THE BLACK KIDS

Kiersey Clemons narrates this audiobook about a Black teen living in Los Angeles during the 1992 riots. Though there are a handful of other Black kids at her school, Ashley prefers the company of her rich white friends, in spite of their near-constant stream of racist microaggressions. Then, the police officers who beat Rodney King are acquitted, and Ashley's world--and viewpoints--are altered forever. Clemons employs a wry yet vulnerable tone that suggests a believable teenage identity crisis behind Ashley's unamused disposition. Though this audiobook takes place in 1992 and contains numerous historically accurate cultural references, it's highly relevant today, particularly considering the rise of the Black Lives Matter movement. S.P. © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: DECEMBER 2020]