by Jerry Craft. Quill Tree Books. 2020
Jerry Craft’s second graphic novel, Class Act, is a poignant exploration of adolescence. Like New Kid, his books are both entertaining and enlightening. Craft is an author/ illustrator/ cartoonist who was born in Harlem. He has won numerous awards, among them the Kirkus Prize (2019), Newbery (2020), and Coretta Scott King Award (2020). He wrote the syndicated newspaper comic strip Mama’s Boyz and co-founded the Schomburg Black Comic Book Festival.
Class Act is an insightful exploration of the ups and downs of middle school life from the perspective of a Black middle school boy. It is a companion to Craft’s award-winning debut, New Kid. Craft explored deeper layers of Black identity, friendships, and navigating social dynamics within the context of a predominantly white and upper-middle-class/ wealthy school. His graphic drawings, language, and topics were explored with humor and sincerity. Craft provides readers with an understanding of the inner life of adolescents including the range of their discussions; reparations, critiques of Good Times, biracial identity, body changes, and affinity groups to name a few.
Class Act follows the experiences of eighth graders Drew Ellis and Liam Landers, who come from different backgrounds but face similar challenges. As they navigate their way through academic pressures, Black identity, gender dynamics, white privilege, and friendship struggles, Craft skillfully captures some of the complexities of adolescence with authenticity and depth. The book was full of levity even when the topics were heavy. Craft tackled race, socioeconomic status, and self-discovery in a manner that is accessible. Craft doesn’t shy away from addressing the realities of racial aggression and prejudice that Drew, Liam, and their peers encounter, providing readers with valuable insights into the impact of such experiences on young individuals.
Each panel layout captured the emotions and nuances of each character’s journey, allowing readers to empathize with their struggles and triumphs. Whether it’s Drew’s awkward encounters with his crush or Liam’s attempts to fit in with his classmates, plenty of moments will resonate with pre-tween and YA readers.
What Works: The language and visual expressions are packed with humor. Additionally, the characters, as well as the self-talk are relatable and, how pre-teens interact (and tolerate), the adults in their lives make Class Act a page-turner.
What doesn’t work: The limited presence and perspective of and about Black girls in middle school.
Pass It or Grab It? Grab it! This is an excellent graphic novel, and more are needed. Moreover, it’s an enjoyable book with several laugh out loud moments. Since Class Act confronts topics like colorism, racialized geographies, and Black students not wanting their hair to be touched, among other realities encountered by teen readers, it’s been banned in many school districts, which is all the more reason to grab it.
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