“With Class Act, I explored a lot more of Drew’s life,” Craft says. “You’ll get to meet his grandmother as well as witness the semi-volatile relationship that he has with his friends from around his neighborhood. It was also important for me to explore, and expand on, the differences between Drew and his best friend, Jordan. I wanted to show many of the intricacies and nuances that I don’t often see with Black kids in books and movies.”

Craft has already begun work on a third book in the series, tentatively scheduled for early 2023. In the meantime, New Kid fans may soon see their favorite characters on the screen. In August SpringHill Entertainment—the production company cofounded by basketball star LeBron James—announced a deal with Universal Pictures to adapt New Kid into a feature film, with Craft set to executive produce.

Though the COVID-19 pandemic has prevented a traditional publicity tour for Class Act, Craft is keeping a schedule of virtual events, readings and workshops. For more information, visit jerrycraft.com

A version of this article appears in the fall/winter 2020 edition of the Visual Arts Journal.

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