New Kid
by Jerry Craft
- Grade range
- Grades 4–8
- Age range
- Ages 8–13
- Pages
- 256
- First published
- 2019
- Genre
- Middle Grade Graphic Novel
- ISBN-13
- 9780062691194
Where to find this book
About this book
Jordan Banks, one of the few Black kids at a prestigious private school, navigates microaggressions and identity in the first graphic novel to win the Newbery Medal (2020). The book has been widely assigned in 5th-7th grade ELA and is also among the most-challenged graphic novels in US schools per PEN America's index, frequently cited for its discussion of race.
Themes
- race and identity
- code-switching
- middle school adjustment
- graphic narrative
- private vs public school
- friendship
Content notes
- microaggressions
- discussion of racism
Common Sense Media recommends age 9+.
Where this book is assigned
Common Core State Standards (ELA)
- recommended· 5th gradesource: CCSS ELA grades 4-5 contemporary graphic-novel Newbery Medal
- recommended· 6th gradesource: CCSS ELA grades 6-8 graphic-novel exemplar
- recommended· 6th grade · New Yorksource: NY Next Gen Standards grade 6 — NYC-set graphic novel
Similar grade-level books
Common questions
- What grade level is New Kid?
- New Kid is most commonly assigned in US schools in grades 4–8. Specific grade placement varies by curriculum — AP Literature and IB English Literature typically use it in grades 11-12.
- What curricula assign New Kid?
- New Kid appears on reading lists for Common Core State Standards (ELA). Each assignment on this site links to its primary-source citation.
- Is New Kid banned in schools?
- New Kid has documented removals from at least one public-school district in 4 states (TX, OK, FL, TN) per PEN America's Index of School Book Bans 2022-2024. Policies vary by district.
- What themes does New Kid explore?
- Central themes in New Kid include race and identity, code-switching, middle school adjustment, graphic narrative, private vs public school. These themes match how the book is discussed in most curriculum guides and AP Literature prompts.
Why this book is on this list
Each dimension below is sourced from a public reference. The full framework is documented on the classification standard page.
- Lexile measure
- Not classified — this book has no published Lexile measure.
- Grade band
- Grades 4–8 — drawn from state ELA frameworks and AP/IB syllabi citing this book.
- Curriculum alignment
- Cited in 1 curriculum on this site (see “Where assigned” above for primary-source links).
- State-level evidence
- Cited in 1 state ELA framework or DOE list (see citations above).
- Removal / banning records
- Documented as challenged or removed in 4 states per PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans.
- Seasonal / contextual tags
- No seasonal or program-specific tags on this book.