Hana Jaffe-Walt

But you, like Jordan Banks, wanted to go to art school?

But you, like Jordan Banks, wanted to go to art school?

Jordan Banks felt out of place. Jerry Craft felt out of place. Jordan Banks' classmates all inexplicably wore pink but called it salmon. Same with Jerry Craft.

Jordan Banks felt out of place. Jerry Craft felt out of place. Jordan Banks' classmates all inexplicably wore pink but called it salmon. Same with Jerry Craft.

And all the things Jordan Banks observes or experiences. A white mom who worries about serving watermelon. A nerve-wracking interaction with a cop. White classmates touching your hair, assuming you like basketball. They happened to Jerry or Jerry's kids.

And all the things Jordan Banks observes or experiences. A white mom who worries about serving watermelon. A nerve-wracking interaction with a cop. White classmates touching your hair, assuming you like basketball. They happened to Jerry or Jerry's kids.

Like that's the other one?

Like that's the other one?

That's what's so interesting to me about this book in particular, being kind of drawn into this CRT battle that's supposedly about history. But your book is not a history book. This is like literally just you writing down the story of your life. Right.

That's what's so interesting to me about this book in particular, being kind of drawn into this CRT battle that's supposedly about history. But your book is not a history book. This is like literally just you writing down the story of your life. Right.

With one exception, those KFC gift certificates. Jerry says he made that up. One other thing Jerry pointed out that really happened to him. The last chapter of New Kid, it's called The Farce Awakens. It's when Jordan loses his sketchbook, the one he carries everywhere. He's super stressed because it has all his thoughts and drawings from that year. It's sort of like a visual diary.

With one exception, those KFC gift certificates. Jerry says he made that up. One other thing Jerry pointed out that really happened to him. The last chapter of New Kid, it's called The Farce Awakens. It's when Jordan loses his sketchbook, the one he carries everywhere. He's super stressed because it has all his thoughts and drawings from that year. It's sort of like a visual diary.

It turns out his teacher, Miss Rall, is holding his sketchbook when he comes into the classroom. She's read it.

It turns out his teacher, Miss Rall, is holding his sketchbook when he comes into the classroom. She's read it.

And the teacher's upset about what's in the notebook.

And the teacher's upset about what's in the notebook.

Oh.

Oh.

Does it feel like a grown-up version of what happens to Jerry Banks in your novel?

Does it feel like a grown-up version of what happens to Jerry Banks in your novel?