The Black Kids

By Christina Hammonds Reed

Perfect for fans of The Hate U Give, this unforgettable coming-of-age debut novel is a unflinching exploration of race, class, and violence as well as the importance of being true to yourself. 

Los Angeles, 1992

Ashley Bennett and her friends are living the charmed life. It’s the end of high school 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.

But everything changes one afternoon in April, when four police 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?

Praise for The Black Kids:
'Should be required reading in every classroom' – Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin
'A prescient coming-of-age debut' – Elle.com
'Utterly brilliant' – STYLIST

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
• Release date: Aug 4, 2020
• ISBN: 9781471188206

Christina Hammonds Reed

Christina Hammonds Reed holds an MFA from the University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts. A native of the Los Angeles area, her work has previously appeared in the Santa Monica Review and One Teen Story. Her first novel, The Black Kids, was a New York Times bestseller and William C. Morris Award Finalist.

Reviews for The Black Kids

[shellypya · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

With the Rodney King riots closing in on high school senior Ashley and her family, the privileged bubble she has enjoyed, protecting her from the difficult realities most black people face, begins to crumble.

[hccpsk · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

The Black Kids by Christian Hammonds Reed represents the good and bad of YA books. The good — a strong social justice message wrapped in an interesting story with plenty of things to keep readers engaged. The bad — somewhat generic characters and storylines with unbelievable aspects thrown in to broaden the appeal. Black Kids takes place during the Rodney King riots in L.A. where Ashley Bennett lives a privileged life in the suburbs, hanging with her white friends while her older sister gets involved in the protests. Hammonds Reed throws a little bit of everything into this book as Ashley deals with boy problems, school problems, family problems, friend problems, and even more. It gets to be a lot, but readers who enjoy high school issues with a stronger social justice angle will not be disappointed.

[fionaanne · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was really keen to read a book set during the Rodney King riots but this tale is higgelty-piggelty. Uneven pacing and inconsistent writing style, and the plot is thinly executed.

I wonder if the real problem is with publishers who want to put out diverse books because they know there's demand but are too racist to assign good editors to these non-white writers.

[brangwinn · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Set in 1992, Christina Hammonds Reed’s debut novel, is as relevant today as 1992 when the novel is set in Los Angeles. Ashley is a privileged Black teenager looking forward to graduating from high school. She’s been able to do things many other Black kids. Then the police officers who on are trial for beating Rodney King are acquitted, and she is forced to reexamine who she is. This is a story of personal growth during a time when justice did not seem possible for all…so it’s very relevant today. Its also a story of friendship and taking responsibility.