by Christina Hammonds Reed
Published on August 4, 2020 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
ISBN: 1534462724
Format: eARC
Pages: 368
Genres: Contemporary, Young Adult
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?
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Absolutely Incredible
The Highlights:
- Wow is this book timely
- The prose is GORGEOUS
- This 90s child loved the 90s setting!
- Fantastic pacing
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.
About Katie
I'm a twenty-something aspiring writer who really, really needs to get back to revisions. I've been reviewing books since 2014, and am determined to somehow make stories my day job. I truly think that every book out there contains something good and is meant for somebody.
I mean with such a glowing review how can I not be excited about reading this one? But when you mentioned the 90s setting I was sold. The 90s child in me also loves that setting, i cannot wait to start reading ASAP.