# The Black Kids - Hardcover

by **Christina Hammonds Reed** (Author)

**A _New York Times_ bestseller**  
**A William C. Morris Award Finalist**

**"Should be required reading in every classroom." --Nic Stone, #1 _New York Times_ bestselling author of _Dear Martin_  
"A true love letter to Los Angeles." --Brandy Colbert, award-winning author of _Little & Lion_  
"A brilliantly poetic take on one of the most defining moments in Black American history." --Tiffany D. Jackson, author of _Grown_ and _Monday's Not Coming_**

**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 fa ade 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_?

### Author Biography

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.

**Number of Pages:** 368

**Dimensions:** 1.3 x 8.3 x 5.7 IN

**Illustrated:** Yes

**Publication Date:** August 04, 2020

**Award:** William C. Morris YA Debut Award (2021)

**Accelerated Reader:**

**Quiz Name:** Black Kids

**Interest Level:** Upper Grades, 9-12

**Reading Level:** 5.3

**Point Value:** 14

## Details

- **Price:** 19.99 USD
- **Vendor:** Books by splitShops
- **Type:** Books
- **Tags:** Books by splitShops, Shopify Collective

## Variants

| Variant | Price | Available |
|---------|-------|-----------|
| Default Title | 19.99 USD | In stock |

## Images

- The Black Kids - Hardcover

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