Hana Jaffe-Walt

That's the thing about New Kid being banned. So many of the other Black authors with banned books are writing explicitly about racism or history. Books about how slavery has shaped America, police brutality, how to be an anti-racist. But New Kid, this is not a history book. It's not about police violence or slavery or civil rights. It's a story about finding your place in middle school.

That's the thing about New Kid being banned. So many of the other Black authors with banned books are writing explicitly about racism or history. Books about how slavery has shaped America, police brutality, how to be an anti-racist. But New Kid, this is not a history book. It's not about police violence or slavery or civil rights. It's a story about finding your place in middle school.

There are racial slights in a sort of daily way. White classmates and teachers make assumptions about where Jordan's from, that he's a great athlete. They say ignorant things, try to touch a Black friend's hair. Administrators continue to call a longstanding Black teacher a coach, even though he's never coached anything. Jordan often finds his stuff funny.

There are racial slights in a sort of daily way. White classmates and teachers make assumptions about where Jordan's from, that he's a great athlete. They say ignorant things, try to touch a Black friend's hair. Administrators continue to call a longstanding Black teacher a coach, even though he's never coached anything. Jordan often finds his stuff funny.

He laughs about it with another black classmate. Sometimes he finds it confusing or annoying, but it's not tragic. These are just things that happen on the way alongside lots of other experiences with his white classmates and teachers, including good experiences. Honestly, the most dramatic thing that happens in this story is that Jordan loses his sketchbook. What is there to object to?

He laughs about it with another black classmate. Sometimes he finds it confusing or annoying, but it's not tragic. These are just things that happen on the way alongside lots of other experiences with his white classmates and teachers, including good experiences. Honestly, the most dramatic thing that happens in this story is that Jordan loses his sketchbook. What is there to object to?

When I talked to Jerry, I didn't know the specifics of the objections in Texas, and I kind of expected Jerry to fill me in. But he knew even less than me. He read enough of one article to understand that a white parent had complained about his book, was calling it critical race theory, a term Jerry had to then Google, and he closed the article without finishing it. He had work to do.

When I talked to Jerry, I didn't know the specifics of the objections in Texas, and I kind of expected Jerry to fill me in. But he knew even less than me. He read enough of one article to understand that a white parent had complained about his book, was calling it critical race theory, a term Jerry had to then Google, and he closed the article without finishing it. He had work to do.

But friends and strangers kept messaging him. How crazy. Your book. Banned.

But friends and strangers kept messaging him. How crazy. Your book. Banned.

So you knew, I mean, it sounds like you knew that that was something that you weren't going to want to watch.

So you knew, I mean, it sounds like you knew that that was something that you weren't going to want to watch.

What did you imagine was down that rabbit hole that was scary to you?

What did you imagine was down that rabbit hole that was scary to you?

They want to know what you're talking about.

They want to know what you're talking about.

That's how I do my interviews. I just, like, in the middle, I get a call from the opposing side, and then the two of you duke it out.

That's how I do my interviews. I just, like, in the middle, I get a call from the opposing side, and then the two of you duke it out.

I did not stage a call with the mom who complained about Jerry Craft's books. But I did talk to her. And I watched her testimony at the Katie School Board meetings, the ones Jerry Craft would not watch. Her name is Bonnie Anderson. She has three kids in the schools. She's very involved in local school politics. She's part of a lawsuit against the school district's mask mandate.

I did not stage a call with the mom who complained about Jerry Craft's books. But I did talk to her. And I watched her testimony at the Katie School Board meetings, the ones Jerry Craft would not watch. Her name is Bonnie Anderson. She has three kids in the schools. She's very involved in local school politics. She's part of a lawsuit against the school district's mask mandate.