The Black Kids

I don't love stream-of-consciousness narration, so this took a while to settle in for me, but I understand and appreciate why Hammonds Reed chose that structure. Ashley's self & family discoveries and growth arc are set against the backdrop of the ‘92 LA uprisings stemming from the police acquittals in the Rodent King case and Latasha Harlins' murder. I was just starting HS then and remember talking about what was happening in LA at home and at school, but it will likely be newer information for current teen readers. Choosing that setting with a main character who is snobby and spoiled is a clash that helps make her arc more earned and also leaves the ending realistic, without trying the story into an everything-perfectly-works-out bow. There were a few plot threads (what happened with Michael?!) but well done and very deserving of the Project Lit selection. Kiersey Clemons nailed the exact right tone for Ashley in the audiobook (she's grown since Slay, I can see her nareating more books). I'll definitely be booktalking this and look forward to conversations with kids about all the modern day parallels.

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.

This and [b:Running 49484935 Running Natalia Sylvester https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1565019346l/49484935.SX50.jpg 66527510] were inadvertently a good pair to read together since this is also a book about a teen gradually learning to be more politically aware/active. But this one is historical fiction set in 1992 (sorry if that makes you feel old) and is about a young, relatively well-off Black girl in LA as the Rodney King trial verdict is announced and riots break out.In spite of the riots this is generally a quieter, more introspective coming of age story with a strong narrative voice.