A graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real.
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?
The series
Middle school is hard enough without having to feel like an outsider in every hallway. That’s the quiet current running beneath the New Kid series—a graphic novel journey that doesn’t just speak to young readers, but listens to them.
Read full series description
Told through expressive panels and a voice that feels refreshingly real, this coming-of-age story centers on Jordan Banks, a kid who loves drawing more than just about anything. When he ends up at a prestigious private school far from his Washington Heights neighborhood, Jordan finds himself juggling two worlds: one that looks polished on the outside and another that feels like home—but where he’s starting to feel invisible.
What sets this series apart isn’t just its humor or sharply observed characters—it’s the way it handles big themes with a light but steady hand. Identity, race, class, and the pressure to fit in all unfold organically through the lens of friendship, awkward lunch tables, and moments of silent resilience. Readers aren’t told how to feel—they’re invited to see and feel it for themselves.
Rather than framing difference as conflict, the series explores what it means to belong without losing yourself. It’s a narrative that challenges assumptions, celebrates creativity, and makes space for quiet voices to be heard. Through New Kid and its companion Class Act, readers follow not just one boy’s journey—but a shared, often unspoken experience many kids know all too well.
With its sharp dialogue, heartfelt storytelling, and art that captures everything from a side-eye glance to a gut-punch moment, this is more than a school story. It’s a graphic novel series that reshapes how we talk about growing up—and who gets to be seen in those stories.
Be the first reviewer
Sign in and write the first reader review.
