Class ACT A Graphic Novel
by Jerry Craft

New York Times bestselling author Jerry Craft returns with Class Act, a companion book to New Kid, the 2020 Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize winner. In this installment, Jordan’s friend Drew takes the spotlight, offering another humorous, powerful, and significant story about the experience of being one of the few kids of color at a prestigious private school.

Eighth grader Drew Ellis knows the saying "You have to work twice as hard to be just as good" all too well, a mantra his grandmother has instilled in him. At Riverdale Academy Day School, he confronts the harsh reality that even working ten times as hard might not provide the same opportunities as his privileged peers. Drew’s struggles are compounded when he starts feeling distant from his good friend Liam, who he suspects is one of those privileged kids. Their mutual friend Jordan struggles to keep their group united as tensions rise.

Class Act explores the challenges Drew faces in bridging the gap between different worlds and the journey towards acceptance—of his friends and, most importantly, himself. This book follows New Kid, the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal, solidifying Jerry Craft’s contribution to important conversations in young adult literature.