A review by bookreviewswithkb
The Black Kids by Christina Hammonds Reed

emotional reflective tense medium-paced
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

 it fell short of it’s potential for me. it has an interesting setting - LA in 1992 during the trial of the officers who brutally beat Rodney King to death. it has beautiful writing that is compelling and lyrical. it grapples with identity and self-awareness and the complexities of being Black while surrounded by wealthy white people. but…

it’s just that so many of the subplots didn’t work, didn’t go deep enough, didn’t feel finished. the main character’s transformation didn’t feel complete - she realizes she’s suffering under the weight of expectations and the white gaze but then she just sort of goes through this change and growth away from trying to fit into whiteness without any meaningful introspection that left it feeling flat for me. i think this novel is still worth reading though and it’s an important story 
Expand filter menu Content Warnings