A review by kaloughl
Class Act by Jerry Craft

4.0

This was a fun follow up to the hugely successful New Kid. With more detailed illustrations, new characters, and more frustration at school, Jerry Craft gives us what we all craved, more time in the heads of these kids. However, though Class Act made me smile in the same way, it was missing a compelling overarching plot and by switching perspectives between Jordan and Drew, muddied it's intentions. I liked that we got to see more of Drew's inner workings and life and I wish Craft leaned into that a bit more and made the entire book from Drew's perspective (though Jordan's comics with criticisms on race and class are still spot on). I liked the confrontations between Drew, Liam, and Jordan about class and race and how having everything doesn't necessarily make you happy.

Overall, I enjoyed it though it felt more like a comic book-like volume updating us on what's going on rather than a book in it's entirety (which New Kid was). Craft is an amazing artist and storyteller and I will continue to read anything he publishes!