New Kid and Class Act: The Box Set

 1. New Kid
　　本書榮獲紐伯瑞金牌獎榮譽，為獎項成立以來，首度由圖像小說獲獎。非裔美籍作者克拉夫（Jerry Craft）證明了以「不受苦難驅使的」非裔美國人故事亦能成功，在這個探討種族及階級的故事中，帶領讀者進入以白人為主的學校，與他一起奮力找到自己的定位，建立自我認同。

　　七年級的喬丹是個熱愛畫畫的孩子，但是爸媽卻不肯答應讓他去就讀藝術學校，反而讓他去讀離家很遠的知名私立學校。身為學校裡少數的幾個有色膚色學生，喬丹總覺得自己格格不入。生活中的文化差異、對非裔人士的訕笑，喬丹覺得自己難以融入學校的團體，卻也離原本的居住環境和朋友越來越遠，似乎他並不屬於任何一個世界。他努力釐清自己到底是誰，正站在哪裡，又該往何處去。

　　克拉夫巧妙運用了圖像小說的藝術形式，塑造真實而立體的角色與情節。例如，主角喬丹．班克斯（Jordan Banks）進入學校食堂後，將其縮小到螞蟻大小的比例，並將飯廳變成了怪異的仙境，藉以呈現出他缺乏社交地位的狀態。這樣的視覺效果令人印象深刻，也讓讀者能夠共感喬丹無措和難受的心情。　

　　克拉夫希望在本書中傳達這樣的理念，不同的個體彼此尊重，也發揮專屬於自己的特色。為在身份與文化認同的路上迷惘的孩子，提供一份力量，擁有多一點信心，創造更好的自己。

2. Class Act
　　青澀而真實的校園日常，優越感的作祟，生而平等的謊言，對幼小的心靈而言，卻有著南轅北轍的境遇。

　　接續New Kid，這次的故事圍繞在喬丹的朋友，八年級的德威（Drew Ellis）身上，德威從小就被外婆告誡，要加倍努力才能與外人比拚。但如果即便他拚上十倍的努力，卻還是沒辦法獲得和同學一樣的機會呢？追根究底，就只因為他的膚色？

　　德威試著想從容融入大家，卻十分困難。他最終能找到破除藩籬的方法，同時保有自我嗎？

　　From critically acclaimed author-illustrator Jerry Craft comes a special box set that includes New Kid, winner of the Newbery Medal, Coretta Scott King Author Award, and Kirkus Prize, and its companion, Class Act, both #1 New York Times bestsellers!

　　In New Kid, seventh grader Jordan Banks loves nothing more than drawing cartoons about his life. But instead of sending him to his dream art school, his parents enroll him in the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School, where there are few kids of color. As Jordan makes the daily trip from his Washington Heights apartment to the upscale school, he 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?

　　In Class Act, newly minted eighth grader Drew Ellis takes center stage. Drew is no stranger to the saying “You have to work twice as hard to be just as good.” But what if he works ten times as hard and still isn’t afforded the same opportunities as his privileged RAD classmates? To make matters worse, Drew is trying not to withdraw from his buddy Liam, who might be one of those privileged kids. And their mutual friend, Jordan, doesn't know how to keep the group together. Will Drew ever find a way to bridge the divide so they can all truly accept each other? Moreover, will he ever be able to accept himself?

　　This box set of two bestselling graphic novels makes an excellent gift!