Ashley is a teenage girl growing up in Los Angeles in the 90’s. Her family is upper class and sends her to a school that is predominantly white . Being one of the blacks in the school her experiences are different then a lot of the other students. Los Angeles is also dealing with the fallout of the Rodney King Verdict and the riots that are taking place. These riots have a direct impact on Ashley’s family as her grandmothers store is destroyed by looters and rioters. Ashley must navigate her relationships with her family, friends as well as continuing to learn about her family history and her race.
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I really enjoyed this book, growing up as a teenager in the 90’s it brought me back to some of my own experiences in high school. I also really liked the musical references mentioned in the book as I am a huge music fan and love 90’s music. This book is about racism, Black families, classism, white privilege & identity. I encourage everyone to read it, although it takes place in the ‘90’s it’s such a timely book.

This is a coming-of-age story set in 1992 during the Rodney King trial and the LA Riots. With this debut, Christina Hammonds Reed shows the tensions of the time and addresses many issues that are still pertinent today - systemic racism, micro and macroaggression, Black identity and white privilege.

The story centres around Ashley, a teenager who is one of the few Black kids at her predominantly white private school and has led a very sheltered life. Through her eyes we witness the microaggressions from her white friends, how the LA Riots affect her immediate family as well as her extended family who live in the neighbourhoods experiencing the riots.

There were parts of this book that were amazing, particularly the issues addressed and the different POVs that were included. I also liked that the story focused on a well-to-do Black teen who doesn't directly experience the Riots, yet feels their effects through those around her. But the story fell flat for me with its slow pacing and the muddled feel when the story repeatedly jumped back and forth from past to present. I was also hoping for more depth in Ashley's relationships with her family.

This book is compared to The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas and it addresses similar issues but I'd say with less grit, tension and character development than THUG. The Black Kids concludes on an encouraging note and will hopefully push teens to learn more about the LA Riots and how these same issues continue to influence our Black communities 28 years later.

Disclaimer: My sincere thanks to the publisher for providing me with a complimentary digital copy of this title in exchange for my honest review.

4.5 stars - This book is extremely important and needs to be read by YA readers everywhere. This is a brilliant coming-of-age book, taking place in 1992 but really, could have taken place in 1962 and 2020 - only furthering the impact that this book will have on its readers. In just over 360 pages, this books tackles racism, privilege, feminism in addition to depicting the trials and tribulations of a young teenager. Ashley's snarky inner monologue was refreshing - even though she was a lost, flawed and scared teenage girl. The writing was simple but impactful, I was highlighting quotes on every page. There were certain parts in the plot where I almost cried for how meaningful the lines were but also because Ashley's voice was so authentic to the character, I felt like she was my friend. I think Reed handle the scenes dealing with racism, racial profiling and police brutality perfectly. She also painted a really hopeful ending for the main character (even if it was not necessarily the happiest of endings). I really, really enjoyed it.

Thank you to Netgalley, Christina Hammond Reed, and Simon and Schuster Canada for sending me a copy of this story in exchange for an honest review.

Wow. I feel like this book is much needed right now. It is a story of truth, unfairness, racism, fighting back, and so much more.

Sisters Ashley and Jo are complete opposites. Ashley is without the passion her sister has for fighting back, fighting for what is right, and taking chances no matter the consequences. Ashley is Lost, figuring out who she is, making mistake after mistake along the way. She is also the only black girl in her group of friends, which gives a very interesting perspective in this story.

Very well written, and taking place in the time of Rodney King, this story is one not to be passed over. Riots, fires, protests, a fight dying and those trying their best to keep it going. I highly recommend this story and don’t want to go into too many of my thoughts for fear of spoiling!!! Go out and get yourself this one!!!

1992 growing up during the Los Angeles riots. For Ashley and Jo growing up in a affluent neighborhood not exposed to racism but soon it came out with the riots and Ashley facing it with her high school friends.
The ending came fast and felt empty like it was rushed.
Thank you! Netgalley, Simon & Schuster Young Reader and Christina Hammond Reed for this early arc in exchange of an honest review

Rep: Black representation, LGBTQIA+

TW: racism, violence, rioting

Wow. This book packs a punch. Told from the perspective of Ashley Bennett in 1992, this story explores an authentic teenage experience, while also tackling difficult subjects such as systemic racism and privilege. The story perfectly captures Ashley’s struggles with trying to belong with her non-Black friends while feeling guilty about not embracing her Black culture more. She struggles with her privilege and her desire to run away from complicated issues, while acknowledging that ignoring the problem doesn’t solve anything. Watching her observe, grow, and change through her experiences was incredible; the author just did such a fantastic job and avoided all cliches. This novel was gritty, powerful, and evocative – I cannot recommend it enough! It deserves all the hype it can get, so if you’re looking for an amazing ownvoice read, please give this one a shot!

"If there's no justice for one of us, there's no justice for any of us"

We have to change the system.

Set during the period of 1990s when the community was demanding justice for Rodney King, The Black Kids follows a high school senior Ashley, who is in a bubble at the beginning of the book, but as in life, begins to grow and think about her place in the world, as the story progresses.

Ashley is well off and attends a predominately white school, and while her life is far away from the events of Rodney King the issue of racism is very present in her life as she navigates the world around her.

There was so much about this book that I loved, Ashley’s inner dialogue was so full of personality that it really allowed me to understand her more deeply as a person. The story was so on time and indicative to what’s happening around the world today. Although Rodney King incident happened 30 years ago, little to nothing has changed and I think that’s the real story here. That at the end of the day Ashley and all kids like her will always be seen and labeled as one of the ‘Black kids’.

This book tackled some serious issues, issues we continue to tackle as a culture and community, but I love that the author wrote in such a sensitive and authentic way.

Well-written and thought-provoking read.

An excellent read and one I believe would be a great discussion opener for high school students. Ashley is in her senior year at a private high school, her friends are white, she is black. She has always had white friends and lives in a white, fairly prosperous neighborhood. It is 1992 and Los Angeles, the brutal death of Rodney King has sparked riots, demanding justice. Ashley’s life takes a turn, now she becomes recognizable as one of “The Black Kids”. (Reminiscent of the riots of today!). Her wayward sister gets involved with the rioting, life is not the same anymore.

A book filled with emotions, friendships, family, racism, loyalty and disloyalty, romance, and it goes on, a page turner you will find hard to forget. Highly recommended, particularly for youth, but also an excellent read for adults. 4.5 stars

For the full review: https://fictionfixerreads.wordpress.com/2020/07/25/arc-review-the-black-kids/

The Black Kids is a nuanced and raw look at racism and the systems that perpetuate it. While The Black Kids is set in the 90s, in the middle of the Rodney King riots, the event frames the narrative and the experiences that the characters go through. The event isn’t just mentioned for the sake of a namedrop or nostalgia, but rather, it emphasizes how complicated it is to be a Black person in the middle of racial tensions, issues, revolutions, riots, etc. The Black Kids also explores social justice from an interesting point of view, which interlaces the complexities of class privilege with sexism, racism, intergenerational trauma, and so much more.
It offers a perspective that calls us to challenge and unlearn our own biases and prejudices, without being on-the-nose. It’s complicated, messy, multifaceted, and grounded–nothing is presented as easy and perfect. The subject matter and social issues set in the 90s that are still relevant today are presented in an understandable and memorable way.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/3450228594

For a first novel, this is exceptional. An exploration of family, class, systemic racism and growing up-this story’s imperfect protagonist grabbed me from the first page. The story takes place during the Los Angeles Riots in 1992- which was fascinating to revisit especially given the current context. I personally found it incredibly sad to see how few social changes have been made since then. The story is more character than plot driven so the pacing may be slow for some. Also there are several plot points that may disturb some teen readers. Yet, I think that this timely story would be fabulous entry point to explore anti-racism concepts with teens. I will be purchasing a copy for our LLC and recommending this. Thank-you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for this advanced copy.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for an arc of this book!

Me, being the idiot I am, very briefly skimmed the synopsis and completely missed the fact that this book takes place in the 90s lol, so for a part of it I was very confused why walkmans were a thing, and why no one was on social media, or had cellphones. So don't be like me, and actually read the synopsis.

Reading this book was an experience. Seeing how closely our present lives mirror that of people in 1992 was eerie and sad. To think that it's been 28 years since the LA Uprising, and the world has learned nothing since then. It's horrifying and awful, and this book really goes to show how much has stayed the same. I'm really glad I picked this one up right now, not just because of everything going on in the US right now, but also because it was quite eye-opening. I had never heard of the LA Uprising, and the more I read, the more I got to learn, as our main character Ashely learns about what is happening.

One thing I did like about this book is the unique perspective. Ashley is a privileged Black girl. Her parents have worked hard and tried their best to shield her and her sister from the kind of childhood they had, and so she grows up aware, yet unaware of the true brutalities and difficulties that other Black people face. Her friends are all white and she lets their racist comments slide by because she's trying to fit in and not make a big deal about everything. Her sister, on the other hand, grew up more aware, and chose to educate herself about what was going on in different parts of the world, as well as in her own backyard. And throughout the book we see the tension between the two sisters as Ashely tries to tell Jo to stop trying to fix things and protest and just come home.

This isn't a perspective that I've read about before. Most books I've read that centre on Black stories, feature main characters who are right in the middle of it. But despite that, we still see that Ashley does experience things that white people don't (the stares, the comments, the slurs), yet she's also fortunate because she has money and can afford to go to a private school and have access to better education.

I really enjoyed seeing Ashley's relationship develop with LaShawn and Lana, and how she starts to see her friends for who they really are. Also, her closeness to Lucia was so heartwarming and I loved seeing how they spend time together. We also learn so much more about Ashley's family, most of which she was unaware of. It highlighted a history that I know I haven't learned as a Canadian, but I'm sure many people in the US haven't either.

Overall, I do recommend this one, and I also suggest learning more about the LA Uprising after you finish reading it. I wish the book had a little afterwards explaining more about what happened in 1992 and why the author chose to write about this specific event, but other than that, this was a pretty great read. I don't think I loved the writing style, but it didn't take away from the story. Besides that, my only other complaint is that parts of it did read slow and it felt like not a lot was happening. For a book under 400 pages, it did take me longer to get through than I was expecting.

This takes place in 1992 during the Rodney King riots.
Sadly, it could have been set in 1965, or even today since so little has changed in all these years.
The characters & writing felt a little flat for such a prominent subject matter, but the heart is there.
Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster Canada for my DRC.

One of the most obvious and alarming things I took away from this book is just how little things have changed with regard to systemic racism since 1992.

The Black Kids, is a true coming of age story (which in and of itself is so very 90's) taking place in LA in 1992, during the uproar throughout the city regarding Rodney King and the police brutality he experience and the following trial and verdict. Following black teen, Ashley, growing up in an affluent family, at a posh school, with an extremely filtered lens on life compared to most black kids her age. All of her friends are white, she doesn't seem to identify at all with the handful of other black kids at her school and the microaggressions doled out by her friends toward her mostly go unnoticed. Until, with the help of the community outrage and her activist sister, Jo, she starts to see her life, family and friendships in a whole new light.

The pace of this story is definitely on the slower side, focused mostly on character development and less on action but I couldn't put it down. It touches on not only racism but also privilege, identity and family dynamics. There were so many references to 90's songs that I loved and should this be made into a movie or series the soundtrack would be so amazing. It must be mentioned that the cover of this book is phenomenal. This is such a relevant and important read that I highly recommend!

I really enjoyed this book! Set in 1992 during the Rodney King riots, the main character Ashley learns that being raised in a wealthy family and attending a "good" high school does not matter, she's still one of the Black kids. As the story unfolds, Ashley, her sister Josephine and her parents are affected by what is happening in their community in different ways. It's also a coming of age story; Ashley begins to discover why her parents made the choices they did, why her sister needed to protest, and who her true friends are. This story will make you seriously think about how little has changed for the Black community, they are still being profiled, questioned, and the brutality suffered at the hands of the police makes no sense.

I absolutely loved this book. I couldn’t put it down! Read it in a day and a half. I highly recommend it!!

Raw, compelling, and painfully real, THE BLACK KIDS immerses the reader in 1992 Los Angeles at the time of the Rodney King riots, and the mind of a 17-year-old black girl searching for her identity. Despite Ashley's deceptively flippant narration at the beginning, it's not a simple story: the memories and impressions she shares double back on themselves, and what looks straightforward at first proves to be anything but. Masterfully written and packed with telling details, this book not only opens a window into historical events that many white readers know little about, it challenges readers to acknowledge the prejudice, injustice, and generational anguish that even wealthy and seemingly privileged black girls like Ashley can't escape.

Content: realistic profanity and vulgarity, mentions of graphic violence, and mature themes.

Where, oh where do I start?

This is hands-down one of the best books I've read this year. It's also the type of book where you sit down when you're done, and you just kind of stare into space for a bit, feeling sad that it's over but better for having read it.

The Black Kids is a beautiful and sometimes painful coming-of-age story that follows Ashley, one of only a small number of Black girls in her high school. Sheltered from racism and inequality as much as possible by her parents, she grows up mostly only knowing life in her upper class neighborhood and her high school where her white friends tell her she isn't too "Blackity-Black". She begins to see and understand the wide chasm between her life and the life of other Black families in L.A. during the 1992 riots that follow the acquittal of the four cops charged with the beating of Rodney King. The chapters show us Ashley's changing views of the world, her growth, and her desire to understand her family's background.

Not only was the prose in this story beautiful, it filled me with an incredible nostalgia. I was almost the same age as Ashley in 1992 and I recognized the pop culture references, the fashions, and - era aside - the feeling of having your whole life lying in front of you.

The story felt incredibly real to me, the characters were all three-dimensional people that you may have known yourself in the throes of high school, and the ending was a perfect balance between completing the story while still leaving me to wish there were 500 more pages so I could follow Ashley's life even longer.

This is Christina Hammonds Reed's debut novel but I'm sure this is not going to be her last one. I am an instant fan and can't wait to read whatever else she writes.

This book hits shelves on August 4th; do yourself a favor and get your hands on it immediately. It is absolute magic and a wonderful book.

I remember the Rodney King beating and the ensuing LA riots and will pass along this book for my daughter to read to give her perspective into this time period along with what is going on in the world right now. I enjoyed this book although did find it getting a bit long by the end. I had originally picked up this book because of it being marketed to fans of the Hate U Give. This book was more of a coming to age book than one about police brutality – the LA riots being more in the background of the book. Thank you to Simon and Schuster and netgalley for the ARC.

Christina Hammonds Reed’s debut novel The Black Kids has been compared to the wonderful books The Hate U Give (Angie Thomas) and Dear Martin (Nic Stone). People will compare it to the 2020 George Floyd death & riots, but this YA book is about the 1992 Rodney King riots. What all these topics have in common is Black Lives Matter and they will help get young people talking.

Reed weaves the past and present in this coming of age historical fiction drama, about a war between the world and racism. Sad that some of our history has come back to repeat itself.
As readers, it makes us wonder the fundamental question right now: Is anything different this time?
What can we do different this time to make lasting change?

Thank you #netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This read was a slow one for me. Not for reasons one might think.
At first, I’ll admit I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. Once I got more into the fabulous character development and depth I began to connect more.
It remained a slow read because it made me sad, it made me uncomfortable, it opened my mind. It made me think.
It was a read so close to our current ugly reality, making it difficult for me to get through at times.
Reminding me that I will never fully understand. That I am privileged.
However I stand and recommend this very important YA read to readers young and old. We could all use a reminder to open our hearts and our minds.
I want to thank @netgalley and @simonandschuster for the ecopy ARC. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity. I learned from reading this book.