth 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. 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.

Class act book jerry craft