Sharing his "Craft"

On Wednesday, best-selling, award-winning graphic novelist Jerry Craft advised William S. Hackett Middle School students to write their own stories and have big dreams.

Dressed in a “Hackett Strong” t-shirt, Craft shared his personal and professional history in assemblies with sixth, seventh and eighth graders. He said that when he was a kid and aspired to draw Marvel comics, adults told him comics would rot his brain.

He proved them wrong. Today, he’s the New York Times bestselling author of “New Kid,” “Class Act” and "School Trip," and the first graphic novelist to win both the prestigious Newbery Medal and Coretta Scott King Author Award.

Craft’s novels are part of the school district’s sixth grade English language arts curriculum. His visit to Hackett wrapped up a whirlwind three-day tour that included presentations at all three district middle schools and a family literacy night.

After his last presentation, Craft had lunch in the library with members of the Hackett Student Equity Team.