40 pages • 1 hour read
Jerry CraftSchool Trip
Fiction | Graphic Novel/Book | Middle Grade | Published in 2023A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Summary
Background
Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Character Analysis
Themes
Symbols & Motifs
Important Quotes
Essay Topics
Tools
BetaSymbols & Motifs
Bullying
Much like in the earlier books of the series, bullying is a recurring motif throughout School Trip. Andy embodies the classic bully archetype, constantly tormenting his classmates to assert dominance. His primary target is Ramon, whom he makes fun of for his lower socioeconomic status and ethnic background. For instance, when the students receive envelopes of euros from their families, Andy teases Ramon by pointing out the thickness of his own envelope: “Good thing they didn’t mix up my envelope with yours, Ramon” (96).
Bullying is shown to have a lasting effect on its victims. In Chapter 8, Ramon confronts Andy and reveals his lasting trauma: “Well, I didn’t forget! And neither did a lot of the other kids […] I’m always going to be the pudgy Latino kid who everyone thinks is Mexican” (186). Despite Andy finding amusement in his actions, the consequences for Ramon are profound—he even missed three weeks of school due to fear. Craft therefore conveys the message that bullying others is never acceptable, as the impact can linger throughout their lives. Bullying is also shown to be closely intertwined with racism in the story. Andy mocks Ramon for being Latino by calling him “Jamón [...] like jamón y queso” (186). When Drew confronts him, however, Andy denies being racist, showing a lack of understanding about the deeper motivations behind his behavior.
In School Trip, bullying is overcome through friendship. In Paris, the group teams up against Andy, rendering his bullying powerless. Samira explains to Andy that there is a difference between playful banter and bullying. Jordan even illustrates this in a comic strip titled: “Samira’s Guide to Insulting People,” emphasizing the contrast between making jokes for laughter and humiliating others. When Andy targets Ramon, Maury comes to his defense, and both Ashley and Drew intervene when Andy mocks Ramon’s French pronunciation. By the end of the story, Andy undergoes a transformation and stands up for Maury when other boys attempt to bully him at school. The illustration on page 250 reflects the unity of the Paris group, with Maury smiling as the others stand in his defense. Therefore, Craft conveys the message that friendship and solidarity have the power to overcome bullying in school communities.
Jordan’s Illustrations
Illustrations play a significant role in School Trip beyond just being part of the graphic novel format. The protagonist, Jordan, is a semi-autobiographical reflection of the author. Like Craft, Jordan is a comic artist, and his work is featured throughout the book. Each chapter begins with a two-page comic strip drawn by Jordan, and his illustrations are sprinkled throughout the chapters, making them a recurring motif in the novel.
Jordan’s illustrations stand out due to their graphical style, which differs from the rest of the graphic novel—they’re black-and-white, characterized by their simplicity, and always bear Jordan Banks’s signature. These drawings serve multiple purposes within the narrative. Firstly, they are ironic and humorous, offering a counterbalance to the serious themes explored in the story. Additionally, they offer a window into Jordan’s emotions and inner thoughts. For instance, in the comic strip at the beginning of Chapter 1, Jordan expresses his conflicted feelings about attending art school and leaving his friends behind at RAD. Moreover, Jordan uses his illustrations to address weighty issues, such as The Impact of Racism and Discrimination. In Chapter 2, for example, he depicts the injustice of racial discrimination experienced by Black people while shopping. “NOW you see us!!!” (37), Jordan writes, illustrating the experience of him and his father facing scrutiny and suspicion at the mall.
Butterfly
In the comic strip illustrated by Jordan at the beginning of Chapter 3, he uses a butterfly as a symbol of himself, highlighting the significance of Following One’s Dreams. Jordan portrays a caterpillar with his likeness, undergoing a metamorphosis into a butterfly. He reflects that, just like caterpillars must struggle to emerge from their chrysalis and fly, so does he—he needs to face his fears. Jordan is “terrified to fly across the ocean to go to a place where [he doesn’t] even speak the language” but knows this experience will make him into the “amazing butterfly that [he is] meant to be” (61). The panel ends with Jordan illustrated as a colorful butterfly soaring over the ocean on his way to France. Jordan thus understands the significance of overcoming obstacles and chasing aspirations. It’s only by facing difficulties head-on that he can grow and reach his full potential.
