Thank you, NetGalley for the eArc copy to read and review!

I liked this book a lot and enjoyed the character Ashley and the way it addressed her identity and she was discovering more about who she was completely. The book deals with casually racism she faces from her friends on a regular basis and she had to seem cool with it so that they wouldn't stop being her friend. I liked being in Ashley's head and her perspective.

I also love Ashley's sister, Jo, and wished there was even more development of her character.

This is one of the books I'm hearing a lot of people talk about, and I really enjoyed it as a kid who grew up in that era and really seeing a bigger picture now, I think it really speaks to 2020 and issues that we are dealing with and the fact that they are not new.

I would definitely recommend this book and think it would make a great book club book. I think it could create a lot of great discussions.

Wow, this was such a thought-provoking book for me. I remember this time and the riots that occurred after the Rodney King verdict and how we were shocked that those officers got off after what they did. For Ashley, the main character, she lives in two worlds. She has white friends and spends most of her time putting up with their racist comments just so feels like she belongs. She also feels as though she should spend more time with her fellow black students but she doesn’t feel quite like she belongs with them either.

The Black Kids is a story that will stay with you and I can’t stop thinking about what would have happened if this country had taken a hard look at itself when the Rodney King incident happened. This event should have brought the hard discussions about police brutality and systemic racism that are currently taking place right now after the death of George Floyd but it didn’t. Things settled down after the L.A. Riots and it was swept under the rug like every other time police brutality was brought to light. The systemic racism that currently plagues this country continued on until it finally reached a breaking point with George Floyd, 28 years later. It is time for all of us to finally judge people, not on their skin color, but the quality of their character. This won’t happen overnight but having these conversations and calling out racism when we see it is a good place to start.

The Black Kids showed the systemic racism that Ashley and her family dealt with everyday due to the color of their skin and how life changed afterwards. This book shows Ashley journey as she dealt with this and the riots that were taking place just a few miles from her. This was a great story and I can’t stop thinking about how relevant this book is in today’s world. Can’t wait to see what is next for this talented author.

'The Black Kids' is a amazing story that I urge everyone to read. It has so many lessons, it especially focuses on an issue that's still prevalent in today's society. Ashley is the protagonist of 'The Black Kids'. She's always known for letting their little jokes go over her head. Ashley lived a privileged life so she really hasn't faced an injustices as well as her sister Jo. Jo has the right idea of fighting for injustice, but does she really know what those injustices are despite being privileged as well? All they both really know are parties and good times with their friends.

While Ashley and her friends are in their own worlds, in the real world you have the Rodney King riots and trials going on. For those that don't know who Rodney King is, Rodney King was a black American man who was brutally beaten by the LAPD after a high speed chase during his arrest for drunk driving. After the video went viral on news in the media. After the officers were acquitted major riots and protests broke out. It was complete and utter chaos. This painful situation is starting to awaken something in her.

Ashley was never a stupid girl, but I felt she needed some enlightenment and to see something that would open her eyes. I loved seeing her grow from naive young girl to a enlightened adult. Learning about racial injustices, dealing with secrets, and other issues that are impacting her personal life, family, and friendships. Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

As a child of this generation, it was so interested to read a story from an experience that was very different from my own. The writing was great and I really enjoyed the story.

This book is absolutely amazing and I recommend everyone to put down whatever they are reading to read this. This book is set during the time of the 1992 Los Angeles Riots and follows a wealthy teenage girl, Ashley Bennett as she goes through senior year of high school. Throughout this book, she struggles with her own identity, race, social class, violence, living through the riots, real friends, and honestly so much more. Without giving spoilers, I feel that this book is an accurate depiction of someone during their teenage years and gives an appropriate response to the variety of issues Ashley faces throughout the book. This book was such a good read and something that could easily be seen in the events currently happening these past few months.

I loved how Reed accurately addressed the issues that the Black community faces but also the issues within the community. When I say this book has layers, it has layersssss that you will be peeling it off for days.

I absolutely loved this book. I love the way that it addresses all these different things, but what struck me the most was the way that Ashley had to deal with so many things in order to fit in with her group of friends. They were casually racist on a regular basis and she had to seem cool with it so that they wouldn't stop being her friend. The whole book was a sort of meditation on the idea of "us" and "them," but Ashley had several different "us" groups. It's a very hard balancing act.

I also love Ashley's sister, Jo. She is more of an activist and it makes Ashley uncomfortable. Even so, as the book progresses, we start to see Ashley take more of an interest. (Although part of that is that it's hard to stay neutral when you see someone who looks like you beaten to the point of brain damage and then see the people who did it walk away without any sort of reckoning for that brutality.)

This is one of the books I'm hearing a lot of people talk about, and the hype is so deserved.

I've also been watching documentaries about the 1992 LA riots and the thing that struck me was how little I knew about what happened. (I was 12 at the time). I saw the video of Rodney King being beaten but I didn't know anything about Latasha Harlins' murder (she was at a convenience store and was murdered by the store owner's wife, who claimed that she was going to shoplift orange juice; witnesses contradicted that and the video showed that Latasha had money in her hand and also showed that Latasha had turned away and was trying to leave when she was shot in the back of the head). That was in March of 1991; the trial was in November of that same year. A jury found the woman guilty and recommended the maximum possible punishment but the judge didn't accept that. Instead, she sentenced her to five years' probation, 400 hours of community service and a $500 fine. The verdict was appealed but ended up being upheld a week before the riots started.

I ALSO didn't know that the cops who brutally beat Rodney King were acquitted of all charges. I knew that they got off on all the major ones, but I thought they were found guilty of lesser things. Nope. So after all of this (and decades of other abuses), of course something was going to happen. Most of this isn't discussed in the book for more than cursory background, but it was important to know. (If you want to learn more, I recommend LA 92 and the Showtime documentary Burn, Motherfucker, Burn.)

Highly recommended.

Thank you Simon and Schuster for a complimentary copy. I voluntarily reviewed this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

The Black Kids
By: Christina Hammonds Reed


REVIEW ☆☆☆☆
I am fortunate to review The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed as part of the Simon and Schuster book tour. First, I must mention the striking dazzling cover art. What a wow factor! Now, as for the story, I was just a bit younger than our heroine, Ashley, in 1992. I do remember watching the L.A. riots on television and feeling terrified and confused over what caused this madness. I knew about what happened to Rodney King and the acquittal of four police officers, but knowing and understanding are very different things. This story is eye opening, shocking and informative to someone like me, a white woman. I cannot speak to Ashley's emotional experiences, but I can imagine the events going on around her. Ashley is a privileged black high school senior without a care in the world, other than getting into college, that is. Because of her family's wealth, Ashley attends a mostly white private school. Her friends are white, and occasional racial slurs and judgments are no big deal to them. Ashley brushes such things off because, what else can she do? Speak up for herself? Not likely. Essentially, Ashley has been sheltered. In 1992, the acquittal of four police officers accused of killing Rodney King was followed by riots in L.A. Now, as Ashley sees the world as it really is, she realizes that she doesn't know who she is or where she belongs. She is suddenly one of The Black Kids, and this realization turns her grey world to black and white. Her friends, their jokes, small injustices previously ignored are not so innocuous anymore. Ashley is a color instead of a person. She began as a sort of silly teenager, but everything changes to a much more serious tone as the story progresses. Ashley sees the racism, classism and discrimination all around her. Once you witness something life changing such as this, you will never be the same person as before, and Ashley is in this place of knowing. Where does she belong? What is her heritage? There are many ways to classify this story in relation to current societal issues: timely, relevant, ironic, coincidental, universal, important, overarching, unchanging, mirroring, identical, and on and on. It is all of this and more. From 1992 to 2020, it doesn't seem like society has learned much. Racism, discrimination, classism and elitism still exist just the same. I understand that a white woman and a black woman will not read The Black Kids in the same way. We have lived different lives. Each will have a different experience with the story and take from it different things. It is my sincere hope that people of all colors will read this book and take something positive from the pages-a bit of wisdom, history, whatever you want to call it-and apply it to real life. Progress, however small, is still progress. Read this book. You will not regret it. The Black Kids captures a stunning time in our nation's history and its far reaching effects on one young woman. This book is a good reminder that history will keep repeating until the human race learn from their mistakes.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed was a great read. It was featured as Book of the Day on all my social media platforms.

This book is heavy but we need books like this and I’m so happy I was given the chance to read.

I was a child when the riots in LA happened and had no clue about Latasha Harlins until I read this book now. She was killed over orange juice.

This book also tackles colorism in the Black community which really needs to stop. All shades are beautiful. Period.

Dealing with racist neighbors which I have had plenty of experiences with after moving to the suburbs. I’ll never forget when I got my first car and the neighbors thought I was selling drugs since that’s the only way “you can afford a car like that” and it’s mind blowing since they knew me from the age of 12/13.

Ashley is trying to find her identity amongst the riots. Her parents keep her sheltered but at the same time they are also hurting her because she doesn’t know about her history. I get that her parents want them to have a “new start” but you shouldn’t be ashamed of your past and everything that comes with it. Ashley also has a friend that loves to say the “n” word and that is something that all Black people in my opinion have dealt with. They use the “I’m not racist because I have black friends” excuse and that really needs to stop.

Reed has written a very thought provoking story and I feel everyone should read this book even if they aren’t the intended audience. I learned and related so much while reading and it’s nice to see books like this being written especially during our current times. This book discusses a lot of topics and for some readers it may seem like a lot but for us Black people this is what we deal with on a routine and regular basis.


Content warnings:
Mental health issues.
Mentions of suicide in a non graphic way.

This synopsis and that cover had me clamoring to get my greedy hands on this book.

I really liked Ashley. She’s smart and driven and slightly sheltered in a way she didn’t completely realize. Her growth while the story unfolded was fantastic and I truly enjoyed reading her find her voice and happiness. There are a good amount of characters, but this story is Ashley’s.

Plot wise, it was captivating. Of course it’s heartbreaking to read things that took place over 25 years ago and find so many similarities to current events. It isn’t all heaviness, though. There are some bright spots in new friendships, sweet boys, and family bonding.

Overall, this book is much better than I know how to put into words and I feel like this review is inadequate.

**Huge thanks to Simon & Schuster BYFR for providing the arc free of charge**

The Black Kids was so hard to read at times, but also so good. Please be aware that the N word is in there quite a bit. I struggle to even read that word, but I'm not sure how anyone else feels about it.

Ashley and her sister, Jo, are black kids raised in a rich, white area in LA. Things have been easier for them in a sense, but they also see racism all over. Jo fights it, but Ashley tends to excuse it. The trial for Rodney King was happening early in the book with protests and riots starting. Ashley sees it, but I don't think she quite got it.

A lot of this book is Ashley's life and growth. Her best friends are all white. She has a nanny, Lucia, who helped raise her and still takes care of her. If Ashley is in trouble, she calls Lucia. There are a lot of flashbacks that show how Ashley's friends really are, especially her best friend. She excused it even when it made her uncomfortable. Ashley's senior year was going well, but now she's noticing things more. She made a mistake which we find out about later in the book (but it's pretty obvious right away). There are a handful of black kids in her school, but she never spends time with them. She sees them protesting and being vocal, but I think she was afraid to walk away from the group she thought she loved to join in with them. Ashley's eyes really start to open up once she finds herself surrounded by the things happening in LA. She finds out secrets about her family and their history. And her sister gets herself in trouble, too.

While this book was very serious and covered a lot of heavy topics, I have to say the 90's references were fun. 1992 was my freshmen year, so I remembered everything. Even Sweating to the Oldies which I admit to doing. A lot.

I gave this book 4 stars. Thank you to SimonTeen for my review copies (earc and physical arc).

Warnings for racism, homophobic comments/actions, sex, drugs, teenage drinking, police brutality, lynching, fire, talk of suicide. Definitely heavy topics.

Set in 1992, Christina Hammonds Reed’s debut novel, is as relevant today as 1992 when the novel is set in Los Angeles. Ashley is a privileged Black teenager looking forward to graduating from high school. She’s been able to do things many other Black kids. Then the police officers who on are trial for beating Rodney King are acquitted, and she is forced to reexamine who she is. This is a story of personal growth during a time when justice did not seem possible for all…so it’s very relevant today. Its also a story of friendship and taking responsibility.

3.5 stars. This suffered a little bit from my own expectations. I expected this to be more about the riots - something along the line of I'M NOT DYING WITH YOU TONIGHT. Instead, this is a look at Ashley and her life at this moment in time. The riots impact her relationships and her family and also push her to take a closer look at her racial identity. But there's a ton of other stuff going on at the same time - senior year tasks and activities, family drama, a rumor she starts and the fall out, etc. The timeline jumps around at times - like a question is asked, backstory is dropped in, and the question isn't answered until the next section. It's a stylistic thing that didn't always click for me. I would go back and try to figure out where the answer to the question was only to discover that it hadn't been given yet.

I believe if readers go into this expecting that the riots are a backdrop or context for a personal story about Ashley, they will be satisfied. It's a meaty YA story with layers of things going on as Ashley anticipates graduation and the next steps in her life while also gaining insight into her identity and her friendships and her family relationships. The racial issues spotlighted in the Rodney King verdict and the subsequent rioting will raise important questions for Ashley to have to work through, but those aren't the only questions she will face through the course of the story.
(Language, off-page sex, drug/alcohol/cigarette use, LGBTQ+: M/M couple, F/F flirting and kissing, TW: Abuse, suicide)

This book blew me away. It was by turns great fun, grippingly serious, and heart-rending, and author Christina Hammonds Reed managed to balance all of this extremely well. The writing itself was immersive with frequent touches of brilliance--I never got snagged on the phrasing, but various sentences stood out for their poetic brilliance. I am by no means an own voices reviewer (very white lady here), but I do think this would be a great book to assign high school and college students to teach them about the Rodney King riots, the Tulsa Massacre, and the ways that the BLM has its roots in decades and centuries of brutality and oppression in this country, but teach it in a relatable, YA-centric, non-didactic way. Somehow it's also often such a fun read a lot of the time too, which...how did Hammonds Reed manage that?! I hope it gets adapted into a TV series...

A fabulous coming of age books set during the time of the LA riots, with all the feels of today current social climate as well. An important YA read.

This book was so much more than I expected it to be. I finished the book 2 weeks ago and I am still thinking about how the author was able to cover so many social commentaries in one books and stilll tie it to the story and make it seamless. The MC is not someone I love or hate, very indifferent towards her and that fits because at a lot of pints in the book she is indifferent and detached for what’s happening around her. I can not wait to post my YouTube review of this book.

Coming of age story set in the 1990s with the Rodney King riots in the background. There is a lot going on in this book. We follow Ashley and her teenage friends through the trials and tribulations of high school during this time. Very realistic portrayal of teens.

This book is one of my favorites this year and could not put it down. I also want to give a huge shout out to Simon and Schuster and Hear Our Voices for putting this copy in my hands and many other POC reviewers.



Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, this unforgettable coming-of-age debut novel explores issues of race, class, and violence through the eyes of a wealthy black teenager whose family gets caught in the vortex of the 1992 Rodney King Riots.

Los Angeles, 1992

Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of senior year and they’re spending more time at the beach than in the classroom. They can already feel the sunny days and endless possibilities of summer.

Everything changes one afternoon in April, when four LAPD officers are acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King half to death. Suddenly, Ashley’s not just one of the girls. She’s one of the black kids.

As violent protests engulf LA and the city burns, Ashley tries to continue on as if life were normal. Even as her self-destructive sister gets dangerously involved in the riots. Even as the model black family façade her wealthy and prominent parents have built starts to crumble. Even as her best friends help spread a rumor that could completely derail the future of her classmate and fellow black kid, LaShawn Johnson.

With her world splintering around her, Ashley, along with the rest of LA, is left to question who is the us? And who is the them?


We follow a black girl name Ashley during the Rodney King 1992 Riots. She is a wealthy black girl and a senior in an all white school. She has a pretty small circle of white friends she grew up with. She learns that her friends that she grew up with have never been her true friends. The officers have just been acquitted for the murder of Rodney King and the city is now up in flames. All while this is going on her grandmother’s store in a danger of being looted and her family holds the secret to her grandmother’s death. Ashley is now trying to find herself and connect with being her authentic self.

I absolutely loved Ashley’s sister Jo. She is the complete opposite of Ashley. She’s fearless, strong and stands up for what she believes in. She’s woke! She also gets involved with the riots and Ashley doesn’t seem to understand why and worried for her safety. I really love how she was portrayed in this story, because it’s the strength that I wish I have as black woman.

“Protesting isn’t suppose to be easy. Revolution isn’t easy. Not when you’re’trying to dismantle an entire system.”

As kids we make mistakes, but learning from them and dealing with the problem head on was a very great point in this book. Ashley made a mistake by saying something around other people which gave them leverage to use. Sometimes surrounding yourself around good and honest people can help you with your struggles and that’s exactly what Lana does for Ashley. I really loved the growing friendship between these two characters.


I personally related to Ashley’s character and her struggles with accepting who she is and I loved seeing how much she has grown in this book. I also know what it’s like to go to an all white school and having white people question my blackness. I know what it’s like having to be two completely different people. I know what it’s like allowing white people to be racist or to say the N word because 1. I wanted to continue to fit in and 2. Didn’t know how to tell them that it offended me. At times they would excuse their behavior because they have “Black friends.” I even get made fun of by Black people because I’m not Black enough in their eyes and feel like I always have to prove myself. So, when I’m around my Black friends I act and talk a certain way and it’s the same thing with my White friends. I still don’t know how to just be my authentic self because I’m afraid of people judging me.

“We have to walk around being perfect all the time just to be seen as human. Don’t you ever get tired of being a symbol? Don’t you ever just want to be human.”

I also know what it’s like to be called the “N” word by a white person, and to be completely honest I didn’t think it would have such an effect on me they way it did and still effects me to this day. To see the disgust in this mans face and to hear the hate in the word, mad me angry, upset and overall sad. I went home and cried like a baby for hours. I had so many questions that night, but only one stuck out- Why does the color of my skin offend you so much? And I don’t think we’ll ever know.

The Black Kids was beautifully written. It is important and relevant book to read especially now and the recent murder of George Floyd. I would highly suggest everyone to read it and would also love to see this book in school classrooms.

“A riot is the language of the unheard.” – Martin Luther King Jr.

The Black Kids is an excellent realistic YA novel set in the 1990s during the Rodney King riots. Ashley is a complex protagonist who struggles with feeling out of place at her private school and wealthy neighborhood, while also feeling like she doesn't fit in with the Black community within her school. I loved the juxtaposition of Ashley, her sister Jo--who is social justice-oriented and heavily involved in the protests--as well as their cousin Morgan, who has had a far less privileged upbringing.

The Black Kids is a slice-of-life novel in the context of the Rodney King riots; it follows Ashley as she navigates questions of self, friendship, romance, sisterhood, and her future while also processing the racially charged events around her. I loved that this novel deals heavily with sisterhood and with questing friendships that you've had for years. This book also touches on intergenerational trauma and mental health, which is so important to see in YA.

I'll definitely be buying a copy for my library and will be recommending it to fans of The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, Let Me Hear a Rhyme by Tiffany D. Jackson, Who Put This Song On? by Morgan Parker, and I'm Dying With You Tonight by Gilly Segal & Kimberly Jones.

CW: this book contains scenes of police brutality as well as racist slurs.

It’s 1992 in Los Angeles and Ashley Bennett is oh so close to finishing her senior year. The year is shaping up to be like any other (with Ashley spending more time on the beach than in class) but that all changes after an act of extreme violence creates a rift between the people of LA. Four LA police officers were acquitted after beating a black man named Rodney King nearly to death, and now the world seems to be splitting in two over what should be done. Suddenly, Ashley is one of the “black kids,” a role which leaves her questioning her life long friendships. As the protests become more and more volatile, Ashley’s world starts to crumble around her. She’s forced to confront both her family’s past and her present life, as she tries to figure out what it means to be a “black kid” in a time of political upheaval.

You can get your copy of The Black Kids on August 4th from Simon and Schuster!

Christina Hammonds Reed created an absolute must read for teens and adults today! The Black Kids is a poignant and hard-hitting novel, especially relevant in today’s world. So many of the issues brought up in the story are directly reflective of the causes currently being fought for across the country. The Black Kids is a story that needed to be told; I am so grateful to have gotten to review this book.

My Recommendation-
If you’ve been searching for a book to read that can relate to today’s Black Lives Matter movement, you absolutely must pick up The Black Kids. Full of strong characters discovering the many facets of their identities, this book should be on the top of your TBR!