One Final Reflection


           One aspect of Craft’s New Kid that struck me was the balance he achieved between capturing both young and adult audiences. Being a graphic novel, New Kid appeals to a younger generation, as the pictures are no different than the comic books they read to learn more about their favorite superheroes. The adults are able to pick up on the real superhero, however, in the main character of the story, Jordan Banks, a twelve-year-old kid that has to overcome blatant forms of microaggression and racism. The graphics in the novel help to deliver a more serious message to the adults while also helping the children through a book that puts real issues at the forefront. This is the brilliance of Craft’s work.

            In terms of what I found most surprising this semester through all of our discussions, it would have to be the sheer amount of different types of humor there are. Between my friends and I, the main forms of humor used are dark humor and sarcasm, and I believe that this led me to forget just what else is out there. In terms of what I found most moving, it would be that a great portion of the authors we have read based their stories off of real-life experiences. It is a real wake up call to pay attention during our daily routines, as something could happen that we will remember to write about later. I will leave this class knowing to embrace the unexpected, and I now have the tools in my back pocket to delve into more serious subjects.

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