Jerry Craft’s New Kid offers a fresh perspective that speaks to Transylvania’s campus culture and to the values of a liberal arts education. The graphic novel is emotionally sharp, introspective, and fun.
New Kid follows Jordan Banks, an artistic and thoughtful seventh grader, as he navigates being a Black student at a new, mostly white private school. Jordan faces microaggressions, assumptions, and social hierarchies that may seem distant from college life. That is, until you realise that the “Transy Bubble” can feel like you’re in grade school again. Everyone knows everyone. There is inevitable gossip. We give each other unfounded labels. Many students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, carry a kind of burden that makes them feel different from the get-go. Reading New Kid asks us to reflect: What do we assume about others before we actually talk with them? Who might feel left out of our community and why?
The talent of a graphic novel is that it can touch on serious topics without feeling heavy. New Kid is a breath of fresh air compared to the academic reading that saturates our day-to-day life. Craft’s illustrations create a rich sensory experience where humor lands more quickly, awkward moments are more awkward, and Jordan’s emotional journey is visible. This format serves as a reminder that we don’t have to read dense, four-hundred-page novels to gain meaning. The protagonist’s love for art through sketching, along with Craft’s award-winning illustration, makes this book a prime example of creative expression. As a college that values interdisciplinary thinking, New Kid exemplifies how storytelling, art, and social consciousness can become an impactful, action-guiding narrative.
Transylvania’s mission statement highlights independent thinking, open-mindedness, lifelong learning, and social responsibility in a diverse world. New Kid embodies these values as Jordan takes charge of his new life at Riverdale Academy Day School, as he stands up to the school bully, makes unlikely friendships, and confides in his parents his desire to attend art school.
Though Jordan struggles to balance his identity with his Washington Heights friends and his school friends. The initial culture shock Jordan feels upon transitioning to a private school resembles what many students experience when being on their own in the college environment for the first time. We are exploring our interests through student organizations and social groups. We are finding and making a home away from home. Jordan’s journey is similar to what many Transylvania students experience every school year.New Kid is about finding community. If we want to maintain a welcoming, self-aware, and value-aligned student body, this book is essential. Everyone at Transylvania should check it out, and return to the library as soon as you finish so the next person can pick it up!
