Faculty Journey, a companion novel to Newbery-winning New Child, launches the Riverdale Academy college students on a tour of Paris.

Faculty Journey by Jerry Craft. Quill Tree Books (HarperCollins), 2023, 249 pages.

Studying Stage: Center Faculty, ages 10-12

Really useful for: ages 10-14

Ah, Paris!

Jordan Banks has made some strong buddies at Riverdale Academy Day Faculty, however after two years he has a alternative: keep at RAD or switch to the New York Excessive Faculty of Music, Artwork, and Mime? Artwork is his ardour, however Mother doubts he could make a residing at it. However he has the summer time to decide, and within the meantime there’s a golden alternative to spend every week in Paris together with his classmates. Finest buds Liam and Drew are on the roster as properly . . . however so is Andy, the king of snark, who is usually downright imply.

Hijinks ensue when three troublemakers hack into the varsity system and swap across the chaperone tickets in order that lecturers who deliberate on going to Alaska, Paris, or Wyoming will probably be headed for different locations. So as an alternative of Jordan’s French and artwork lecturers, he’ll be seeing Paris with the soccer coach and the science instructor. Each of whom uncover, as soon as they attempt to purchase dinner for the group, that their bank cards don’t work. That’s unhealthy sufficient, however worse to come back when Jordan’s buddies organize to room collectively, leaving him caught with Andy.

Nonetheless . . . it’s Paris! An art-lover’s paradise

Studying to Get Alongside

Faculty Journey doesn’t grasp collectively as constantly as New Child or Class Act, the earlier books on this collection, but it surely presents some perception into understanding variations if you’re caught with one another for a whole week. Social-climbing Ashley learns to narrate to oddball Alexandria, loner Ramon finds a buddy in rich-kid Maury, and maybe most importantly, Andy and Drew have a significant dialog about race. The graphic-novel format permits intelligent symbolism from Jordan’s lively creativeness, and severe notes are surrounded by humor.

Total Score: 4

  • Worldview/ethical worth: 3.5
  • Creative/literary worth: 4.5

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