Review: The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

Shelly's Book Corner received a review copy from Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers and voluntarily provided an honest review. This does not affect the opinion of the book or the content of the review.

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?

Review 

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.