Hana Jaffe-Walt

And she ran for school board last spring, but lost. Bonnie told me she first encountered Jerry's book when she got a flyer in her kid's backpack announcing the author visit. So she got the books, New Kid and the follow-up book, Class Act, and read them both herself. I don't know if you've, have you read these books? Yeah, my kids read them. Okay, okay.

And she ran for school board last spring, but lost. Bonnie told me she first encountered Jerry's book when she got a flyer in her kid's backpack announcing the author visit. So she got the books, New Kid and the follow-up book, Class Act, and read them both herself. I don't know if you've, have you read these books? Yeah, my kids read them. Okay, okay.

Microaggressions, meaning the everyday thoughtless stuff white people in the book say around black kids. Bonnie worried how reading those depictions might make white kids feel. The district told me there was another parent, too, who apparently filed the complaint that New Kid includes vulgarity, but they would not provide that person's name. Bonnie, though, was very public.

Microaggressions, meaning the everyday thoughtless stuff white people in the book say around black kids. Bonnie worried how reading those depictions might make white kids feel. The district told me there was another parent, too, who apparently filed the complaint that New Kid includes vulgarity, but they would not provide that person's name. Bonnie, though, was very public.

She cared enough about this to create a petition demanding the district cancel Jerry Craft's event. It got 400 signatures. To Bonnie, the book has a clear agenda. Jerry set out to convince people systemic racism is real and show how privileged and awful white people are. He's dressing it up with funny or dramatic moments that to her seem totally over the top.

She cared enough about this to create a petition demanding the district cancel Jerry Craft's event. It got 400 signatures. To Bonnie, the book has a clear agenda. Jerry set out to convince people systemic racism is real and show how privileged and awful white people are. He's dressing it up with funny or dramatic moments that to her seem totally over the top.

Like the scene where the dad gets pulled over by the cops and is super nervous. She says, you really think that happens? Or the white mom who worries her kid's black friend might take offense if she serves watermelon for a snack. Come on, she says. A lot of our conversation was Bonnie questioning parts of the book and me saying, I think that's based on Jerry's own life.

Like the scene where the dad gets pulled over by the cops and is super nervous. She says, you really think that happens? Or the white mom who worries her kid's black friend might take offense if she serves watermelon for a snack. Come on, she says. A lot of our conversation was Bonnie questioning parts of the book and me saying, I think that's based on Jerry's own life.

He did. He went to a mostly Jewish school. He went to Fieldston, which is not a Jewish school. But I mean, I don't you're saying you don't believe that that actually happened to him.

He did. He went to a mostly Jewish school. He went to Fieldston, which is not a Jewish school. But I mean, I don't you're saying you don't believe that that actually happened to him.

Wait, why doesn't that matter?

Wait, why doesn't that matter?

This is an idea that is repeated in a lot of the efforts to ban books. The idea that these books will psychologically harm children, usually white children. When you say it poisons the minds of your kids, what's the thing that you're worried is going to happen to your kids reading these books?

This is an idea that is repeated in a lot of the efforts to ban books. The idea that these books will psychologically harm children, usually white children. When you say it poisons the minds of your kids, what's the thing that you're worried is going to happen to your kids reading these books?

It's a Mercedes, but sure. For Bonnie, these characterizations would be damaging to her kids if they read the books, which they haven't. New Kid is a book that is entirely focused on the perspective of a Black boy, the things he sees and experiences. There are white characters. Some of them are mean. Some of them are Jordan's best friends. One of them talks to everyone through sock puppets.

It's a Mercedes, but sure. For Bonnie, these characterizations would be damaging to her kids if they read the books, which they haven't. New Kid is a book that is entirely focused on the perspective of a Black boy, the things he sees and experiences. There are white characters. Some of them are mean. Some of them are Jordan's best friends. One of them talks to everyone through sock puppets.

But they're peripheral. The story is about Jordan. So I would assume, like with any well-told story, kids reading this book would identify with the main character, since he's the protagonist of the story. I want to say something here I feel obliged to say, but also feels a little embarrassing for all of us that I have to say it at all.

But they're peripheral. The story is about Jordan. So I would assume, like with any well-told story, kids reading this book would identify with the main character, since he's the protagonist of the story. I want to say something here I feel obliged to say, but also feels a little embarrassing for all of us that I have to say it at all.

This book, Jerry Craft's book, New Kid, is not critical race theory. Jerry Craft did not create a fictional 12-year-old black boy, Jordan Banks, to promote a complex legal theory about systemic racism. And although it is a work of fiction, most of what Bonnie objects to in these books did actually happen. Like how much of this is just your direct life experience?

This book, Jerry Craft's book, New Kid, is not critical race theory. Jerry Craft did not create a fictional 12-year-old black boy, Jordan Banks, to promote a complex legal theory about systemic racism. And although it is a work of fiction, most of what Bonnie objects to in these books did actually happen. Like how much of this is just your direct life experience?