Books › New Kid
New Kid
256 pages
A warm, funny, and sharply observant graphic novel about the awkward, everyday tightrope walk of middle school and code-switching.
What it feels like
Reading this graphic novel feels like sitting down with a funny, incredibly observant friend who knows exactly how awkward it is to navigate the middle school hierarchy. The pacing is brisk and visually engaging, pulling you through the daily anxieties of code-switching and microaggressions with a remarkably gentle, wry humor. It balances the heavy, isolating feelings of being an outsider with a warm, hopeful atmosphere that never feels preachy. The dialogue is snappy and authentic, perfectly complemented by expressive art that captures the unspoken tensions of navigating two very different worlds. It is an absolute delight for anyone who has ever felt caught between expectations, offering a deeply empathetic and ultimately triumphant journey toward finding your own voice.
- Mood
- warm
- hopeful
- relatable
- anxious
- Tone
- humorous
- observant
- earnest
- wry
- empathetic
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- code-switching · microaggressions · finding your voice · middle school awkwardness · identity and belonging
- The writing
- Visually dynamic and highly conversational, blending expressive, witty illustrations with sharp, authentic middle-grade dialogue.
- The arc
- Moves from the isolating anxiety of being the new kid in an unfamiliar environment to a confident embrace of one's own authentic voice and community.
- Who it's for
- Middle-grade readers navigating their own social transitions, and anyone who loves a funny, heartfelt story about the awkwardness of fitting in.
Content notes
- microaggressions
- racial prejudice
- bullying
About the book
Seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to the art school of his dreams, his parents enroll him in a prestigious private school known for its academics, where Jordan is one of the few kids of color in his entire grade.
As he makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale Riverdale Academy Day School, Jordan soon finds himself torn between two worlds—and not really fitting into either one. Can Jordan learn to navigate his new school culture while keeping his neighborhood friends and staying true to himself?
Description from Open Library.
Books like New Kid
See why they match
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time IndianSherman AlexieA hilarious, heartbreaking, and deeply human exploration of what it costs to leave home and what it takes to survive it.
Cat Kid Comic ClubDav PilkeyA wildly inventive, laugh-out-loud celebration of making messy art and finding your own creative voice.
CourageRaina TelgemeierA warm, deeply validating hug of a graphic memoir that makes the terrifying, isolating feelings of childhood anxiety feel manageable and shared.
American Born ChineseGene Luen YangA clever, intertwining graphic journey through the awkwardness of adolescence, the weight of heritage, and the struggle to accept who you are.
Diary of a Wimpy KidJeff KinneyA hilarious, highly visual survival guide to the everyday humiliations of middle school.
All's faire in middle schoolVictoria JamiesonA warm, visually engaging exploration of the awkward clash between a quirky, theatrical family life and the harsh realities of public middle school.