School Trip

Drew Ellis is Jordan’s closest friend at RAD. Drew moved there around the same time Jordan did. Drew and Jordan share a close bond characterized by playful banter. They often tease each other and playfully use silly nicknames, like when Drew refers to Jordan as “Air Jordan” (30). Additionally, they have a running joke in which Drew intentionally gives Jordan a firm handshake.

Being Black and darker-skinned than Jordan, Drew deals with racism and discrimination. At the mall, Drew hesitates to return a shirt with the security tag still attached because he fears being accused of theft. Mrs. Banks understands his fears: “Drew can’t risk anyone think he stole that shirt…It’s just not worth it” (50). Drew demonstrates a keen awareness of The Impact of Racism and Discrimination. In Chapter 8, he explains to Andy the existence of systemic racism and the privileges afforded to white people, despite Andy’s contrary belief.

Drew exudes confidence and self-assurance. He confronts Andy about his bullying, attributing it to racism. He doesn’t shy away from pointing out Andy’s ignorance and privilege and emphasizes his own virtues—he listens to others, is a supportive friend, and treats people with kindness. However, beneath his confident facade, Drew has insecurities and complexities. He confides in Maury, admitting, “I’m afraid a lot! I just never feel like I can show it” (175). Initially, Drew harbors reservations about Maury, perceiving him as snobbish, but he eventually embraces him as part of their friend group, dubbing him “Maury-bro.” Similarly, he eventually accepts Andy once he notices his positive change in behavior.

Maury is one of the central characters of School Trip, characterized by his depth and complexity. Initially, Jordan doesn’t know him well, as Liam points out that he tends to be quiet. However, as the graphic novel progresses, Maury becomes an integral part of their friend group.

Maury comes from a very wealthy family. He lives in a mansion larger than Liam’s, and his father once was Liam’s father’s boss. This challenges stereotypes—because Maury is Black, Liam’s grandparents assume he comes from a less affluent background, highlighting The Impact of Racism and Discrimination. Similarly, at the airport, fellow passengers question Maury’s eligibility for first class due to his skin color, but he calmly explains, “[M]y dad never lets me fly coach” (87). Despite his wealth, Maury remains humble and generous. Learning that Ramon has never stayed in a hotel before, he treats him to room service. Later, when the teachers’ cards fail, he covers everyone’s meals for the trip, demonstrating how wealth can be used positively.

Because Maury is well-traveled and has been to Paris many times before, he becomes a knowledgeable guide for the group. Fluent in French, he leads them through the city, organizing pairs on the metro and guiding them to landmarks like the Sacré-Coeur. His leadership skills are acknowledged by Mr. Garnier: “[W]ho knew Maury was such a good leader?” (130). Maury’s appreciation for The Beauty of Diversity is evident in his culinary choices—at the restaurant, he orders typical French foods like frog legs and snails. He also values diversity in people, forming a close friendship with Ramon despite their differing backgrounds. At the end of the story, they are inseparable, even wearing matching outfits.

Like Jordan, Maury has a lighter complexion. In Chapter 7, he opens up about the challenges of feeling out of place due to his skin tone and privileged upbringing: “I always feel like I’m doing it wrong” (177). This heartfelt conversation with Jordan and Drew strengthens their bond, demonstrating that people often share more similarities than they realize.

Andy is a foil to Jordan and his friends, embodying the archetype of a bully who thrives on antagonizing his peers. His presence presents a challenge for the group, dampening their excitement as they discover Andy will be joining them on the Paris trip. Physically, Andy is portrayed with light brown hair and always wears a red cap backward.

Andy constantly taunts those around him, particularly Ramon. He struggles to differentiate between playful teasing and hurtful bullying. Samira confronts him, explaining, “MY jokes are meant to make people laugh, NOT to humiliate them, Andy. But YOUR jokes make people uncomfortable” (131). Andy’s inability to grasp The Beauty of Diversity is evident in his behavior—he often makes racist comments and fails to appreciate the cultural diversity of France. For example, when eating out in Paris, he expresses disgust when Maury orders frog legs and snails, opting instead for familiar American foods like burgers.

Andy exhibits immaturity and a lack of awareness regarding the daily struggles faced by people of color. For example, at the mall, he fails to understand why Drew doesn’t want to return the shirt. Later, he expresses a belief that Black people have an advantage, citing their access to scholarships and job opportunities: “[C]’mon, dawg. Everyone knows that kids of color get all the scholarships…” (210). Andy’s remarks reflect his ignorance regarding systemic inequalities and The Impact of Racism and Discrimination. He also lacks self-awareness and fails to recognize the racist undertones of his behavior.

However, over the course of the story, Andy changes and evolves. In Chapter 3, while sitting alone, Andy realizes the consequences of his actions—his bullying has isolated him, leaving him with no real friends. After Ramon’s speech, Andy leaves the group with tears in his eyes. Andy’s growth becomes evident when, in Chapter 8, he apologizes to Ramon for his past behavior. By the end of the graphic novel, Andy has fully integrated into the group, representing his change and evolution as a person.

Liam Landers is Jordan’s best friend alongside Drew. He is white and more financially privileged than them. Although he doesn’t undergo significant development throughout the graphic novel, Liam’s character exhibits complexities and depth.

Liam comes from a wealthy family, living in a large mansion complete with maids and a butler. Despite the wealth and opulence, Liam grapples with internal struggles. His parents are often away, leaving him yearning for a sense of familial unity. In Chapter 3, Liam watches sadly as Maury’s family hugs him before the Paris trip. On the morning of the trip, his parents, caught up in their busy schedules, are unable to say goodbye in person but leave him a gift instead. Liam gets to travel a lot, but he confesses that trips have lost their excitement: “[I]t never feels NEW anymore” (142). Despite his privileged upbringing, there are underlying issues Liam grapples with.

Liam’s grandparents display racism during their visit on the day before the trip. They make racist remarks about Jordan, Drew, and Maury, and are incredulous that Black kids can attend a prestigious school like RAD: “[Y]ou ALL go there?!” (71). After the uncomfortable encounter, Liam apologizes to his friends. This demonstrates his awareness of The Impact of Racism and Discrimination, proving that one can overcome the prejudices and biases ingrained by their families.

Ashley is one of the popular girls at RAD, and she thrives on social interaction and enjoys being the center of attention. She’s the captain of the field hockey team, and her best friend is Ruby. She has a crush on Drew—on the Pont des Arts in Paris, she pulls out a lock engraved with their initials, A and D. She has reddish hair styled in a ponytail, and she wears glasses.

Ashley is a rounded and complex character. Ashley can be overbearing and insensitive. Despite knowing Samira since first grade, she forgets her name and makes inappropriate comments about her hair, invading her personal space by touching it while she sleeps. She also displays a lack of understanding of personal boundaries—she wakes Alexandra at dawn in Paris, assuming she must be homesick and unable to sleep. She fails to grasp that some people might prefer solitude, saying, “[W]hat?!...Being alone? Please!…NO ONE wants to be alone” (95). Still, Ashley genuinely attempts to connect with Alexandra, even making a sock puppet to match hers. She confides in Alexandra about the pressures of popularity, revealing the hidden struggles behind her confident behavior: “[Y]ou have NO IDEA how hard it is to be popular, Alexandra” (102). Ashley also has underlying insecurities and a strong desire for validation. Throughout the trip, she anxiously awaits messages from her best friend Ruby and feels envious of Ruby’s relationship with Malaika.

Alexandra, also referred to as “Girl Alex,” is portrayed as an independent girl who values solitude. In contrast to Ashley’s outgoing nature, Alexandra prefers her own company and doesn’t have many friends. Alexandra is kind and compassionate, aspiring to become a child psychologist “so [she] can help kids” (138). She appreciates The Beauty of Diversity, expressing her love for traveling: “The more time we spend with people who aren’t like us, the more we learn that they really are like us…And if they’re not, that’s okay! Maybe we might like them anyway” (101). Alexandra is never seen without her sock puppets, which serve as her companions. She has black hair and always wears a teal shirt with a yellow smiley face. The expression on the smiley face mirrors her own emotions.

During the Paris trip, Alexandra undergoes a transformation, growing and forming new connections. Initially, she prefers solitude and hesitates to room with Ashley. However, as the trip progresses, she gradually opens up and forges a deeper bond with Ashley and Samira. By Chapter 7, Ashley affectionately refers to them as “besties” and even creates a sock puppet like Alexandra’s. Later, Alexandra tells Jordan that now that she has genuine friendships, she no longer needs to rely on her puppets.

Ramon is one of Jordan’s schoolmates, a Latino boy who faces relentless bullying from Andy and his friends. He comes from a financially strained family background—before the Paris trip, he had never stayed in a hotel, and he has little spending money for the Paris trip. Throughout the course of the graphic novel, Ramon undergoes a profound transformation.

Because of his ethnic background, Andy calls Ramon “Jamón [...] like jamón y queso” (186), underscoring The Impact of Racism and Discrimination. Ramon is deeply affected by the bullying, knowing that the taunting will follow him around, and fearing that no one will want to go to prom with him. He missed three weeks of school out of fear of Andy. In Paris, Ramon finds the strength to finally confront Andy, telling him he is “SICK of being teased” (188). This leads to a change in Andy’s behavior. This experience empowers Ramon, who learns to stand up for himself and others—on the last day of school, when some kids make fun of Maury, Ramon intervenes. Moreover, through the Paris trip, Ramon bonds with Maury despite their social differences, and they decide to start a French club together. By the end of the graphic novel, Ramon therefore emerges as a more confident and self-assured individual.