Class Act

by Jerry Craft

Jordan, Drew, and Liam are newly minted eighth graders ready for another year of navigating friendships and awkward situations at their posh, racially homogeneous school, Riverdale Academy. Drew in particular, who is no stranger to the life lesson that when you're black you have to work twice as hard to be just as good, is bracing himself, especially after his fight with Andy last year. Everyone at Riverdale except for his best friends expects a lot from him. Too much maybe... Drew is tired of being on for his teachers and being put in a box by his classmates. Maybe he doesn't want to be the star football player, the face of school diversity, or a taste tester for his crush's comfort food. When Drew discovers that he and Liam have had very different upbringings, with Liam's parents making bank while Drew's grandma works double shifts, he feels more isolated than ever. Will Drew ever be able to truly open up and show everyone what it means to be a real class act?