I wanted more development from Ashley in this novel. It seemed like she kind of stagnated in her life and just let things happen to her. I also wish she connected sooner with The Black Kids (having just finished Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?, I think it's an important part of identity formation). But I did enjoy the story overall!

Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel The Black Kids takes place during the 1992 Rodney King Riots in Los Angeles. This novel covers so many deep issues that still resonate in today's society. There are many things I want to say about this book, so I will start with our main character, Ashley. Ashley, is a black teenager from a wealthy family who must navigate being a senior, her relationship with her estranged sister, Jo, liking her best friend's boyfriend, and feeling out of place with her circle of friends in the midst of the riots; that is a lot for one book to cover, but Reed does an excellent job of focusing on all these topics in a way that makes you reflect on our current situation.

Had you not known that the setting took place in 1992, you probably would have thought you were reading a novel that takes place in 2020. One of the saddest realizations I had while reading this book is that not a lot has changed since 1992 in terms of racism and police brutality. This novel is a wake-up call to the readers because a lot of our young readers will be able to see how the events that transpired after Rodney King being beaten are a mirror image of what took place after George Floyd was beaten and killed. This novel shows us historical events through the eyes of a young adult, and how at times we struggle within ourselves in figuring out where we belong in the whole scheme of things.

One thing that this novel taught me is that finding and using your voice are important, no matter what age you are. This book needs to be an essential read for our young adults, who am I kidding- even adults, to see that change needs to happen, and that we cannot do it alone or in fear. Reed's debut book will be released on August 4, 2020.

THE BLACK KIDS is a really poignant read that ties history to the present. Ashley is a senior in high school and living in a wealthy part of LA with her parents while she attends private school, one of only a few Black kids to do so. Her life has been formed by her relationships with her parents and the way that people see her- the microaggressions she frequently experiences.

The time is the early 90s, but the events are ones repeated through history and have important reflections today. Protests and riots have broken out after the four officers who beat Rodney King on camera were acquitted, but this event was not alone. Ashley is trying to make sense of the world around her, her parents and their relationship with her sister who is standing up for more, and the way that she fits into it all. This novel is ultimately a coming-of-age story with important implications for today.

What I loved: Ashley's perspective is really interesting, and the book is quite reflective with a lot happening through her inner monologue. It is really thought-provoking and a deep read on several levels. Her observations and memories all build to something really powerful to read. Ashley feels so genuine and real, and her story is definitely worth the read.

Final verdict: Moving, emotional, and powerful, THE BLACK KIDS is a historical coming-of-age story with important implications for now. Highly recommend picking this one up.

Please note that I received an ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Black Kids was brilliant. Every student in school should have to read this as part of a history lesson. In this book important issues are explored and grappled with including race and class, all set against the backdrop of the Rodney King Riots of 1992. Highly highly recommend this book.

July 2020

Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC in return for my honest review.

The Black Kids is a story focused on Ashley, a high school senior at a private high school just outside of LA in the early 1990s. Ashley is black and although she hasn’t always felt different from her white friends, she is beginning to realize that racism does exist around her. Her parents have worked hard and sacrificed to protect her and her sister from the struggles they faced.

As the verdict from the Rodney King trial is decided and protests begin, Ashley begins to hear and feel the microaggressions from her friends and neighbors. She also begins to find her voice. It really hits her, when her sister who recently moved out and marry is living in the riot area, and her family store run by her uncle is impacted by the riots.

Although the book can be considered historical fiction, the topics and characters are extremely relevant to what happens in our world today. I would highly recommend this title to teens, young adults, and adults. High school libraries need this book in their collection.

Plot:
Ashley is a senior in high school in LA in 1992. Her parents send her to a very expensive private school because they want what is best for her. However, being one of the only black kids in school, she faces a lot of racism and micro-aggressions especially within her group of friends. This book takes place while the Rodney King riots of 1992 are happening and as much as Ashley wants to try to keep her life "normal" she is forced to confront the racial tendencies of her friends.

Personal Opinion:

I REALLY wanted to love this book. However, the writing style was tough at times to keep up with as there were often flashbacks from earlier times in Ashley's life with little to no transition. I struggled quite a bit with the characterization of some of Ashley’s friends as well. Ashley's sister, Jo, and her friend LaShawn, were both awesome to read, but I had trouble envisioning some of her other friends. There were A LOT of really powerful lines in the book, but overall, it felt very choppy. I will definitely read Christian Hammonds Read's next novel, but this one was a bit tough to get into for me personally.

What a great, relevant book! Ashley is a HS senior living in LA in the 90s. As the Rodney King riots unfold around her, she begins to see her friends, family, and herself in a whole new light. A beautiful coming of age story about finding yourself and being true to who you are. Though it takes place in the 90s, this book could also take place today. Incredibly relevant.

I went into The Black Kids with extremely high expectations. I was incredibly interested in the premise, especially in the light of the current state of the world and the Black Lives Matter movement. Christina Hammonds Reed exceeded every single expectation I had--and I cannot wait to tell every single person I know about the importance of this work.

In The Black Kids, we meet Ashley, a high school senior, and token black girl among her group of friends. Ashley has grown up in a rich household in a rich neighborhood in LA as the race riots are beginning. She attends private school. She has a maid. She knows she lives a privileged life, though like so many of us who live in privilege, she doesn't know how different her experience is from that of her other black classmates, until her (and our) eyes are opened by others' realities later in the novel.

Ashley, the single black girl in a group of four friends, realizes that she might be growing up and growing apart from the same friends she's had her whole life during some trials and reflections that take place during her senior year of high school. During the riots that were prevalent in LA during the time the story takes place, Ashley comes face to face with the reality of these riots, both in the streets and in her personal life. Ashley must decide what is important to her as she learns who she wants to become. She explores the personal history of her Black experience, and as a white reader, I learned a lot.

This beautifully written slice-of-life novel was eye opening and educational in a way that didn't feel preachy. As a librarian, I am constantly looking to expand my knowledge base of this topic so that I can have informed conversations with members of my community. I feel so excited and thankful to have this book in my arsenal. Ashley is complicated, her relationships complex, and many areas of her life are explored. This is undoubtedly one of the best books I have read this year, and I feel that I can confidently say this book will become a classic in the YA canon. It's hard to do this book justice in a review, but everybody needs to read it and discuss it. I think anybody who does will come out the other side a better and more informed person.

I would give this novel to mature YA readers. It does feature sexual content, as well as drug use and underage drinking.

“You can’t tell people to pull up on bootstraps when half of them never had any boots to begin with, never even had the chance to get them.”

The Black Kids is a young adult historical fiction that takes place during the Rodney King riots in Los Angeles. It is told from the first-person perspective of Ashley, a Black teenage girl who feels like she lives in two different worlds. One world is her upper-class white-dominant neighborhood and private school. The other world is full of the cries of pain and suffering from the people of Los Angeles as they watched on every news outlet video footage of a Black man brutalized by police officers and how the justice system failed to convict them.

This book was extremely reminiscent of the time period we are now living in where Black men are still being publicly brutalized and murdered by law enforcement in broad daylight. Where BIPOC are vilified for channeling their rage and loss into riots when those law enforcement officers are not held accountable for their violent and racist actions. Ashley’s realization of the micro-aggressions that she experiences on a daily basis from both friends and teachers as well as the violent racism her family has endured throughout their history is an important and poignant perspective for young people to hear.

I very much enjoyed Christina Hammond Reed’s raw and resonating writing throughout the book and I am eager to see what she does in the future. This book included constant flashbacks to different times in Ashley’s life which slowed down the pace and momentum of the primary storyline for me. I also wish we could have seen more development and focus on Ashley’s relationship with her family members, this was a really impactful part of the story that I felt was overshadowed by other sub-plots and storylines.

I am grateful to have received an e-ARC of this book from Simon and Schuster Children’s Publishing via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The Black Kids is a coming of age story that will quickly connect to kids who feel like they're on the cusp of something. Set in 1992 and against the backdrop of Los Angeles burning, this book features a slice of life style story of one Black teen girl's life. Ashley Bennett's senior year is kickstarted with the Rodney King trial and suddenly a lot in her life is starting to change. The author makes Ashley feel so real with each scene taking the reader into what she's feeling and thinking. I loved seeing Ashley grow, learn more about her family history, and relate more to her older sister who has been deemed too radical by her parents. Readers of Who Put This Song On and The Education of Margot Sanchez will find a readalike here

Although this book is set in a different time, it is just as relevant now as it would have been then.

Although the topic is interesting, and relevant, the story take awhile to build. This made it hard to read. Once I got over the hill, it was an overall good book.

3.5/5

I received an advanced digital copy through Netgalley. This book is important for today's times (specifically the Black Lives Matter movement) but it takes place in the 1990's during the L.A. Riots.

I enjoyed the book for its historical fiction and setting (I grew up close to L.A. so I am familiar with the towns and freeways mentioned). I appreciated Reed's writing style and I think many teenagers would relate to the characters and be encouraged to form their own opinions and find their own voice, even if it's different than your family and friends.

What I didn't like was the flashbacks. So many flashbacks that had nothing to do with the story. Some had a little piece of information that was important, but most just seemed like fillers. Also, the transitions were sudden and frequent. I had to really pay attention or suddenly I wouldn't know what was going on.

Overall, it is a good debut novel with an important message. I would recommend it to teens at my library.

I must say, this is such a book for young adults🤣 Ashley is a rich Black teenager living in L.A. during the 1990s. This particular year (1992), the police officers who brutally beat Rodney King were acquitted of all charges. BOOM, enter the riots. Slowly, Ashley becomes more… I guess I should say aware (& later on appreciative) of her Blackness. She also realizes, as what most of Black America already knows, that hiding behind money doesn’t protect one from racism as much as they want it to🤷🏾‍♀️

I’m not going to lie, as annoyed as I got that Ashley let her little friends be slick with their subtle racism... I saw so much of myself in her. Growing up in a PWT, I allowed a lot of racism to just slide because I wanted to fit in & “knew” in my heart that “they didn’t mean it.” Girl, lemme tell you if I had a time machine, I would go back & box every single one of them hoes.

"The song I'm listening to is called 'You and Your Folks, Me and My Folks," which seems like it was written for these times, except these times were decades ago."

"You can't tell people to pull up on bootstraps when half of them never had any boots to begin with, never even had the chance to get them. Or when you let people burn whole, thriving black communities to the ground and conveniently forget about it. Because maybe the problem isn't only with 'bad' people; maybe the problem is with the whole system."

I remember a discussion we had in my undergrad Shakespeare class: we were talking about the History Plays, and how part of the reason Shakespeare wrote them, was because he wanted to offer political/social commentary on what was happening during his own time. But he couldn't exactly go around criticizing the monarchy and government outright -- so he veiled his commentary through the lens of history, giving him an "out." "Nope! Definitely not talking about the current monarch! Nope, no sir, no way. This a play about ye olden times and how those monarchs/political figures messed everything up."

Okay, cool -- but what does this have to do with The Black Kids?

Well, I think Christina Hammonds Reed is doing a similar thing (but, you know, with less fear of monarchical persecution). The novel is set in 1992, against the backdrop of the Rodney King trial (and acquittal of the four police offers, despite video evidence of their behavior). I was 7 or 8 at that time, so I have absolutely no recollection of living through this event, even though it must have been on the news. I know we didn't watch much TV outside of Saturday morning cartoons and movies on VHS, and since the news wasn't as easily accessible, that's perhaps not surprising.

So reading this book was (1) an eye-opening, educational experience, because I didn't know about it at all and (2) prescient on a Shakespearean-level, because all of the things Reed was writing about and describing could apply just as easily to 2020 as they could to 1992.
Sidebar: I'm curious about the editorial process of this book, and I wonder if Reed made any late-in-the-game revisions based on George Floyd's murder before the ARC was released. I'm not saying that nothing happened between 1992 and 2020 that could also have been read in a prescient context -- to do so would be woefully naive and also to have missed the whole point of the book -- just that the book's publication is very timely. Both 1992 and 2020 seem to represent these critical tipping points in time -- although, we haven't made as much progress as we should have.

Miscellaneous Thoughts:
✔︎ -- This might be a weird analogy, but I described the book to someone as "Clueless" meets "The Hate U Give" -- especially if Clueless had been told from Di's perspective. (I wonder if that was at play here...wondering about Di's POV, her backstory, how she felt other than "Cher's BFF.") Clueless would have been a little later, chronologically, but I think the comparison is apt.
✔︎ -- I did appreciate all the 90s nostalgia sprinkled throughout. It wasn't heavy-handed enough to make the book feel dated or inaccessible -- just references casually slid in, like Lunchables and Fruit Roll-Ups; Jordan's red Jersey; Ouija and Light-as-a-Feather played at sleepovers; the MUSIC. I would have been younger than Ashley in 1992, but it's still the 1990s, and it reminded me of my own adolescence.
✔︎ -- This book also made me very uncomfortable at times -- as I think it was intended to -- by making me face my own white privilege and how that's affected my life. It's not the point of the book -- that is, Reed doesn't explicitly call out white privilege -- but I think her subtle handling of it makes it more powerful.
✔︎ -- I also thought Reed did an excellent job handling the nuances and questioning of adolescence. The book is definitely more introspective and character-driven than it is plot-driven -- the entire course of the books takes place over a few days, but we spend a lot of time in Ashley's headspace -- and so we get to experience Ashley's thoughts as she does. There's a lot of questioning of friendships and the people you've known since childhood who have grown and changed, and how to handle that; there's a lot of questioning of choices and morality and good people who make bad choices. There's also a lot of accountability, with Ashley maturely taking responsibility for her actions which I think is so valuable in a YA book. (And she lets you know that it's an uncomfortable, shitty process, but if you want to truly be good, and have your actions reflect your beliefs, you've got to do the work.)
I also really appreciated how Reed wove in actions-and-consequences -- which, again, I think is really valuable for a YA audience. (For all audiences, actually.) I'm thinking in particular of the moment when she "starts the rumor" about Lashawn. She doesn't do it maliciously, and she doesn't do intentionally. It's almost like she has a thought -- one which is sparked by her emotional state -- voices it, and then watches it grow and take on a life of its own. It's more of a question than anything, but once it's out there, she can't take it back. And again, it's one of those moments which is more powerful than if she had started the rumor intentionally, out of spite, or jealousy, or malice.

Definitely a book I'll be returning to -- and definitely one I'll be buying to have on the shelf for my kids to read.

**I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a timely title as Americans are facing the reality of systemic racism and the Black Lives Matter movement. In 1992 Los Angeles the officers who brutally beat Rodney King are acquitted. Ashley is a senior and one of the Few Black kids at an elite private high school. Her best friends are white. Her parents have continually protected her from the realities of being Black in America. Her older sister Jo is far more aware. When the riots escalate, it is impossible to be untouched. As Ash navigates friendship, family, high school, and racism, she has to figure out who she is and what she stands for.

This timely YA novel reinforces the fact that the problems facing our country- particularly our Black population- have been going unchecked for far too long. This book should be part of every high school library and English classroom. It will certainly be in mine.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed was spectacular from start to finish. The novel follows Ashley as she navigates the normal drama of senior year (prom, boys, rumors, drama) and so so much more. Ashley has grown up with economic privilege and is one of the few Black students at her private school. Set in 1992 as LA experienced riots after the cops that beat Rodney King were acquitted,

This novel is so important. Even though it was set in 1992, it resonates with what is happening today. The characters (even minor characters) were so well-developed, and even though the novel predominately follows Ashley (as she is the narrator), I found myself anxiously waiting to return to other characters' storylines (like Lana, LaShawn, and Jo). The writing is beautiful - Reed accurately captures Ashley's frustrations of senior year (prom, boys) while also dealing with more serious ideas like the riots, issues about race, microaggressions, and the negative and harmful effects of rumors. The themes in the novel are powerful and relevant to teens today, and I cannot wait to have this novel in my library!

I received this ARC through NetGalley for an honest review.

The Black Kids is the coming-of-age story of Ashley, a 17 year old Black girl living in Los Angeles during the early 90s. Ashley has grown up with economic and social privilege, but she has to reconsider everything when the Rodney King verdict sparks riots and protests in LA.

I really loved this story. Ashley was such a rich and complex character, and she read like an authentic teenage girl. Despite the fact that this books takes place in 1992, many of the issues and sitautions adressed felt incredibly timely. I have a feeling many American teens will feel a connection to this book.

Other reviews addressed that the switch between past and present perspectives was confusing. I didn't find that to be the case. I liked that it read like how somwone might actually think.

I would definitely recommend this book for people who enjoyed The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, All-American Boys by Jason Reynolds, or American Street by Ibi Zoboi.

I was given advanced access to Christina Hammonds Reed’s The Black Kids from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

The prologue begins with Ashley’s father hosing the house to protect it from a wildfire and juxtaposes the congratulatory attitude of the postman with the questioning of the fireman and unfriendly subtle arrogance of the neighboring Parker family. This juxtaposition continues through Ashley relationship with her sister, her childhood friends, her parents, and Lucia.

As the story effortlessly progresses and Ashley learns about the Watt’s riots, has an eventful prom night, and reacts to causes of the LA riots, she becomes one of the Black kids (title connection) and sheds her privileged innocence. She is no longer Ashley a rich Black kid in a white school.

Through Ashley’s evolution, the author deftly handles aspects of the Black experience in America in an honest and respectful way. In so many ways, Ashley’s story is my story and the narrative and voice my Black and Brown students.

I am adding this book to my classroom library and plan to use it as a companion to Beowulf as we study heroes and demons, The Canterbury Tales as we analyze the root of evil and how people are not always who they appear to be, and finally Macbeth as we delve into the powerful and the powerless and how both writers weave history into their stories.

This was a pretty good debut novel that covers some very important and relevant issues. Although the story moved slowly at times and sometimes it felt like the author was trying to include everything, my final impression was that the author shows a lot of promise and I look forward to reading future books by her. I've been reading a number of fiction and non-fiction work recently that covers racial issues and while this may not be the best of the best, I liked how realistic it was. Ashley is a black girl who has been sheltered by her very wealthy parents because of how they grew up and all the problems they had to face because they were poor and black. They worked doubly hard to get to where they are and all they want to do is shelter her and her sister from as much as they can. Her older sister fights against that, even as she sees all the racial injustice around her. But she sees not only racial injustice, but injustices of any kind, especially classicism. Ashley knows she's privileged, and for awhile, she lives in a bubble where she can ignore the inequity, but little things sneak in, including words said by her best friends. But she's been taught by her parents that she needs to be smarter, stronger, faster, better, etc., than white people because she will never get a pass as a black person. So when things crop up, she often chooses to back down instead of making a fuss. Because as a black person AND a woman, she needs to make sure she's not too loud, too obnoxious, too angry, too big, too this, too that. This story takes place during the Rodney King trial and the LA riots, which definitely takes me back to that time period. I was in my "sheltered" place at the Claremont Colleges (which I was excited to hear Ashley mention), but my parents were in Covina and we were all relatively sheltered from the violence. My memory is a bit fuzzy about what my family thought about all of it, partly because I was definitely not as "woke" as I am now, and as many young people are today. I'm really glad this book exists today and I have to admit the cover really caught my eye as well. Besides racial injustice, this book mentions the AIDS epidemic, the haves vs the haves not, communism, being singled out by law enforcement and not being given the benefit of the doubt because of the color of your skin, the incarceration of black and brown bodies over white bodies, the Greenwood Tulsa Massacre (which I had never heard of), domestic abuse, suicide, and community. As I mentioned above, the author packs a LOT into this book, and sometimes it seems a bit overwhelming. But I applaud her for doing so, and using her voice to raise some of these issues to readers. I look forward to seeing what she'll write next.

Thanks to #ChristinaHammondsReed, #SimonandShusterChildrensPublishing, and #NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

What I liked best about this book:
- Ashley is a real person, complicated in her actions and thoughts, not fully likeable or sure of herself, reckless in an authentically teenage way.
- The use of the Rodney King trial and LA race riots of the 1990s as the setting of the story. Not only did it frame our current climate historically, but the 90s references made this book come alive. There is a presumed understanding of the history, so I could see student readers needing scaffolded support with background knowledge and research. I also appreciate how the Tulsa massacre was referenced in flashback.

I did feel like some things were missing... I wanted more to understand the mother of the story. And I wanted a bit more about Jo, the sister. Her story seemed so fraught with tension and unknown to me. I want her to be okay.