Troublemaker by John Cho (paperback)

Twelve-year-old Jordan feels like he can't live up to the example his older sister set, no his parents' expectations.  When he returns home from school one day hoping to hide his suspension, Los Angeles has reached a turning point.  In the wake of the acquittal of the police officers filmed beating Rodney King, as well as the shooting of a young Black teen, Latasha Harlins, by a Korean store owner, the country is at the precipice of confronting its racist past and present. 

As tensions escalate, Jordan't father leaves to check on the family store, spurring Jordand and his friend to embark on a dangerous journey to come to his aid, and come to terms with the racism within and affecting their community.