Another gem of a novel by Jerry Craft. He effortlessly blends the drama of life in middle school with the social and racial issues inherent in the lives of middle schoolers without it feeling forced. Students of all ages will be able to connect and see themselves in these characters, regardless of which school they attend or their skin color.

School Trip is Jerry Craft’s latest graphic novel that follows his original characters from New Kid. Jordan and his friends are looking forward to their class trip to Paris as they celebrate the end of junior high. However, things don’t go as expected from the very beginning. Not only is Jordan’s art teacher moved to chaperone a different trip at the last minute, he finds out that ANDY will be part of the Paris trip. Jordan and his friends are forced to confront choice and challenges both familiar and new.

I enjoyed the return of familiar characters in this addition to the New Kid series. Jordan is once again the primary character we follow, but we get additional insights into some of the other characters too. I appreciated the ways the characters handled their conflicts with each other. One aspect of this book that was particularly noteworthy was the art. Craft did an excellent job of embedding both subtle and not-so-subtle details to add humor and support the text. I also loved that Craft mentioned book banning multiple times since it is such a prominent issue in the United States right now (and it’s obvious that certain types of books are being targeted).

This book will make a great addition to middle school collections. I would also add it to my high school collection as many of the issues the characters face as relevant to older readers as well.

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books for the opportunity to review an eARC of this title.

My son read this book. He said he liked that there was more recognition of diverse perspectives than in the first two books. His only complaint was that Craft tried to make Andy a more sympathetic character.

I loved Jerry Craft's book School Trip. It is the continuation of New Kid and Class Act, and I really love seeing the development of each of these characters. School Trip was especially great because it showed that because of the friendships formed in the first two books the students are able to deal with a lot more of the issues that come up. A few of the students are able to find their voice and form new friendship, and it was just an all around beautiful book.
I'll be adding it to my collection as soon as it hits shelves in April

School Trip by Jerry Craft

This is the 3rd book of a series, preceded by New Kid, and Class Act. This book was every bit enjoyable as the first two. The students at RAD are all attending a class trip to various locations,and Jordan and his friends are heading to Paris! There is a student-led snafu with the chaperones, so no adults are going where they expected.

I really enjoyed the ensemble focus of this book, we got to know so many characters better. I also appreciate the way Craft weaves in social issues and current events that effect the students’ lives without coming across preachy or beating the reader over the head with them.

The last thing that made me chuckle in this book was the nod to other popular graphic novel titles.

Thank you NetGalley for an e-ARC in exchange for review!

Great addition to the series with a playful sense of humor, the art style never really meshed with me, but it still does a good job of carrying characters throughout

I really love that graphic novels are becoming more mainstream and teachers are starting to accept them as consumable media for children. I think when I was younger, that wasn’t the case. Graphic novels, such as School Trip and others books by Jerry Craft, can entertain children while also teaching them valuable lessons on how to be decent humans.

I don't really know how Jerry Craft is able to write books that are simultaneously humorous and insightful and full of heart. There is a reason that kids love New Kid, and this third book in the series will appeal to young readers just as much. Like the Lizzie McGuire movie for kids of today, the kids from RAD are on a class trip to Paris, and their adventures are fun to track.

As with his other books, Jerry Craft addresses the racism and prejudice the kids in his stories face head-on, but with a touch that keeps his books fun and interesting and not like a classic problem book.

This book series is being challenged and banned in schools across the country, which is addressed in this book.

Great work from Jerry Craft, as always.

This was another great addition to the New Kid series. I loved getting to visit Jordan, Drew, and their friends again. My students were also very excited to hear that there was a third book coming out soon, so I got cool teacher points when I said I got to read an early copy of it. This had all the lighthearted depth that both the first two books had, that made me laugh and think, a tricky yet elegant combination that Craft excels in. I especially loved the storyline with Andy, and all the conversations he had with various members of the group on their trip. I loved that his storyline was not abandoned, but was not tied up in a nice bow, either. It felt so raw and real, and that made it feel all the more impactful. I cannot wait to purchase a hard copy to add to my classroom library! Definitely recommend this if you enjoyed the first two--it will not disappoint.

Thoroughly enjoyed this follow-up to New Kid and Class Act. One question, how come my school did not take trips to Paris and Yellowstone?!? I love how Craft's graphic novels are engaging and relatable to readers of different ages but still manage to teach valuable lessons about getting along with others and the differences we have. The students and teachers learn more about each other and how they can make things better for not only themselves but those around them. I will continue to read any book Jerry Craft puts out!

My very first NetGalley review!
This novel is a must-read for all middle schoolers and even higher middle grade students. I think Jerry Craft does a fantastic job writing and visualizing what is relevant to teenagers in our current climate. As a teacher in a performing arts middle school, this novel touches on the acceptance to Riverside Academy Day School, or RAD, with Jordan wanting to get into an arts school. He's consistently begging his parents to allow him to apply, while also navigating a new school. Now that he's in 8th grade, this book takes Jordan and his friends on a school trip to Paris, but also on a trip that navigates their friendships and what it really means to be friends. Jordan and Drew specifically navigate some racial discrimination and aren't afraid to call out their peers in a respectful way (which is courageous, since they're on the receiving end of the discrimination). This isn't easy for teens to do and Jerry Craft does a phenomenal job about teaching through experience and showing kids they are powerful. I especially love Craft's juxtaposition of lessons through Jordan's experiences as the chapter openers - as a teacher, I could use those as standalone lessons for my students! I though New Kid was a great book, but this third novel is by far the best one yet.
#schooltrip #netgalley

In a word, this book is delightful. Though the premise of teacher/chaperone mix up is a bit far fetched, the dynamics between the students are true to life. Bullying and racism are addressed with a steady, realistic hand. Take a private school class trip to Paris, take your time and enjoy the scenery.

I absolutely adore Jerry Craft and these books--I hope he continues writing about Jordan and his friends even after they leave middle school. Their stories are so real and compelling, and anyone who picks up these books can find something that they relate to. I always appreciate Jordan's artwork and observations, and I love that the diverse cast addresses societal issues in a way that feels authentic and not at all preachy.

This one follows the students as they embark on a class trip to Paris. We get to know a few of the side characters a bit more, and I love that the group has so many positive experiences in a country that is not their own--they immerse themselves in Parisian life and culture instead of complaining when things are different (well...except Andy, of course).

An excellent addition to the New Kid collection.

This book is an addition to the series that started with New Kid, the Newbery winner. Kids will enjoy this, as the characters and the things they go through are relatable. I would have liked this graphic novel to have been more plot heavy, but I still found it enjoyable.

Jerry Craft has created great characters and continued to develop them throughout the series. Having the students go on a school trip to Paris was great to see. Not many books show this aspect of school. It is great to see some of the characters start to change their opinions on important topics.

This is the third book about Jordan from Jerry Craft. It follows New Kid and Class Act, two books my own child who does not like to read loves! With School Trip, Craft uses the backdrop of a humorous school trip to Paris to address issues kids face in friendships and at home. School Tip is a great graphic novel for those middle grade reluctant readers. My son and his friends are so excited to read about the next adventures of Jordan.

Our middle school aged son previously read and loved New Kid and Class Act and so he was super excited to check this one out. These books are a perfect balance of being totally engaging and readable, while also speaking to so many important and relatable topics they encounter (or hear about) in their daily lives.

Craft doesn't gloss over so many tough issues, and I love that this book sparks conversation, amidst the readers peers, teachers and parents. Our kids are growing up in a world so different from our own, but I love that they don't ever have to walk alone. Books like this that take a nuanced look at racism, prejudices, microaggressions, relationships, worries and fears promote conversation and understanding, and help raise even better humans.

Thank you to NetGalley and Quill Tree Books for my gifted review copy.

This is the first Jerry Craft graphic novel that I have read. Both my kids have read New Kid and Class Act, which I now have to go back and read. This book is so relatable to kids in middle school, my son is 12 years old and I can see him having the same experiences as the kids in this novel. So many current-day topics, bullying, kids not finding a place to fit in, and kids of different ethnicities not having relatable content in their school education. The characters in this book were so diverse, it was nice to see kids with different backgrounds experiencing something new together (like traveling to Paris). I also loved that the kids did not give up on Andy, the bully, they really tried to show him the error of his ways and tried to teach him empathy. I really appreciated the hand-drawn life lesson vignettes between the chapters. Jerry Craft also made the adults human as well, they were not perfect and had very realistic personalities. I think this book will definitely be a hit.

I was excited to receive this third installment in the New Kid series as an ARC, as I really loved the first two! Jerry Craft has a way of explaining and displaying social realities and disparities in a way that is easily accessible for young audiences. In this addition to the New Kid series, we see our characters tackle cultural and personal differences on their school trip to Paris. The story is set outside of school, unlike the first two books, so we get to see our supporting characters in a new light. It addressed confronting bullies and speaking up for yourself even when it feels hard to do so. Like Craft's previous two works, it is a very culturally relevant read and makes readers think about how behavior affects others in a gentle but firm way. I do wish this story progressed our characters along a bit further, however. The first two books in the series really built upon the characterization of Jordan and Drew, and I wished to see that same level of development in either of them or another side character in this book. Overall, because the book took place over a much shorter period of time, it didn't get the chance to see that development occur. I gave both New Kid and Class Act five stars, but Class Trip was more of a 4-star read for me. It didn’t advance the characters as well as the first two did in my opinion but was still an enjoyable installment.

If you loved, New Kid and Class Act, you will love School Trip even more (if that is at all possible!) Jerry Craft takes all of the characters you rooted for in the first two books, throws in the ones you didn’t root for at all, and sends them all to Paris. New friendships are forged, eyes are opened, and fears are overcome. Perhaps the best parts of School Trip are Jordan’s “lessons” that are scattered throughout. I found them to be educational and thoughtful without being too judgmental. And I must mention the artwork. It is fantastic! It’s not necessary to have read the first two books before reading School Trip, but it will enhance the reader’s understanding and experience to do so. It is a must purchase for all middle school libraries.