Los Angeles, 1992. Four cops are acquitted in the beating of Rodney King. Los Angeles is on fire. And Ashley Bennett is just trying to go on with her life.

The Black Kids doesn’t read like the typical YA novel. It jumps back and forth between present day and flashbacks of Ash’s life that give context to the rest of the story. Ash is messy and impulsive and a little selfish and that comes through in her narration. It makes it feel less like Christina Hammonds Reed is telling a story through Ash and more like Ashley Bennett is actually sitting there telling us her story.

Even though this story takes place in 1992, it is obviously still very timely. A lot of history is also covered -- everything from Black Wall Street to how palm trees were first brought to LA -- making this important for younger readers.

Some parts of the book were incredibly emotional, especially in the second part, and I had to take a break from reading for a little while. Reed came so hard with all that truth and really reflected what it’s like to grow up as a Black woman in the US.

A lot of other readers have been comparing this to Dear Martin and The Hate U Give, and I think that’s a true comparison, but it also deserves to stand on its own and not be compared to whatever other popular YA social justice book.

**Review to be posted on blog on 7/16/20**

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and NetGalley for giving me a chance to read this eARC.

I had to request this book because of the cover and it’s subject matter. It did not disappoint!

My Reactions:

My Attention: caught

World Building: Los Angeles, California 1992

Writing Style: slow beginning but the message is strong

Bringing the Heat: 🔥 the heat of the riots – yes, the sex or romantic scenes, not so much

Crazy in Love: not so crazy, there is a growing relationship but it’s in the second half of the story

Creativity: during the Rodney King riots, Ashley is coming of age and dealing with family problems/history, friendship problems, dating problems and being black in an affluent part of Los Angeles

Mood: eyes opened to Los Angeles history

Triggers: racism, bullying, violence

My Takeaway: When Ashley’s world comes crumbling down she finds out the truth about her friends, family and herself – and that’s a good thing.

What I Liked:
*This was the book I needed to read because I went to college in Los Angeles, back in 1996. I was only there for four years but this book opened my eyes very wide to the history of Los Angeles that I never knew about! I was unaware of the segregation of Santa Monica and the coastal towns but it explains what I see on the news today when I see white supremacist that are prevalent there! Also, this story takes place in 1992 and I was a high school freshman back then but the time setting definitely made me nostalgic for the music, which is tied into Ashley’s story.

*Ashley is friends with the popular white girls in her school, and some of them use racial slurs around her casually. She likes fitting in but at what cost? Throughout the story she starts to question her friendships with these girls. It was a relief to see her venture out and talk to other people outside her group.

*Speaking of Los Angeles history, another important history that Ashley explores is her family history. It’s so powerful when she says the history she knows starts with slavery in America…and that’s what was robbed from black people when they were taken from their motherlands and sold into slavery here in America, their true histories…histories that began in Africa, lost. At times Ashley doesn’t seem to care, she’s a teen going through friend and boy problems and the world outside doesn’t seem to matter. How much does it affect her that her grandma’s vacuum shop gets looted in the riots? She’s not close to that side of the family or it’s history, so how much should she care? So many of the mention of history in this story is powerful.

*Her family problems are realistic. Every family has drama, and they are going through it with her older sister, who becomes part of the riots. Her parents have their marriage problems, her uncle and cousin being affected by the riots also appear in the story – so I felt like those issues were relatable. Also, I love her relationship with her nanny, Lucia – she was someone super close to her it seems, the one real friend she had maybe.

*This story builds – at first it feels superficial being in Ashley’s head, in her life with her perfect white friends as they do whatever they want to do. But that’s what I think is great about this story, Southern California has that beach, casual, blasé, and Hollywood vibe. But this story gives us a history lesson about Los Angeles. I was waiting for this story to make an impact on me and it snuck up quietly, it was a crescendo. And though this was in 1992…it happened again in 2020, except the riots took over more than one city. It’s what makes this story so important today.

Things That Made Me Go Hmm:
*This is set in the 1990’s but at times I thought it was set in 2020! The racism, the violence of the riots, it was a repeat this year and on a bigger scale.

*Another issue that was big in the 80’s and 90’s was HIV/AIDs. It does appear in this story very briefly. Also the teens in this story are out doing all kinds of things like smoking pot, drinking or doing drugs like E at prom. There is even a quick sex scene memory but it’s not graphic.

*Ashley comes off superficial, especially in the beginning because of the friends she has and where she lives but it’s important that we are in her head. We do see growth throughout the story.

Final Thoughts:
Ashley’s experience with the Rodney King riots, living on the outskirts of the rioting has a powerful and unexpected impact on her. She thinks the issues don’t affect her until she realizes it really does. She’s black. The racism against her and her family, her people, it affects her deeply but she’s been trying to fit in or blend in – but she can’t. I loved watching her change and grow as she confronts all the issues converging on her at once. This is a powerful story of an important time in history that’s absolutely relevant and relatable today.

The Black Kids is a historical fiction story that seems far too timely. Set in the aftermath of the Rodney King verdict, Reed portrays the struggles of Ashley, a well off black girl trying to figure out how all those parts of her identity come together. The friends she had since she was little don't feel as comfortable as they once did, her sister had dropped out of college, her parents are distant, and her city is on fire. Although set more than twenty years ago, this book could have been written about the riots in Minneapolis, which is incredibly sad.

Good YA book for people of all ages to read. Ashley navigates high school drama while trying to come to terms with what’s happening during the Rodney King riots in LA. Ashley struggles with her skin color, family dynamics and friendship through out the story. Through various ups and downs, Ashley comes out stronger than she has ever been. Characters were beautifully written. Their relationships were raw and real. This is a book I’ll be purchasing several copies of to share around.

Thank you, NetGalley, for this ARC in exchange for review.

In 1992, Rodney King was beaten by cops in Los Angeles and it was all caught on video. Surely, these cops would be brought to justice. On April 29th, the officers were acquitted of crime. I remember that day like it just happened. I'm a suburban white mom who has not recovered. I'm not sure how people expect the Black population to move on. And yet...

Ashley is a Black girl in an affluent neighborhood. The Black kids that do go to her school are a mix of socioeconomic backgrounds - the star basketball player is there on a scholarship. When the verdict of the Rodney King trial was announced, Los Angeles changed in a heartbeat. Riots, protests, violence, peace, injustice - but none of it has ever affected Ashley before. Should it now? When the friends you grew up with are white, does it change the relationship when skin color is in the world news?

There were parts of this book that were so well written, so rich with history, so raw with emotion; I wish I could give those chapters a five star rating. But as a young adult book, I felt the parts trying to appeal to the high schooler were forced and felt like they were written by a 14 year old boy. I would recommend it to high school age kids, only because the topic and history are so important. This book was written before the George Floyd murder. Our nation's recent history is repeating itself. Kids need to know the material. I just don't know if they all need to have the vocabulary of middle schoolers.

Loved this book! First of all, whoever designed the cover is a genius. I will purchase a hard copy when it comes out because that cover is so beautiful. The story is just as good as the cover. I thought it was interesting that the author set this book back in 1992 during the Rodney King trial. I don’t think I’ve read any other YA books set in that time period. Unfortunately, so much of the systemic racism, violence, and police brutality is still happening today. This entire book felt so timely and relevant, but the author also did a great job adding in fun ‘90s pop culture references. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. I look forward to reading more from this Christina Hammonds Reed.

The Black Kids came right on time. Readers follow the story of Ashley, a rich black girl in a predominantly white neighborhood and school. Like Lisa Turtle (Saved By the Bell), she spends the majority of her time around her white friends. She experiences life that is different from her friends, and she overcompensates by making poor choices. When she finds herself on the outs with her friend, she comes to know/understand what it truly means to be Black in America. It doesn't matter how rich or wealthy you are. It doesn't matter how far back you can trace your lineage. The country/law enforcement/school administrators all see you the same.

This is a book that will definitely make its way into my classroom. It is set during the time of Rodney King and the riots that followed. People are often afraid to write about the feelings of rage, confusion, hurt, and passion of Black people in this country. Christina Hammonds Reed does a great job of channeling all of those emotions and tying them into a fictional story that everyone can understand and appreciate. I would rate this book 10 STARS if I could. This is one of the best books that I have ever read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

WOW. I haven't loved a YA book like this since The Hate U Give. The book's main character is Ashley, a wealthy Black girl living in LA who attends a fancy private school and has almost exclusively white friends. But her world is changed after the police officers who beat Rodney King are acquitted, and Ashley is forced to internalize the many aspects of her identity. I thought the author did a phenomenal job of tackling so many big topics and writing about them in a way that is accessible to teenagers and that will (hopefully) prompt them to learn more. It's not just police brutality, but also systemic racism, the Tulsa Race Massacre, mental health, and even the situation in Central America. At the same time, there's enough "teen" plot lines to keep the target readers thoroughly engaged, including relationship drama and navigating a new crush. All in all, I loved this book and it's a must-read for all high-schoolers and high school teachers.

Review posted on Goodreads on July 7, 2020.

Reed uses Ash to think about what being Black meant in 1992, and unfortunately, this book is entirely too relevant again thanks to a resurgence of police violence against the Black population. Ash is economically privileged, but still does not necessarily fit with her white friends, though she strives to do so. Additionally, her privilege isolates her from black students at her school. Watching Ash navigate this struggle allows students to think about how societal expectations, both within and outside of your racial group, can affect your self-image and esteem.

Students have been coming forward with more and more questions about Rodney King, and I finally have an amazing book to facilitate the conversation. Absolute must read, must buy, must share.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed is a fantastic (historical?) fiction novel that's set during the 1992 Rodney King Riots. Ashley and her family live a comfortable life in Los Angeles. To everyone, they are the model Black family, but even that doesn't shield them from racist neighbors and micro-aggressions from friends. When Ashley accidentally starts a rumor about another classmate, she must face her own guilt and the consequences of her actions. As the riots rage on, Ashley struggles with her own identity and friendships. Who can she really trust? Who is against her? She's about to find out.

This is a fantastic coming of age novel from Christina Hammonds Reed! Although I was alive during the Rodney King riots, I was really young. This opened my eyes to that historical time, but it also showed me just how far we still have to go in society. Sadly, this is a novel whose themes are still relevant in the world today. If you enjoy Angie Thomas or Nic Stone novels, then you will love this one as well!

The Black Kids is a story that involves so much of today's life with a little bit of history for all. It is a story of a young, black girl named Ashley who attends a private school where she is one of the few Black students during the riots of Los Angeles after the Rodney King verdict. All her life, thus far, has been around those that did not look like her but accepted her. However, high school is about to end and questions of relationships both family and friendships come to question during this time. Do we really know who are friends are? Do we really know our family and the secrets that may be hidden? "What do you do when the people you love no longer feel like home?"

"Sometimes I have so much to say that I can't say anything at all."

I tried to take my time while reading this novel in order to fully process everything that Reed is writing about. At first glance, this is a coming of age story about Ashley Bennett, a young woman about to finish her senior year of high school in LA. Ashley is young and comfortably within the upper-middle (if not upper) class and she seems to go through life mostly unaware of the privileges that her wealth affords. But Ashley is also black, and female, which brings a whole set of complications that Ashley isn't always sure how to deal with or express. Set against the backdrop of the 1992 Rodney King riots, Ashley slowly comes to understand who she is, where she belongs, and how to identify herself within the ideas of "us" and "them".

This story is not my story. I cannot understand what Ashely feels like, surrounded by her white, wealthy, and (by default) extremely privileged friends. I cannot fully grasp her feelings of confusion as she tries to place herself within the communities that she belongs to. And yet, through Reed's writing, she gives the reader a sense of what Ashley is feeling, her rage and powerlessness, her helplessness, and her desire to become more than she is. In many ways, Ashley is a teenager like many others - trying to understand where she comes from and how she fits in. But unlike many, she also has to contend with the color of her skin and how that brings instant judgment and complications. In a conversation with her sister Jo, Jo says, ""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?"" The writing in this book is gripping and raw. The language does an excellent job of conveying Ashley's emotions to the reader and we get to see her as a fully formed character; complex and complicated and human. This novel feels like a moment in time and could not be more relevant to the current world. 4.5/5 stars.

Many thanks to Netgalley and publishers for providing this review copy.

It’s the 90s in the wake of Rodney King’s death at the hands of police. LA is in the midst of rioting when police are acquitted for Kong’s murder. Ashley Bennett is 17 years old and a senior in high school. She is the only Black girl among her girlfriends and has grown up surrounded by mostly white people. There are some other Black students at her school, but Ashley mostly wonders about them from afar. Her parents spent their lives ensuring Ashley and her older sister Jo had anything they would ever need. Jo is invested in the history happening to the black community and is compelled to take action. Ashley has a lot of questions and it takes her awhile before she learns the true history of her family and how close this fight for rights and equality really is.

We follow Ashley on her day to day. We witness the micro aggressions she experiences from her own friends. She remembers instances all the way back as a young girl. This story is of how Ashley learns and understand more and more of what it is to be Black. She begins to understand that even though she may have grown up with more opportunity and more money than most Black kids she knows, this fight is about her too.

A timely take on an ever growing fight for racial justice and equality. The Black Kids will educate, inspire and shine light on the troubles that stem from systemic racism and prejudice. A must read for all.

I am in awe of this book....it was beyond phenomenal making me laugh, moving me to tears and making me think about so much. I don’t have the words to do this justice even a little bit. Set in LA during the riots in the wake of the Rodney King assault and the acquittal of the officers who beat him we meet Ashley whose parents have tried to give her the best life they know, one unlike their own, out of poverty and the “hood.” In doing so they have also deprived her of the knowledge of who she is at the core, who she came from and what burdens they had to carry that have influences relationships she has now and the way she sees the world. As her friendships with her long time white friends implode Ashley has to define who she is in this world and how she wants to be a part of it. Part friendship examination, part self evaluation and part racial exploration this book has lines and scenes that will take your breathe away because of their poignancy, lyricism and timeliness. I can not recommend this book highly enough and I will certainly be buying it for my classroom in the fall.

I really enjoyed this book, and I think it is certainly very timely.

Ashley lives in a nice neighborhood, and attends a predominately white prestigious school. She has had the same group of friends since she was a small child, and she pretends it is to okay when they make racist comments.

Ashley is a senior the year of the Rodney King riots, and some of the race issues and injustices her parents have tried to shield them from, are now at their front door. I am ashamed to say that I learned quite a few things from this novel about Black Wall Street, and the Rodney King riots.

The characters are realistic, and I liked the ending. I would have liked to seen even more at the end about what characters thought or learned, but it is a satisfying ending.

One of the sad things, though, is that repeatedly in the novel, they talk about the importance of standing up and saying something, that the future has to be better. Considering the current climate of 2020, I am sad to say that the future isn't necessarily better, but maybe one day it will be. A good book, and one I would definitely like to have on my classroom bookshelf.

This is a story of becoming who you are. Learning about where you come from and how race plays a role in that. Ashley is Black in a private mostly white high school and had never in her mind belonged with the Black kids until the spring of 1992 and the protests in LA over Rodney King shakes all that she thought she knew. I would highly recommend this title to my high school students. A coming of age with race at the center of it.

Ashley lives in a big house in a fancy neighborhood, and even though she's Black, she doesn't feel like she fits in with the Black kids at her fancy school. The LA Riots after the Rodney King verdict change all that when she's caught up in an altercation downtown after a disaster of a prom night.

Ashley is a complex character with friend issues, boy issues, and family issues. This book takes on a lot. That said, there are beautiful phrases which makes most of these relationships come alive.

This book could pair well with The Hate U Give, Just Mercy, Dear Martin, or All American Boys in the school setting.

The Black Kids is being compared to The Hate U Give and Dear Martin and I completely agree with the comparisons. This novel has many of the same layers and themes that the others do and the writing is great. Overall though, The Black Kids didn’t grab me as much as THUG or DM did. I felt like the book was a slow burn. I enjoyed reading it but kind of struggled with its pacing.

The world building was excellent from the start. Ashley’s voice is great narration and I liked her as a character, but there seemed to be a void in the storytelling, as if she wasn’t sure how to tell the story she wanted to tell. This was a book about self discovery but at some points it didn’t feel as if it had direction. The second half of the book picked up as Ashley’s voice broadened and we got to spend more time with LaShawn. He was my favorite character. I loved that we got to know him better as time progressed and I wish there had been more. Jo was also a great character and she had a well developed background and storyline.

All in all, while I guess I hoped there might be a little more plot to the book beyond self discovery, I enjoyed it and would definitely recommend it.

Set in 1992 Los Angeles, this book looks at the life of a young black girl, Ashley. She has gone to private school her whole life and had the same core of friends for the entire time. All of her friends are white though. After the Rodney King trials conclude, all hell breaks loose in LA and Ashley must find where she fits in.
Opinion
If you read only one book this year, make it this one. This book has such a powerful voice and tells a story that in some part all of us can picture ourselves in. This book will make you question your own past experiences and want to make the worlds better place.
I was drawn to this book because the blurb compared it to the book The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas, which I loved. I’d also like to throw in there that it is similar to Dear Martin by Nic Stone as well. However, I feel that this book is way more powerful. I feel a bit of sympathy for the author though. How can she follow this? This book is truly a masterpiece.
I’d like to thank netgalley.com for providing me with an ARC of this book.