My Rating : 4.75🌟
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Thank you simonandschuster and Netgalley for the e-Arc which enables me to give you my unbiased opinion.
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This book deals with racism and colour in a way that made me think about how privileged I am even when I am a person of colour. This book followed our main character Ashley who was the only Black girl in her group of friends when the book starts, and proceeded to explore how a single media outbreak and violence can change people's life forever.
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First, I loved that the book is told from Ashley's perspective but in third person as well. She was passive aggressive, trying to figure out her stand in the society and had flaws which made her very relatable and human for the readers. It started off with the group of friends having fun and getting intercepted by the Police when they trespass. It set the image and the tone this book, and gave us an insight about what Ashley's view was on her life. Her family had an interesting dynamic and it made me want to learn more about them. Most of the book was told as a thought process Ashley had, and it gave a single perspective, and I would have loved to know what her sister, Jo, was going through or her mom was going through as well.
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Second, the supporting characters all played an important role in her coming to terms with her background, colour and figuring out who her real friends were. And when the main plot of riots were introduced, aceptance was a major topic discussed when it came to Ashley and how she felt like she was disconnected from her childhood friends because they couldn't understand what she was going through. One of the characters I loved was Lucia. I loved the bond between Lucia and Ashley and how that impacted Ashley's behaviour in a good way. I loved it when she found her bearings with her new group with Black people in her school and how the dynamics welcomed her and let her be a part of something. Not to mention the adorable ball of cuteness overload LaShawn and Ashley's budding feelings!! I am totally shipping that sail !
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Now coming to the storyline, it took a while for me to understand the writing style of the author and how the story progressed with a different story telling, but once I got into the story, I couldn't put it down. The complicated relationship between Ashley and her sister Jo was amazing to read about. There was longing from both ends, but determination as well. It was really heart breaking to read about her grandmom's past and how she overcame all the obstacles to give her children a secure life. The bond between Ashley and her cousin Morgan. I sense a sisterhood bond there! And when Jo gets into a bad situation, it really shifted the emotions and those last few chapters did me in. That ending was so open ended and satisfying in a weird way, I couldn't figure out how to feel about this book for a long time.
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Overall, this book had everything I could ask for in a historical fiction novel, with amazing storyflow, wonderful characters, emotional impact, an amazing ending. I can't recommend this book enough and I will keep shoving this in you face until you all read this !!

Set during the LA Riots after the Rodney King trial, Ashley tries her best to fit in at her private school. Her close knit group of friends may not care about the circumstances around them, but Ashley cannot help but look at life a bit more critical these days. As this narrator walks through high school and deals with growing up, race relations, police brutality, and just trying to graduate high school, she certainly has a lot on her plate.

There are moments in this book that are powerful, but overall I struggled to stay invested. Hammonds Reed ambitiously forces many conflicts into one timeline, and at times I wish she eliminated one or two of these so that some story lines could go more in depth. I think that if you want to put yourselves in the shoes of a diverse narrator during the LA Riots, which undoubtedly have connections to today, this is an interesting read. It's just not my favorite one out there.

Christina Hammonds Reed has really written a masterpiece with The Black Kids. I was really excited to read this one, and it surpassed all of my expectations. Not only is it a timely and very important read, but the writing is just excellent.

I think at this point I'd read a grocery list written by Reed. The prose of The Black Kids absolutely blew me away. I'm always a little in awe of authors who can execute flowery prose well, without making it too pretty and purple. The writing in this book is stunning, the words just flowing together, one sentence to the next, so effortlessly. I sat down to read and the next thing I knew I was 15% into the book in the blink of an eye with no intention to stop reading. And I know purple prose can scare off some readers, but that shouldn't be the case here. Not only is the writing beautiful, but it's so full of substance. They aren't just pretty words for the sake of being pretty. They're meaningful, impactful, weaving together to create a narrative is just so, so good.

The events of this year have definitely added to the impact The Black Kids has had on me. I was born the year police in LA beat Rodney King, so I don't remember it. But living in Louisville, KY when Breonna Taylor was murdered is something I'll never forget. Seeing the parallels from 1991 that this story tells against what is happening in this country today really help put into perspective just how much work still needs to be done, how much hasn't truly changed but desperately needs to. It's gut wrenching to read, but is a book that I would recommend to absolutely everyone right now.

The characters were so easy for me to get attached too. They're so complex, just like real people are. Mixed with Reed's gorgeous writing, they just have so much depth that I couldn't help but get invested in the story, constantly wanting to know more and unable to put the book down. Ashley is a stellar lead. She's beautiful, flawed, real. All of the characters surrounding her, helping to make up parts of her story, are just as well done. I think this book provide's such an accurate depiction of teenagers, how they're still kids, just learning how to navigate the world, messing up sometimes but trying so hard. It also illustrates how much more pressure there is on Black teenagers in this country. If it was hard growing up in the 90s, imagine how much more difficult it must be for Black teens now, with the added pressures of social media and being constantly bombarded by the news.

I really, really loved this book. I can't wait to read more from Reed. The story of The Black Kids made it the perfect book to read right now, while Reed's writing made it a book that I'll want to revisit over and over.

Only a couple more weeks till high school is over and Ashley cannot wait to be done and start a new life in college. The Black Kids is a rare perspective of the 1992 riots in LA. Ashley is both physically and emotionally removed from the racial injustices that are occurring in her hometown. living in a wealthy, primarily white neighborhood and high school, she feels less attached. But as the riots gain steam, she is forced to reflect in her self and her entire perspective. Reed does an excellent job of depicting Ashley's life and her growth from a teenager trying to hold on to her youth to an adult that must face who she is. Ashley's development is slow and intense, which will make the reader frustrated but ultimately cheer Ashley on her growth. The characters are quite developed and have a voice of their own. Unfortunately, the Rodney King riots is a distant theme in the book and left me wanting more interaction. Even with Reeds, historical family connections weaved in the story, there seems to be a little disconnect between the past, present, and Ashley.

The premise of the book was good. However, the execution was missing something. The characters were flat. There was a lot of telling and little showing. The writing seemed to ramble at times and there seemed to lack focus. Things would jump around sporadically with no purpose.
Also, as a teacher of young adults, the setting of the 90s is cool as it introduces some historical aspects. However, most of these events were introduced with little or no explanation. There were numerous pop culture references that I'm sure would go over the heads of young readers.

Honestly, I couldn't finish this one. After 30%, I gave up. It was seemed to be getting no where, slowly.

The first 40% of this book feels disjointed and confused. As if it took too much time to get to the main point. The characters develop but there is no flow.

Until all of a sudden there is flow. And as soon as it starts to flow you don’t want to put it down. It is worth the wait until you get to that part.

I wanted this story to be a little deeper, but the audience for this book isn’t a thirty year old white woman, and I know that.

I appreciate this book for who it is intended for, and it is one I will recommend most definitely.

WOW!⠀
Honest, unflinching, heart wrenching, in a time-jumping stream of consciousness, THE BLACK KIDS will expand your understanding of social responses to the LA Riots of 1992. Hopefully it gives you a better sense of how the same events are experienced by people from different social/economical/racial classes.⠀

Christina Hammonds Reed has created a lyrical look at what it was like for one Black girl in a more affluent neighborhood and high school to experience the fallout from the LA Riots, and what being Black was like for her at that time. I'm enjoying reading how her experience differs not only from the rich and poor white kids, but also her poorer Black schoolmates as well. ⠀

It's also a reflection of what growing up has been like for many of our peers that were around the same age during the 1990s - and how many things haven't changed since then. (For example: how Black teens are more likely to be treated guilty until proven innocent, where white kids in the same situation might get a pass.)⠀

ADD THIS TO YOUR LIST!

Being one of the only black kids in a predominantly white neighborhood can be an isolating experience. I should know, I lived that life myself about a decade ago. In LA, there were definitely black kids, but Ashley’s parents had money, so she spent much of her time with her upper-class white friends. She considers the girls to have been her friends for years, but even she has bad memories of them. Things that they said to her in the past that she knew were wrong, that really hurt, but that she chose to brush off to maintain her friendship. At the same time, she knows that she will never be the same as them. If they are caught loitering in an uninhabited house, she knows that the cops may let her friends off the hook and try to detain her. She knows that no matter how her friends act, she has to have up a guard around them because she is always the odd one out in a bad situation. Ashley has gotten through her 12 years of school this way, and she is looking forward to just going into college. Then, the Rodney King riots begin. And the city begins to fracture into factions, her friend group included.

There is a lot going on in this book, between Ashley’s relationship with her friends to her broken relationship with her sister, to her relationship with classmates that she hasn’t spent much time with, to her families’ backstory. Sometimes I did feel a bit overwhelmed by all this information, but I could keep a general idea of where the story was going. Ashley was a difficult character for me to relate to at the start, as it was rather obvious to me that she was incorrect in some of her views on things. Then the story kept moving, she kept learning, and I felt like she was one of the most real teenaged characters I had ever read by the end of the book.

This book touched on many aspects of black American life, from having those who are always wanting to fight to improve things in this country to those who want to follow the system out of fear and past experiences. No characters were perfect, they all had flaws, and they all were forced to face those flaws in one way or another by the end of the novel.

It was also interesting to hear about how these riots played out. They happened 8 years before I was BORN, but the situation, both socially in the community and politically at the government level, seems to be the same in 2020. Nearly three decades since this incident occurred, similar incidents are still occurring. And unlike many books about protesting police brutality/the flawed justice system, this book features a character who isn’t on the front lines. Ashley isn’t personally related to King, and her parents don’t even live in a neighborhood that is over-policed in LA. They would have had to go out of their neighborhood to attend any protests or riots, and the fact that Ashley was separated in this way would make her story more relatable for the average reader who may also not live in a place where the protests are not happening right outside their front doors.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking for a fictional novel about the Rodney King riots to educate themselves or introduce the topic to high-schoolers and adults.

I received a copy of this book and this is my voluntary review.

“Its not just about Rodney. It’s about all of us. About all our black and brown brothers and sisters struggling to make ends meet in a system set up for them to fail. We have to change the system.”

I don’t even know how and where to start reviewing this book. All I know is I want- I NEED EVERYONE to read it. I wished that was enough to persuade you, but let me try to give you more reason why you need to pick up this book.

The year is 1992 and LA is on fire. While there’s an ongoing riot and protests all around her city, Ashley is lounging around the pool and skipping school with her white friends. Why would she be bothered about the chaos that is going around LA right now? I mean sure, a black man just got beaten by a bunch of white policemen and a young african american woman was shot for just trying to buy an orange juice. But those have nothing to do with her, right? Her family is rich, she goes to a great school and she has her own teenage issues that she needs to worry about. So, why bother?

The Black Kids is an eye-opener book. In this story, we’ll get to see Ashleys journey in realizing how she’s a black young woman currently living in a white privileged world. I really adore Ashley as a main character despite of all the actions she did that I didn’t agree with. Let’s keep in mind, Ashley is a 17 year old trying to navigate her high school life. Even with that though, the character development of Ashley is outstanding and well written. Her inner monologue in incredibly fun to read and as she’s so relatable. She is honest, snarky, funny, and smart. She’s one of the most authentic character I’ve ever gotten to read. The author penned her secondary characters very well too. I absolutely cannot ignore the fact that Ashley’s sister, Jo, played a vital role on her way to self-discovery. Honestly, I wouldn’t mind a book with Jos POV! Another thing that amazed me is how the relationships between Ashley and the people around her was executed. They’re written in the most honest way possible. Especially the relationship between Ashley and her parents. It’s as authentic as it can be. This goes to Ashleys relationship with her friends too, which in some chapters, can be uncomfortable to read. It was complicated and bittersweet and very much realistic.

I actually found the pacing of the book super slow at first but it might be because The Black Kids is written as sort of Ashleys diary and I actually am not used to books written in such a way. With that said, through Ashleys eyes and her thoughts, we got an idea of the 1992 Rodney King Riots that happened in LA. How bad it was, how unjust the justice system was and how messed up the system works when you’re black or brown. It’s funny how I keep saying WAS when all of these is still happening up until now. What I really love about this book is how Reed wrote Ashleys road to understanding in such a sensitive and genuine way. It was brilliant how the tone of the book changed from being light and summer-y to a conscious and impactful read.

If it’s up to me, I’ll make The Black Kids as required reading for everyone. The awareness that this book brings is incredible. It’s written in a very simple way and yet it leaves a punch. Christina Reeds Hammonds wrote a meaningful story that tackled topics such as racial profiling, privilege and police brutality in a very thoughtful way. This book is relevant and influential and I couldn’t recommend it enough.

Wow. This is a must read YA book along with Dear Martin and The Hate U Give.

Ashley is a wealthy Black teen growing up in LA and attending a private school. She has the same group of white girls that have been her friends since kindergarten. They make racist comments and jokes and she responds it’s okay and isn’t sure why. Ashley’s parents have worked so hard to give her the life she has a protect her from her past. She doesn’t hang out with the Black kids at school and doesn’t really understand her “wild” sister. She isn’t really involved in the protests but that begins to change and she starts to look for friends that are ready to stand by her.

The Black kids takes place during the Rodney King riots but easily could be taking place in the US in 2020. How awful that we are having the same fights, conversations, and protests 30 years later. It’s Unacceptable.

Thank you to Netgalley and Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers for this eArc!

"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?"
This book was a wonderful read about the Rodney King race riots and the exploration of identity of one teenage black girl in Los Angeles. This book brings striking parallels between today and the 90's showing that the world hasn't changed much since then and that people are still struggling with the same fights. Ashley's narrative balances her life in her final year of high school and all of the drama that comes with it along with how she's impacted by the riots happening downtown. The relationships in the book are realistic, everyone having their own flaws and issues, with unique family dynamics. The writing style of The Black Kids was engaging and fast-paced, sprinkling in 90s references ad songs to keep the setting alive to readers. I highly recommend this book!

The Black Kids details the life of a wealthy black girl living and experiencing the Rodney King riots in her community. This book is especially timely in that it draws so many parallels to what is still going on today. I was young when these riots took place so it was very informative to learn about what happened. It was startling to read the similarities to recent events. It was clear Ashley’s parents were trying to protect and shelter her from all the ugliness that exists in the world. There were so many forms of casual racism demonstrated at the hands of Ashley’s so-called friends. It was evident how hurtful these comments were to her but she constantly would brush them off. The privilege and lifestyle of the characters showcased reminded me of the television show the OC. The drama surrounding LaShawn’s character and his new shoes had me eagerly anticipating what was going to happen. The looting of the family store and backstory about Ashley’s grandmother once it was finally revealed was heartbreaking. It was interesting to read from the perspective of a character who didn’t quite fit in with either the white or black kids and grew and developed to become more secure with her identity by the end of the book.

I don’t know what to say other than read The Black Kids. Reading this book was like seeing little glimpses of myself, seeing the microaggressions I had to take with a straight face growing up in predominantly white spaces, seeing the complexities and politics of Blackness and not always understanding what it must feel like to be at your wits end and thinking that burning is the only thing you can do to get the world to pay attention, and especially seeing the internalized anti-blackness and misogyny that has to be unlearned. Ashley goes on a journey of awareness throughout this book that mirrors some of the realizations I had to embrace as a teen.

One of the best and saddest things about this book is that it feels timeless in a way. Parts of it will always be a little true and relevant to present times. I hope I'm wrong and that future generations won't have to contend with the same struggles, but for now it felt like I could be reading a book about the events in 2020. I guess in a way the language of the oppressed peoples never changes though.

While I did enjoy the last 50% of the book, it took me around half the book to really get into it as Ashley read younger than a senior in high school to me, so it was difficult for me to adjust and wrap my head around her frame of mind, but when the action started picking up it really helped. Her naïveté just didn’t always make sense to me considering her age. Seeing her overcome some of her ignorance was rewarding though as I think a lot of us have been ignorant or naive about the lived experiences of others at some point in our life.

I feel like I should have mentioned this first, but Lana is the best thing about this book. She was my favorite character, and I just loved her so much and wanted the best for her. She was sincere, humorous, and a good friend (someone Ashley should have surrounded herself with from the beginning). I also really liked the historical aspect of the book as I enjoyed doing research on some on the aspects of the riots and Guatemalan history I wasn't familiar with.

Overall, I think The Black Kids is an important book and is especially perfect for younger readers or anyone who wants to read an engaging coming-of-age novel.

Ashley Bennett hasn't really had to struggle much in her life. Sure, she's the only black girl in her group of friends, but what difference does that make when they spend their time pool-hopping at each other's ritzy houses in LA? Ashley and her friends have all the privileges of the wealthy. When Rodney King is beaten and the attackers are acquitted, Ashley's life gets more complicated. She struggles with her identity and her place in the world around her.

The Black Kids is somewhat predictable, but overall a solid read about the Rodney King riots and their effects on the city of LA. Teen readers will definitely draw parallels to today's climate, although I'm not sure that The Black Kids adds anything that isn't already in other YA books. Some readers will struggle with Ashley's less redeeming qualities.

The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed is a poignant coming of age story set in Los Angeles during the 1992 Rodney King Riots. It follows Ashley Bennett, a wealthy black teen whose parents have raised her in such a way as to shelter her from the struggles, and particularly, the racism that faces the black community. Ashley attends a mostly white private school and her childhood friends are all white. The only black kids she knows are those who attend her school on scholarships, but they keep to themselves and she doesn’t interact with them. When the novel opens, Ashley’s most pressing concerns are whether to go to school or ditch and hang out with her friends at the pool or beach.

Everything changes, however, when the police officers who were captured on video brutally beating Rodney King, a black man, are acquitted. Rightfully so, the black community is outraged and so the L.A. riots began. The beating, acquittal, and subsequent riots is such big news that there’s no way Ashley can be sheltered from it, and it soon becomes a revelation to her that makes her question everything about herself – her privileged life, her disconnect with the black community, and her entire sense of self.

Ashley’s inner monologue was what really made this story so powerful for me. I just found myself so moved by all of the emotions going through her head as she truly has to re-evaluate everything she has ever known now that she is faced with this new harsher reality. Ashley is also worried sick about her older sister, who abandoned that sheltered life and is out protesting for justice right in the middle of the riots. My heart especially broke for Ashley when during an argument with one of her childhood friends, the friend lets the ‘n’ word fly. Hearing that hate come out of her friend’s mouth for the first time makes her realize that perhaps it’s time to move on and find friends who understand what she is going through and what a mess her head is because of it. Even though my heart broke for her at the loss of friendship, it also soared for her as she slowly starts to find her way, figure out who she is, and who the best kinds of friends are for her.

Ashley’s journey in The Black Kids is a hard one, but as hard as it was, I still loved watching her learn and grow, and discover a new sense of identity. I also thought it was very powerful to watch the riots unfold through the eyes of a frightened and confused black teen. I’m old enough that I remember watching the riots on TV, but Ashley’s perspective is an entirely different one and it really hit me hard as I was reading. It also made me sad in the sense that it’s now almost 30 years since those riots and we still have so much more work to do when it comes to fighting racial injustice. I’m glad to see more and more books like The Black Kids and hope they will inspire all of us to understand and to do better.

I struggled through the first 40% of this book. But after that, I was hooked. By the end, I was in tears. Ashley’s story - in all of its complexity, joy, pain, love, and sorrow - is powerful. This novel may be a work of fiction, but it’s real in every way that counts.
3.5 stars.

The Black Kids is a powerful, timely and engaging read. Set in the aftermath of the Rodney King beating in LA, the novel is full of history reference and perspective that is frighteningly relevant today. Ashley, the primary protagonist, is a perfect narrator - explaining what is happening around her while also finishing up high school and navigating all that comes with it. The book is about race, friendship, identity, love, history, family and trying to figure out what comes next. This is a must read!

thank you to Christina for writing an amazing book that honestly keeps on giving. The Black Kids tells a story not only of racial injustice, but what it’s like coming of age during a time where you’re unsure of where you stand in the world. Ashley has always been “the black girl” among her friends. Taking the little microaggressions in stride, trying not to let them get to her, thinking of the other black kids she encounters as the “them”, not because she doesn’t realize she’s black, but because they aren’t what she knows. After all, she’s known her friends since they were kids and yeah they may say dumb shit, but they don’t mean any harm right? And considering the privileged life she’s been able to lead, she probably doesn’t have a right to complain. That’s part of the reason she has such a hard time connecting to her older sister. Jo wants to fight injustice, but has she ever really experienced injustice? After all, how many Black kids get the opportunity to crash not one but two luxury cars? So yeah, maybe Ashley doesn’t feel like she and her sister have a right to complain, but that doesn’t make what’s going on right.

With Rodney King’s beating and trial going on, suddenly things that Ashley never tried to give much thought to are popping up more and more. She’s not only dealing with prom, graduation, and the prospect of college, but now people all over the city are angry. Suddenly her safe sheltered world is anything but. There’s rioting in the streets, neighborhoods are being burned down, protests are being held throughout the city, and Ashley’s quiet little neighborhood is feeling the effects. It soon becomes clear that Ashley can’t stay neutral for long. Not when things are reaching their boiling points and her mistakes are bubbling to the surface.

The biggest thing I enjoyed about this book was the fact that we got to see Ashley learn and grow along the way. She’s not the perfect teenager and she messes up countless times. From the beginning, it’s clear that she’s bothered by the little comments her friends make or that her Blackness always seems to be a joke or fun fact, but she never confronts her friends about it, because what good would it do? They don’t mean any harm right? Wrong. Microaggressions still hurt, no matter who they come from, no matter what the intention. Ashley eventually realizes this when she commits a microaggression of her own that she can’t take back. Suddenly she’s learning just how much destruction words or casual comments can cause when said to the wrong people or with the wrong tone.

We follow Ashley as she moves along her journey and comes to understand who she is. She’s not just learning about and witnessing racial injustice, but dealing with being on the outs with her sister during a crisis, keeping a secret from one of her best friends, boy trouble, parental expectations, and having to come to terms with the woman who helped raise her leaving to return to her own family. Not to mention her family being directly impacted by the riots in LA. Ashley is attempting to find her place in the world and it just so happens that that world is imploding.

Overall Ashley learns some hard lessons and family secrets along the way and I truly believed she comes out on the opposite end, not completely grown, but showing signs of definite growth. It’s hard being a Black woman in this country, but Black Girl Magic is a beautiful thing to witness.

The Black Kids takes a place next to The Hate U Give and other transformative recent books about the young adult Black experience.

Set during the weeks of the King Riots in LA, TBK manages to strike exactly the right chord for how a teen might feel - especially one raised to know she is Black but not really what that *means*. Ashley struggles with her internalized anti-Blackness and it was handled beautifully.

I was also in high school when the riots happened, but I lived far away. This book brought me back to a time I didn’t understand when it was happening and contextualized it for me. Thank you, Ms. Reed.

"The Black Kids" by Christina Hammonds Reed is a story of a brutal incident that happened as a result of racism through the black teen protagonist Ashley. This story starts with Rodney King being brutally murdered by Police officers. This incident took its actual turn with the LA riots for its justice when the accused officers were acquitted.

I loved the author's writing style throughout the book. It was so simple and impressive. Even though the scenes were from the past and the present, it wasn't confusing. I could say that the whole book was full of emotional contents. What is more painful is that this kind of racist acts still happens and I wonder when these things will come to a halt.

Ashley, the protagonist is a high school senior with a wealthy background. Through her, I was clearly able to get what a black kid would go through and how they would feel around white people despite her life status. The one thing I don't like in her was that she didn't feel guilty for betraying her best friend at the same time she was guilty of the rumours she had spread of her not-so-close friend. So I felt that her character was weird and hard to understand.

This book made me understand more about how a person will be affected only because of their skin complexion. I really wish and hope that this kind of racism issues would not happen anymore. I would recommend this book to all so that everyone would be more aware of the racism impacts.