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Book Club Meet-Up: Nov. 7 @7p.m.
NEW KID by Jerry Craft & "We All Belong"
NEW KID by Jerry Craft & "We All Belong"
I am pleased to announce that the first (Yay!) Clarke Community Book Club selection is New Kid, a graphic novel by Jerry Craft. New Kid was published in 2019, quickly garnering positive reviews and award nominations. Here's the book description from Amazon:
"Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Gene Luen Yang, New Kid is a timely, honest graphic novel about starting over at a new school where diversity is low and the struggle to fit in is real, from award-winning author-illustrator Jerry Craft.
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?"
Why pair the value "We All Belong" with NEW KID?
Why pair the value "We All Belong" with NEW KID?
When I read New Kid, I was immediately impressed by its realistic portrayal of a classic middle school challenge: fitting in vs. being yourself. Jordan, the protagonist, and most of the other characters face this challenge throughout the book, which reminded me of the first core value of Lexington Public Schools: "We All Belong."
As Clarke's principal, I want our school to be a place where everyone feels like we can "fit in" while being ourselves. What does Jordan's experience in New Kid teach us about how we can take steps as individuals and as a community to make Clarke a place where everyone feels like they belong? I'm excited to talk with you about this question and more at our book club meet-up!
The Fall 2019 Clarke Community Book Club Meet-Up is happening on Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. Please click here to sign up for the weekly newsletter I'll be sending out each Monday, full of reading materials, related media and news resources, and biographical information about Jerry Craft!
The Fall 2019 Clarke Community Book Club Meet-Up is happening on Thursday, November 7 at 7:00 p.m. Please click here to sign up for the weekly newsletter I'll be sending out each Monday, full of reading materials, related media and news resources, and biographical information about Jerry Craft!
While participants are encouraged to obtain their own copies of each selection, the front office will have ten copies of each selection to loan out to readers. Visit the main office to borrow a copy while supplies last! Also, don't forget about Clarke's library and your local library!
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