Class Act is that rare sequel that stands on its own while deepening what came before. Jerry Craft takes the world of Riverdale Academy and shifts the camera to Drew, whose experience of being one of the few Black kids at a fancy private school is different from Jordan's—more raw, more frustrated, more tired.

The book doesn't sugarcoat how exhausting it is to navigate microaggressions and watch less-qualified privileged kids coast, but it also doesn't wallow. The graphic novel format is clutch here—Craft can show Drew's internal reactions while maintaining the humor that makes this readable rather than lecture-y.

This is enriching without being homework. Kids will finish it understanding privilege and systemic inequality better than most adults, and they'll actually want to read it because the characters feel real and the friendship drama is genuine. The 4.8 Amazon rating tells you what you need to know: this lands with readers.

It's more serious than New Kid, so if your kid wants pure fun, start there. But if they're ready to think while they read, Class Act delivers.