Class Act by Jerry Craft

 

Jerry Craft, who so deservedly won the Newbery Medal last year with New Kid, has a follow up with just as much heart, humor, and food for thought as his first book about life at Riverdale Academy Day School. This time the focus is on Drew, one of Jordan's best friends. Drew, with darker skin than Jordan, faces subtly different treatment, from girls wanting to touch his hair without permission to being asked to be a tour guide for a poorly conceived sister school exchange. In spite of all the racism faced by Drew and Jordan (mostly at the hands of white teachers), at its heart this is a school story about belonging and coming into your own. Liam, their uber-wealthy friend, invites the boys to his house to swim in his pool, and the disparity causes a rift that is a main focus of the story. As in New Kid, Craft makes each chapter title a parody, this time riffing on popular graphic novels for kids. This is another gem, down to the last detail. Recommended for all middle schools everywhere.