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Good Dirt: A Novel
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
“Engrossing . . . Wilkerson masterfully weaves these threads of love, loss and legacy [into] a thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined family saga.”—The New York Times
When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.
The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.
So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.
In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.
“Engrossing . . . Wilkerson masterfully weaves these threads of love, loss and legacy [into] a thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined family saga.”—The New York Times
When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.
The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.
So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.
In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.
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Community Reviews
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson captivated me from start to finish. It’s a beautifully crafted story that weaves together the lives of Ebby and her family as they face the heartbreak of her brother’s untimely death. But it’s not just about them—it’s about Old Mo and his family, Willis, the Blisses, Henry, Avery, Robert, and the Pittses. It’s about how all our lives and histories are deeply interconnected.
As I read, I felt a sense of serenity and calm wash over me. Despite the heavy themes—loss, trauma, slavery, heartbreak, abuse, and even robbery—the narrative had a gentle, soothing quality. It surprised me how something so weighty could feel so much like a healing balm.
The plot has its twists and mysteries, but what stood out to me was the space it created for reflection, perseverance, tolerance, self-discovery, and healing. By the end, I felt like I was gliding across calm seas, deeply moved yet at peace.
With hallmarks to her first novel, Wilkerson delivers another novel that delves into family history and how what one inherits influences who one is today.
Good Dirt
By Charmaine Wilkerson
Pub Date Jan 28 2025
This is my very first read by this author and let me just say it truly will not be my last. This was my final 5 star read of 2024 and when I say this book did not disappoint at all. This story had me crying, laughing, hurting, angry, you name it. It brought out all the emotions. Ebby (Ebony Freeman) had suffered so many horrible things in her lifetime, the death of her beloved brother Baz, her very public breakup being spotlighted. Then the family heirloom being broken that shattered the families true togetherness. The history of the creation of the ancestral family jar was told so amazingly. I learned a great deal about about of African history that was one of many I'm sure never knew about slaves making pottery and important it was during those times. It's amazing how the most mundane things today we take for granted that we're so pivotal in our ancestral history. Charmaine captured the essence of each character so well that you felt their emotions an understood why each one did the things they did whether right or wrong. I loved the combination of family heritage, romance, loss, history and how each character grew from it. The depiction from past to present was chefs kiss. I will be reading every Wilkerson writes and you should too.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the E-Book ARC in exchange for my honest review.
By Charmaine Wilkerson
Pub Date Jan 28 2025
This is my very first read by this author and let me just say it truly will not be my last. This was my final 5 star read of 2024 and when I say this book did not disappoint at all. This story had me crying, laughing, hurting, angry, you name it. It brought out all the emotions. Ebby (Ebony Freeman) had suffered so many horrible things in her lifetime, the death of her beloved brother Baz, her very public breakup being spotlighted. Then the family heirloom being broken that shattered the families true togetherness. The history of the creation of the ancestral family jar was told so amazingly. I learned a great deal about about of African history that was one of many I'm sure never knew about slaves making pottery and important it was during those times. It's amazing how the most mundane things today we take for granted that we're so pivotal in our ancestral history. Charmaine captured the essence of each character so well that you felt their emotions an understood why each one did the things they did whether right or wrong. I loved the combination of family heritage, romance, loss, history and how each character grew from it. The depiction from past to present was chefs kiss. I will be reading every Wilkerson writes and you should too.
Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing - Ballantine for the E-Book ARC in exchange for my honest review.
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