"Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind - why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?"
If the synopsis does not immediately draw you in, allow me. Pre-order this book! Social justice and a plot twist? Yes, please! The story weaves together past and present while examining issues such as racism and police brutality. I loved the development of characters and relationships, especially the character Happi. I only wish that the last half of the book slowed down and gave more insight into the plot twist.

Thank you to Net Galley for the ARC.

this book was so real ,,, such a good incredible and raw story. the cover is gorgeous, i loved this book so much, and i adored the relationship between the characters. some of the paragraphs in this i felt deep in my bones, and really enjoyed it.

Wow! I did NOT expect this from this book. I went into this thinking that this was going to be more of contemporary YA but boy was I wrong.

One of the Good Ones touched every single part of me. As a Black woman in America raising Black children, I felt every single part of this book. This book shined a light on how we as Black Americans will never be "one of the good ones" in the eyes of white America no matter what we do. We can straighten our hair, send our children to private schools, have conversations to prep our children when engaging with the police but none of that will ever matter because we will be seen as Black.

The generational trauma, police brutality, religion, social media, social justice, activism, mistreatement of Black women, sexuality, racism, the criminal justice system, the foster care system, mental health... EVERY. SINGLE. THEME that was touched on was phenomenal. It was a great exploration of just what Black women in America have to go through.

My only issue with this story is that the end was a little rushed. I admit that I figured the twist out halfway through the book was waiting to see how it was going to be played out. I was kind of bummed the way that the end wrapped up so quickly. I am glad that a family tree will be included in the final copy of the book because I did find myself getting a little confused when names of family members were being shared and I struggled to connect characters of the past with the current.

Overall, this was a phenomenal book that highlighted what exactly it feels like to be a Black woman in America.
“The Bad Ones
The Okay Ones
The Amazing Ones
The Nothing to-write-home-about ones
The Beautiful Ones…”
Regardless of where you fall in these categories... all Black women deserve to be valued and respected. This was such a great read and I would recommend this to everyone!

Super grateful to #NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy.

Sometimes there are books that try to do too much at once. They set lofty, complex goals and intertwine that with a YA storyline. And sometimes those books are good despite something. For the first half of reading #OneOfTheGoodOnes, I felt like it was one of those books. We follow members of the Smith family in a storyline that jumps before and after "the arrest" and Kezi, the middle sister's, death due to events surrounding protests of police brutrality. We follow Kezi, her younger sister Happi, and an unrelated character, whose story eventually becomes related to the plot. The authors lean heavily on events related to those in the news today surrounding police violence against black men and women. They also explore many racial topics related to the history of sundown towns, The Green Book, and more. The Happi, her older sister, and two of Kezi's friends ultimately go on a road trip, following Kezi's activism and their family history

And that's when comes the twist--full of spoilers that I won't spoil--that I did not see coming. It wasn't trite to keep up the storyline. It was integral and poignant. Ultimately this is a story exploring, as the authors state, the concept of "The Good Ones" as well as racial violence by white men and women against black families for generations and its effects today.

Do not pass this one up. Many thanks to #NetGalley and the publishers for this advanced copy.

Beautifully and powerfully written, this new book from the authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine belongs in every classroom. The incorporation of the Negro Motorist Green Book makes this story unique and will pique the interest of readers. A moving exploration of family, identity, and prejudice, this story will engage a wide variety of young readers. Highly recommended.

There was a lot going on in this book. It felt like three different genres shoved into one book, and it didn't really work for me. The last section of the book felt like a departure from the rest, and it didn't feel like a natural part of the story. I also found it difficult to connect with the few "distant past" flashbacks. I understood the purpose of trying to connect the present to the past, but they really pulled me out of the story.

I think the message of this book is really important: every death at the hands of the police is wrong and tragic. If someone is good student with plans for college and the future their life is important; if someone is a high school dropout or a drug dealer their life is also important, and in both cases their death would be tragic and should be protested. I also really liked Happi and preferred the sections which she narrated. I just think parts of this story were muddled and jarring.

I. WAS. NOT. EXPECTING. THAT! What a captivating story. I was a little lost in the beginning because the book is narrated in alternative point of view, and I didn't know how the characters related to each other, although as I read on they connected in such an explosive way. This social justice novel is realistic fiction mixed with historical facts all rolled into a thriller. I enjoyed putting the pieces together like a forensic detective. I can't wait to share this wonderfully pivotal ol novel with my students.

The story of Kezi and her mysterious death takes you not only on a history lesson of the racism in the US but also on the length siblings and people that care take for the one they love and have lost from a senseless act in the custody of police. As a road trip is taken in honor of Kezi, secrets and misunderstandings as well as historic facts are realized by her 2 sisters and her BFFs.

This book had me intrigued from page 1. I can definitely see this on the screen. Well done!

A person doesn't have to be "one of the good ones" to be treated with dignity and humanity. The author does an excellent job of questioning that sentiment while weaving together the stories of Kezi, Happi and Shaqueria. The differing points of view give each character a voice that allows the reader to connect to them and understand that being human is what makes each person "one of the good ones". The plot moves along quickly and is engaging, however the last third of the book takes a sudden turn that doesn't feel connected to the rest of the story which left me feeling a little cheated. Still, this novel offers up a lot to discuss and was worth the read.

𝙸 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚎𝚗𝚓𝚘𝚢𝚎𝚍 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚍𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝙰𝚁𝙲 𝚌𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚝𝚎𝚜𝚢 𝚘𝚏 𝙽𝚎𝚝𝚐𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝙸𝚗𝚔𝚢𝚊𝚛𝚍 𝙿𝚛𝚎𝚜𝚜. 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚝𝚘𝚕𝚍 𝚏𝚛𝚘𝚖 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚙𝚎𝚌𝚝𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚜 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚝𝚑𝚛𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑 𝚍𝚒𝚏𝚏𝚎𝚛𝚎𝚗𝚝 𝚝𝚒𝚖𝚎𝚕𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚜𝚜, 𝚊𝚜 𝚠𝚎𝚕𝚕 𝚊𝚜 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚝𝚠𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚜. 𝙾𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚊𝚕𝚕, 𝚒𝚝 𝚝𝚘𝚞𝚌𝚑𝚎𝚍 𝚘𝚗 𝚜𝚘 𝚖𝚊𝚗𝚢 𝚒𝚖𝚙𝚘𝚛𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚝 𝚙𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚝𝚜 𝚊𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚝 𝚘𝚞𝚛 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚝𝚘𝚛𝚢 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚘𝚗𝚐𝚘𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚌𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚎𝚗𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚠𝚒𝚝𝚑 𝚛𝚊𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚖, 𝚒𝚗𝚌𝚕𝚞𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗, 𝚊𝚌𝚌𝚎𝚙𝚝𝚊𝚗𝚌𝚎 𝚘𝚏 𝚍𝚒𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚜𝚒𝚝𝚢, 𝚊𝚗𝚍 𝚋𝚒𝚊𝚜𝚎𝚜.

What are we doing when we add on a line like they were one of the good ones? Is a death justified if they weren’t one of the good ones? This book will make you think. It will also take you on a tour of some American history. And then you’ll think some more.

Wow. That was definitely an emotional book. Definitely a great read! The story had different POVs through a span of several generations and was beautifully written.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

This novel deals with the aftermath of the arrest of Kezi, and its affects on her family. Life is changed for Genny and Happi, her sisters, as well as her parents and friends. The sisters go off on a road trip to honor Kezi, learning along the way about themselves and the past.

I like how this novel weaves history and the present effortlessly, and how it brings up things that we as Americans are only just beginning to talk about and have conversations about honestly. I think the book is good, and a conversation starter, but I would have loved to have seen more development in some areas, like with the girl's parents. Their relationship to their parents faded quite a bit toward the end of the book, and I felt like that needed more exploration. The ending felt a little too abrupt, especially after all the trauma. I think it could have been fleshed out a little more there as well.

Overall, this is a good, promising read.

One of the Good Ones by Maika and Maritza Moulite is a very powerful read. This story weaves the past, the present and the hopes for the future all in one book! The title makes a statement and centers the racism woven throughout within the written words of the story. There are strong characters, youth activism and historical information found in a story connecting the present to the past, generational ideas between parents and their children, religion, prejudice, racism, sibling relationships, grief, and more. The story is amazing and has the reader captivated and feeling all of the emotions of loss and grief and the “what ifs” that sometimes haunt those left behind when a tragedy occurs. Following the family as they move on after a tragic loss takes the reader inside their story. As sisters take the planned journey of the sister they lost, the reader joins the adventure with them. Then, out of nowhere, comes an unexpected twist in the last part of the book. I was very satisfied with the story up to that point and thought it was a little odd at first. As I continued to read, the connections began to unfold and that is when the title becomes even more powerful. I will be recommending this book to my high school students as there is so much to relate to and so much to reflect on. Wonderful writing! Thank you to NetGalley and Inkyard Press for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

"One of the Good Ones" by Malika Moulite and Maritza Moulite centers around the story of Kezi Smith's arrest and presumed, which occurs during a protest for Black lives. Kezi, a high-achieving student who is supposed to be attending a top college in the fall, is deemed "One of the Good Ones," but, through the characters in the book, the authors express the importance of protecting and standing up for all Black lives. Kezi's sister, girlfriend, and best friend honor Kezi's life by taking a journey guided by "The Negro Motorist Green Book." I really like the way the authors date the chapters in the book in relation to Kezi's death and how you learn about their family's history. The ending was definitely a surprise that I was not expecting. This is a really good YA read.

📚 review: One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite (@maikamoulite) & Maritza Moulite (@maritzamoulite)

Thank you NetGalley for the chance to read this ARC that debuts in 2021.

“Being HUMAN is more than enough to deserve life and love” so why do we prove time and time again that we, as a nation, fail to live by that powerful truth? That is what the Moulite sisters explore in this novel that demonstrates how our past doesn’t always stay in the past, our present can be drastically altered depending on the lens we’re looking through, and we all need our family, but more importantly our own truth, in the end.

Happi and Kezi might’ve only been a year apart in age but they were decades apart in time and space. I say were because Kezi is dead after attending her first peaceful protest on her 18th birthday. Now, Happi must decide if she wants to go down the road her sister would’ve gone had she still been alive, and if she’s willing to open up her heart to those she left behind when she decided she wasn’t willing to live in their shadows.

This beautifully written novel crosses both time and perspective, from 80+ years before Kezi’s death in a ‘shadowtown’ in the south, to mere months after her death exploring along Route 66. We see through the lenses of Happi, Kezi, Shaqueria, and Evelyn — and despite their differences, they are bound together by more than what meets the eye.

Tragedy, false narratives, hate, and healing all come together to leave readers hopeful but heartbroken — and oh, it would not be a Moulite & Moulite novel without a few twists along the way.

This is a heavy hitter and a must read.

5⭐️s

ONE OF THR GOOD ONES is a one of the most powerful novels I’ve read in 2020! What can I say? The mystery. Intrigue. The way the authors incorporate prejudice into the story was so well done. I was blown away. Left speechless at how the characters grew over the course of the novel. The plot points were so so well done. The prose kept me glued to the story. I couldn’t put the story down! Five stars isn’t enough for this story.

“The Moulite sisters have written a powerful narrative. One of loss, grief, acceptance, and obsession this remarkable novel is an unstoppable force. The interwoven time-lines, the unforgettable characters, both past and present, the harrowing journey seamlessly brought together, pitching readers head first into the depths of racism where the meaning of One of the Good Ones becomes more and more clear.” Cecelia Beckman, Sheaf & Ink Book Blog


I need a moment to recover.

As I raced towards the end of One of the Good Ones, my mind seemed to have forgotten the tagline “The Hate U Give meets Get Out in an honest and powerful exploration of prejudice in this stunning novel from sister-writer duo Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine.”

Maika and Maritza Moulite perfectly entrap me in Kezi’s story that I literally forgot about the Get Out reference. Make no mistake, even with the plot twist I did not see coming, I could not put One of the Good Ones down.

There are so many layers to this story. Beautiful and frightening. Painful and hopeful. Exploring identity, bigotry, history and family all of these threads in the tapestry of this novel was one that radiated. It implored the reader to truly see the image of what it means to be a Black woman in America.

One of the Good Ones will have you feeling a myriad of emotions all within a sentence, a paragraph, the entire novel. I found myself at times flushed with anger over the blatant racism. It made my stomach hurt, the visceral feeling as the pages blurred, the anger becoming more apparent. How I wanted to reach into those moments and scream at the deeply rooted racism paraded around as standard.

And there were those moments that pulled you into despair. Where you begin to ask how do you make up for a lifetime of hurt and misunderstanding? How can sisters continue when a part of them is now missing in the puzzle that makes them whole?

Happi’s feelings throughout are ones that are most brilliant. They are a rainbow of colors we as readers can all relate too: confusion, uncertainty, moments of clarity, understanding, and hope.

In a word One of the Good Ones is exceptional.

Maika and Maritza Moulite are adept authors, narrating stories that add to the beauty, joy, and history of the Black community.

A book to read over and over and to be shared with book lovers across the globe.

Read this book.



Happy Reading ̴ Cece

Nuanced, witty, and thoughtful, One of the Good Ones is a portrait of how our culture only equates people, particularly black people, as being worthy of humanity and empathy if they have proven their worth by either their grades, their accomplishments, or squeaky clean records. But it shouldn't be this way.

One of the Good Ones incorporates many aspects of American culture and its racism that are relevant but may not be obvious to everyone, and it does a good job of pointing out these unethical details in the system. I appreciated the historical references the book supplies as it underlines that the issues from the "past" aren't as long ago as some may think. Moreover, the story is about family, specifically sisters, and how young women often taken the largest burden when it comes to putting the pieces back together. The novel is perceptive in its depictions of grief (and being a teenager). Happi is a character I particularly loved in this book.

The novel's third act has a sudden thriller aspect added to it that doesn't quite feel organic and doesn't exactly match the tone of the rest of the narrative. While I can see the merit of the thriller being used in a metaphorical sense, the third act feels too fast-paced and not as well woven together as the first 2/3rds of the novel. Still, One of the Good Ones is a novel worth picking up.