School Trip

Award-winning graphic novelist Jerry Craft follows up on the success of New Kid and Class Act by transporting his diverse cast of engaging middle school kids to Paris, cosmopolitan city of art, culture and je ne sais quoi. He espouses Professor Rudine Sims Bishop’s belief, stated in Mirrors, Windows and Sliding Glass Doors, that ‘Literature transforms human experience and reflects it back to us, and in that reflection, we can see our own lives and experiences as part of the larger human experience.’ School Trip reflects Jerry’s representation of what he would have liked to have seen in books when he was growing up: multi-cultural characters enjoying European travel.

Through the eyes of likeable budding artist Jordan, who creates an observational story within a story with his reflective sketch book style inserts, rich social commentary is presented in humorous and thought-provoking ways. An example is Jordan’s Section 5 where he makes the insightful comment that ‘if there’s one thing that people love it’s variety, whether it be flavours of ice cream, specialty coffees; TV channels, except when it comes to diversity in people.’

As the Riverdale Academy group navigate being new kids in a city where the pace of life is very different from America, they learn about idioms, puns, underlying prejudices, each other, architecture, cuisine and empathy. School Trip embraces diversity with joie de vivre taking key characters on journeys of self-discovery prior to the trip, during and after.

Discussion of annoying habits, bullying, colourism and micro aggressions is interwoven into the dynamics of the story. Above all it is Andy who has a lot to learn about the consequences of his remarks. An evocative portrait of deflating balloon heads represents how the other students feel about him being part of the trip.

There is a balance of male and female voices as the students work out their problems. The adult faculty members in charge also face challenges when a prank skews everyone’s expectations. Miss Brickner, the librarian, even makes an appearance when she re-evaluates her Collections Policy.

Intertextuality and self referentiality are also present in Craft’s witty commentary on the career path of an artist, the nature of graphic novels and the importance of diverse books.

Unfortunately, there are visual errors. Notre Dame appears with no mention of the burning or restoration, a ten Euro note is referred to as a Euro and kitsch cherubs represent Jordan’s thoughts in certain places. That said, the book has a lot to offer. Bold colours catch the eye and expressive close ups convey emotion as the group grow up and learn from their mistakes. School Trip should appeal to a Middle Secondary audience and Diary of a Wimpy Kid fans.