Join a book club that is reading Good Dirt: A Novel!
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.
BUY THE BOOK
These clubs recently read this book...
Community Reviews
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson is an amazingly complicated story about family, history, and survival. After a terrible loss when she was 10, Ebby Freeman looks into the past of a stoneware jar that has been passed down through her family for generations. Through honesty and deep feeling, Ebby's journey of healing and self-discovery is shown. Ed and Soh, her parents, have recently lost a loved one, which makes things even more difficult in the family. Henry, Ebby's ex-fiancé, shows up again, bringing up themes of forgiveness and personal growth that make Ebby's path to peace more difficult. Wilkerson does a great job of connecting the past and the present, exploring grief, identity, and the enduring power of ancestry. The writing is deep and vivid, and the personalities are very interesting. Good Dirt is an interesting and thought-provoking book that will stay with you. It's perfect for people who like family stories that span generations and have a lot of historical detail. 10 out of 10 | highly recommend!
I think this was a nice read. I appreciated irony of the title “good dirt”. I enjoyed the family who had unconditional love for one another and their family secrets “dirt” wasn’t scandalous and expected. It was a wholesome book that gave me another perspective on what family drama could look like. I also appreciated the history and lesson about stoneware jars. It’s an easy read, my only complaint was there was a lot of POV that really wasn’t needed but all together, enjoyable.
I thought this was a good read. I do feel she described his death more often then I could handle but really good overall
I loved it! I did not read Black Cake however this was a good read. I took off a point due to some redundant plot lines, and a seemingly rushed ending. But it definitely kept me interested.
I was eager to dive into Good Dirt after thoroughly enjoying Black Cake. I was expecting something captivating and well pace but found myself disappointed with the amount of bogged down storyline in the first half. I found myself struggling as the book didn't meet my expectations until the second half. I am not sure if I would suggesting investing time into this book as the second half did full fill more of the cultural history I was looking for but the pace dramatically shifted for it to happen. The book didnt quite deliver in the way I hoped.
See why thousands of readers are using Bookclubs to stay connected.