The Black Kids

The Black Kids

Bibliography

Reed, Christina Hammonds. 2020. THE BLACK KIDS. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers. ISBN 9781534462724

Plot Summary

Taking before, during, and after the LA riots that came after the Rodney King verdict. Ashley Bennet goes on a journey of self discovery amidst the chaos of these riots and finds that her identity is more than her white best friends and her proper and wealthy family.

Critical Analysis

The Black Kids is a novel about race and identity. Ashley Bennett is close to graduating high school, and her life is in shambles. She doesn't get into her dream school, her sister is being a disappointment to their uptight parents and the verdict for the killers of Rodney King finds the officers not guilty. This event is the catalyst for the events that come to affect Ashley's life, for better and for worse.

Ashley is a character we have all been at least once in our lives: questioning who we are and what we mean to the people and world around us. How do other people see us? And how should we see them? Especially at their lowest. Reed does a great job of showing how Ashley embraces her blackness in a time where being black was dangerous, when having this identity was seen by others as lower, as trouble. Readers see moments in Ash's life where she has experienced racism, even when she is surrounded by her white friends, who are side characters that help to emphasize what Ash is facing, while also being three dimensional and multifaceted as well.

This is a hard book for some people to face, those that are black and those that aren't. Readers will question what is right and wrong, what is good and bad. Some will look inside themselves and face their own prejudices. Reed helps readers to handle this with poignant moments between new found friends and family and deep history that some of us might not have known too much about. 

Reed has taken a huge moment in black history and created a book that celebrates being black, even in the face of racism and strife. The Black Kids teaches kids to stay true to themselves and to never forget where they come from.

Review Excerpts

William C. Morris Award Finalist

Kirkus Review: "...the explorations of race and socio-economic privilege are valuable and will speak to readers who have not previously confronted or thought about these issues. A timely exploration of ?90s Los Angeles during racial upheaval and one girl's awakening.

School Library Journal Starred: " This realistic fiction debut is a snapshot of a moment when people wanted to fight back against oppression and police brutality, and took action as the lines between right and wrong became blurred. An excellent addition to all teen collections with a relatable main character who will lead readers through this heated moment in time."

Connections

If You Liked The Black Kids: It All Comes Down to This by Karen English

                                                Troublemaker by John Cho

                                               This is My America by Kim Johnson

More Black Female Authors for Read: Tiffany D. Jackson- Monday's Not Coming, Grown

                                                              Angie Thomas: The Hate U Give series, On the Come Up

                                                              Nic Stone: Dear Martin series, Clean Getaway

Activity: Do some research into the Rodney King protests and riots. How would say these compare to the more recent protests and riots that came after George Floyd and Breonna Taylor?