This book takes place in L.A. in 1992, after the four cops that beat up Rodney King were acquitted- it’s about the riots and protests that erupted. It’s from the perspective of a well-off Black teenager, Ashley, and how she deals with her white counter-parts, experiences racism, and examines her class/class privilege.
I would absolutely recommend this book. I truly felt like I learned a lot about racism and the difficulties of being a minority in a predominantly white space. The author chose to address certain situations in a way that was upfront and direct. I like this directness especially considering that it is a young adult book; however, it wasn’t lacking the nuanced conversations about race or class. The way that Reed wrote Ashley, the main character, was so amazing! When Ashley was angry, I felt angry. When Ashley was swooning over the cute boy, I swooned over the cute boy. Books that make me feel connected to the characters are a treasure! Furthermore, the author was successful at transporting me to the 90’s. The descriptions of sunny California and the pop culture references created a beautiful setting, especially against the hideous backdrop of racism occurring in the form of police brutality, our unjust criminal system, and interpersonal comments + behaviors. It’s enticing reading about Ashley’s character development and how she comes to terms with her identity. Overall, I definitely recommend this book, especially for lovers of The Hate U Give!
By Serena
