After reading One of the Good Ones, it is safe to say I have found a new book to add to my all-time favorites list!!

One of the Good Ones follows the story of Happi Smith as she deals with the death of her sister Kezi’s death while attending a social justice rally against police brutality. Happi struggles with the attention her and her family are receiving because of Happi’s death, and is not looking forward to the roadtrip her sister Genny drags her on to honor Kezi’s memory. Kezi had planned to follow The Negro Motorist Green Book and document her travels on her popular activist YouTube channel. Genny has decided to follow Kezi’s plan and to share their journey with Kezi’s followers to honor her memory.

HOLY SMOKES!! This book absolutely blew me away!! As I began this one, I’ll be totally honest and transparent when I say that I struggled with the alternating POVs and also with the alternating timelines. The story is told from multiple POVs and has several different timelines, but I promise they’re what make the story!! This book tackles so many topics: sister relationships, social media safety, racial injustices, systematic racism, and racism in general. This book is honestly such a fantastic read and I cannot recommend it enough. Also, if you’re the type of reader who typically skips over the Author’s Note, I beg you not to for this one!! @maikamoultie & @maritzamoultie have written such a raw and honest Author’s Note that made such a powerful impression on me. I am truly honored to have been able to read this one!!

Trigger Warnings: racism, lynching, homophobia, police brutality, death by fire, kidnapping,

My Rating: 3.75/5 Stars

My Review:

I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a place on this blog tour from Inkyard Press – thanks!

I could not wait to pick up a copy of this book after reading and loving Dear Haiti, Love Alaine last year. Maika and Maritza are such amazing story tellers, their prose just makes their stories even more intriguing. They have this way of making their characters jump off the page in ways that I know will not be leaving my mind for a while. This book has been marketed as The Hate U Give meets Get Out and I could not agree more. Fans of Angie Thomas and Nic Stone are going to want to check this book out.

The heart of this story is challenging the media’s perception of “one of the good ones”, especially in regards to police brutality. I won’t lie, this story is hard to read at times, but I think that is the point. The use of character to justify or condemn the deaths of Black lives is the twisted reality we live in. It is handled very well in this book, and is constantly being reiterated throughout the book.

One of the reasons this book doesn’t get the full four stars for me is the inclusion of historical flashbacks. This book already has three POVs- which can be hard to keep track of, and having these flashbacks to characters who only appear for one chapter adds to that confusion. I appreciate the idea of having them, I just think they are unnecessary considering these characters are talked about by the MCs in the book already.

This book is a very well written thriller as well, which is something that I honestly did not expect when I first went into it. And really, it is only hinted at in the last sentence of the synopsis. I don’t want to say too much about it, I think the impact of reading it and getting to the plot twist and having an “a-ha” moment really adds to the power of it. I know it did for me, especially thinking back and seeing how everything was laid out and I just didn’t put it together.

This was an amazing read, and it really cemented this writing duo as one of my new instant buy authors. I cannot wait to see what these sisters write next. If you are interested in reading this one, and want to get a taste of what it is going to be like, check out the attachment below to read an excerpt from the book!

Thank you so much, NetGalley and Inkyard Press, for the chance to read and review this book.

TW: violence, police brutality, kidnapping, death, murder, homophobia

When Kezi Smith dies under mysterious circumstances in police custody, her family is devastated and as Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi, her younger sister, tries to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. What does that mean being "a good one"? Isn't everyone worthy to be missed? Happi, her older sister Genny, Ximena and Derek (Kezi's girlfriend and friend) decided to honor Kezi's memory and do the road trip she wanted to do for her graduation gift, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there's a twist no one could've ever expected and that will change everything for everyone.

One of the good ones is a genre-bending novel, mixing a coming-of-age story, mystery, road trip, historical lessons. The writing style, the plot twists, the characterization and the story are so skillfully written and developed they hooked me since the first page and this book left me bereft, angry, hollow and hopeful at the same time. It's a mix of emotions I rarely experience after reading a book, but that means the book is absolutely a great one.

It's a moving and powerful story about prejudice, police brutality, injustice, race and history and investigates intergenerational racial trauma through different POVs. The story swings between past and present, before and after Kezi's arrest and death, retracing their family's ancestors' stories, lives and their traumas.
It's told by many different voices, piecing together a history made of violence and resilience, injustice, but also progress, hope, family and the strength and willingness of never back down, of always speak up against injustices and brutality.
The story is told, mainly, from three young women's perspectives, three sisters, very different from one other, but bonded by a indissoluble love, and it's, also, about family and love, embracing one's history and past and the strength in moving on from a unexpected tragedy, coping with loss and unfairness, raging and trying to find answers and justice.

If the many different POVs may seem redudant, sometimes, they actually manage to create a story that may begin with Kezi, Happi and Genny, but has its roots almost a century ago, connecting the characters in a tight net,
I've learned so much reading this book, about the sundown towns, The Negro Motorist Green Book, safe places and important voices. It was heartwrenching, so necessary to know and learn.

The authors wrote a book so compelling it's impossible not to be involved in the story, following Happi, Genny, Ximena and Derek in their road trip for Kezi. It's easy to love and relate to this amazing, well-rounded characters, with their fears and regrets, thoughts and doubts, strength and love and the way their personal lives, hopes for their futures, break ups, dreams, crushes, school, relationships with their family and friends, are skillfully woven into the narrative, integrating themselves into the story and creating such complex characters. It's brilliant the way the authors wrote how each of them deal with their loss and grief, how they navigate through pain and regrets, reconnecting with one other, growing up and discovering things about themselves in the process.

The peculiar thing about this book is how much is stratified, because it's a book about coping with loss and injustice, fighting for one's voice and life, dealing with grief and the power of love and hope; it's also a brilliant thriller, whose clues are scattered everywhere and an historical lesson about injustices and intergenerational traumas and how the pain reveberates through generations. It's a story about a road trip that will get three sisters closer and help uncover truths and connections.

I also loved the choice of the title, because we always heard this referring to people who others deem worthy, whose importance is connected to race, sexuality, education and other things, like there are boxes to be checked to deem someone worthy of love, attention, respect and justice. The authors use this code to denounce this and how being "good" is just a matter of perspective and it's always false and inhuman.

This book is one of the best I've ever read. It's insightful, moving and able to shake every reader. It's a story about love and sisterhood, hope and family, prejudice and unfairness, fight and traumas and even if it wrecked me I'm so grateful for it. It's the kind of book that will stay with the reader and that keeps up all night because you need to know what will happen next.

I recommend this book to those who love a powerful story, full of plot twists, incredible characters and intriguing plot.

Kezi Smith is one of the good ones—a straight-A student headed to college, a student leader, a vlogger, and a social activist. When she dies tragically in just another incident of police brutality at a local protest, her younger sister Happi, her older sister Genny, and their parents must deal with the consequences of their devastating loss.

How can a family survive the rending of their fabric? Happi’s parents rely on their church and relationship with God. Her older sister Genny relies on the close bond she had with Kezi to comfort Kezi’s best friends. But Happi? She feels left out of the grief and wounded by the words bandied about. Words about the tragic loss of ‘one of the good ones.’

What makes one person a ‘good one’ and another person unworthy of notice, Happi wonders. Isn’t loss loss and aren’t people people? When Genny plans a trip to memorialize their sister as they drive across the United States using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as a guide, Happi reluctantly agrees to come along. Feeling tricked (Genny invites Kezi’s two best friends along, too), Happi holds little hope of finding resolution or peace on their journey.

Along the way, everyone involved learns new things about each other and the deepest shadows of their own hearts.

Told from multiple points of view over a period of six months, the reader may wonder at times why certain characters appear.

Only reading to the shocking ending will reveal why.

Why I Loved this Book

This own voices book revealed to me another facet of my white privilege. I confess I may have shaken my head at how ‘one of the good ones’ in my life allowed circumstances to prevent them from becoming all I thought they should become. Shame on me. Every student (and every human) deserves my respect regardless of their circumstances or upbringing. I realized I judged students based on my dreams for them (in other words, would they turn out like me?) rather than on their own dreams.

Children (and students) are fragile dreams we must hold loosely and not try to mold into exact replicas of ourselves. We must give strength and support without dictating the journey or the outcome. Their stories are not our stories to write.

As an adult reader, I related to Mr. and Mrs. Smith and their struggles to reconcile their conservative Christian heritage with the reality of their daughters’ lives—especially their discovery that one of their daughters has a girlfriend. Parents of younger readers will want to read the book along with their pre-teen and stand ready to answer questions and engender conversations.

If parents feel unequipped to discuss LGBTQ issues with their children, they may want to read She’s My Dad before delving into One of the Good Ones. But every parent, Christian or not, needs to equip themselves for the weighty issues that face today’s children—from sexuality to racism.

Parents who feel unequipped to discuss white privilege with their children should also read So You Want to Talk About Race and The Voting Booth. Whatever you do, don’t miss this timely book from two fresh own voices authors.

Thank you to the publisher for providing this early access copy for review. I was so excited to read this after learning it was co authored by two sisters. I am happy to report that it did not disappoint! One of the Good Ones explores discrimination in an accessible, insightful and thought provoking way. Important conversations are made easily accessible through this books successful balance in exploring heavy topics through such enjoyable characters . Would recommend.

There’s a lot going on in “One of the Good Ones,” the new YA novel by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite. Gratefully, it speaks important issues, including racism, bigotry, the BLM movement, police brutality, LGBQTIA+, family bonds, legacy, social activism, identity, grief, guilt, young love, and more.

Throughout the book, the authors mention the refrain of “one of the good ones” as a way to describe a person our country deems worthy. Do society value Black lives more than others? Hell yes we do. And it’s 1000 percent wrong.

For the most part, our protagonist, 18-year-old “Kezi,” checks a lot of boxes for being deemed “good” or “worthy.” She’s a young, Black, well-educated, promising social activist with 100K followers on YouTube. But when she gets arrested during her first BLM protest, she’s immediately deemed unworthy by a police officer. Her Black skin makes her a threat and she’s unjustly arrested. Then another 18-year-old girl, Shaqueria—who’s a product of the foster system, an aspiring actress, and selling drugs to try to make ends meet—is also deemed as unworthy when she’s arrested on the same day. Interestingly, both girls don’t come home from jail. (No spoiler alerts here). Kezi is put on a pedestal by her followers, while Shaqueria’s life barely matters because she doesn’t have a family.

Why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed? Obviously, this dehumanization divides us and represents the harsh realities of systemic racism. The authors remind us that being human is more than enough to deserve life and love.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on, and this is just a tiny recap. I found that there was just a lot to unpack, especially with the back and forth storytelling from chapter to chapter. There were a lot of characters and point of views to keep track of, including Kezi’s two sisters, parents, distant relatives, teachers and friends. Plus, we hear from Kezi’s online stalker and briefly follow Shaqueria’s journey. For me, some of the story seemed a bit unbelievable (like what happens at the jail and on the road trip). But overall, I very much appreciate the themes that the Moulites took on as it will help YA readers learn what’s happening in our culture. Plus, much of the content serves a great history lesson by incorporating life before the Civil Rights Movement and the need for the Negro Motorist Green Book.

Special thanks to Inkyard Press for an advanced reader copy of the book, via NetGalley, in exchange for my honest review. I also purchased the audiobook to read along with the digital copy.

Wow... Are we sure this is a YA? I just finished and want to read it again.

This book is part history, thriller, social justice, LGBTQ, police brutality, family,  finding yourself, and more..

I cried, I laughed, I got angry, I was scared. This book gave me all the emotions.

It is about a family who loses a daughter/sister after she is arrested at a protest for a man who was killed by police. And how they are dealing with the grief. So her sisters go on a road trip she had planned that was from the Green Book, which was a book African Americans used in Jim Crow Era to travel safely. On this trip they are coming to terms with their grief and it is an emotional ride.

I highly recommend this book!

I saw Maika and Maritza Moulite and hit "request," and I certainly wasn't disappointed. This book tackles current issues while also being an entirely riveting story.

Trigger warning for racism, homophobia, police brutality, kidnapping, murder and deaths, etc.
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After teen activist Kenzi becomes a victim of police brutality, her sisters Genny and Happi honour her memory by going on the road trip that she had planned. Along the way, secrets regarding Kenzi’s death are revealed that once again change their lives.
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As you can tell by the trigger warnings, ONE OF THE GOOD ONES was a difficult story to read. This story was well crafted, with multiple POVs from different time periods. I did find it slowing down for a moment in the middle, but it picked up again. It all came together for a really powerful story of love, loss and survival. I was not expecting the mystery aspect to be as shocking as it was— I was reeling!
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Thank you to @hccfrenzy and @netgalley for sending me an eARC to read and review!
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4.5 stars, ONE OF THE GOOD ONES by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite is out now!

Honestly, I don’t even have coherent words to describe the impact of this book, the genre-bending plot, the marveling I have to do at Maika and Martiza Moulite. I’ll try to do it some semblance of justice, but really, the takeaway is: if you can get your hands on One of the Good Ones when it comes out on January 5. (It’s also by the same authors who wrote Dear Haiti, Love Alaine!)

One of the Good Ones is a multi-perspective novel that follows Kezi and her family, primarily her sisters, Happi and Genny, across several months, in addition to vignettes from their ancestors in the previous century. It tells the story of Kezi’s arrest and death at the hands of police, and how her sisters connect to her, to each other, and to themselves in the wake of her tragic death. It’s also an education in 20th century Black America and how the realities of racism and discrimination that we see today are vestiges of a past that is all too familiar. It’s a story about bonds, about justice and systemic racism, nods to Black and Brown folx’ place in nature + wilderness + agriculture, and at its root is about kids exploring their relationships and their dreams, about inter-generational trauma and how to unwind it.

AND there’s a reason it’s also compared to Get Out. 🤯 This book has everything! Suspense, amplifying representative stories, helping people feel seen + educating those of us who benefit from a system of oppression, showing us powerful but fallible characters who sometimes do unlikable things but ultimately, just like everyone in this world, deserve equality, equity, justice, peace, even if the media or white America wouldn’t feel them “one of the good ones”. OOTGO has me reeling, honestly. It’s just so good, so vital, pushes us so hard but with narrative, plot, and characters that make it simply un-put-down-able.

Thank you so much to INKYARD PRESS and NetGalley for this advance e-copy. And enormous congrats + thank you to Maritza and Maika for telling this remarkable story.

I was given advanced access to One of the Good Ones from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.
The novel, told from multiple perspectives, eloquently tackles racism, police brutality, coming out to religious parents, sibling dynamics and much more without glossing over the topics. There is a great deal of history woven into the story as the friends and sisters complete their sister’s journey using “The Negro Motorist Green Book”. The ending surprised me and was not something I would have predicted.
Read this book! You will not be disappointed.

I absolutely loved sister writing duo Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite's debut, Dear Haiti, Love Alaine—for its thoughtful, complex character development, inventive formatting, and deft use of history and popular culture. I knew that One of the Good Ones, which is described as The Hate U Give meets Get Out, would be a bit different in tone than the serious-but-funny Dear Haiti, Love Alaine. I was glad to note right away that some elements are similar: both books involve multi-media sources (in this case, historical fiction written by one of the characters about the lives of two of her great grandparents) and beautifully-drawn family dynamics. Both novels thoughtfully and sensitively incorporate major social justice issues, and both deal with the topics of identity and intergenerational trauma. In spite of all these commonalities, One of the Good Ones is a bit of a heavier punch—moments of levity are rarer here, and one particular plot line is heartbreaking all the way down. As was the case in Dear Haiti, Love Alaine, there are a number of elements at play here: this book is part sister/friends road trip novel and part thriller, and it's juggling two distinct historical fiction narratives, compelling cultural and historical tidbits about Route 66, two main timelines, and three primary narrators. The Moulites have pulled all of that off twice now, balancing all of these storytelling devices and delivering on beautiful writing and thoughtful, realistic characterization. I was thrilled to get my eyes on One of the Good Ones, and I know I'll be even more excited to read Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite's next novel.

I love how this novel explores the truth that all humans have worth, even the ones that aren't straight A students with a bright, college-educated future in front of them. The storyline about Kezi's sisters following her plan to explore the United States with a road trip of their own to help heal their hurt and honor their sister was beautiful. I did not like the plot twist near the last third of the novel. I felt that it cheapened the storyline. The message would have had more resonance without it.

5/5⭐️ to One of the Good Ones by Maika & Maritza Moulite

Thank you to the HarperCollins Canada and HCCFrenzy teams for an egalley to review!

This was such a compelling book, and one I believe everyone should read! The writing itself is lovely, and the multiple narrative perspectives are artfully woven together to tell the story of these three sisters and a book called “The Negro Motorist Green Book” (the title in the book itself), which suggested safe stops for Black people all over the US for gas/food/lodging ~ particularly in the Jim Crow South. Tragedy strikes this family, and we slowly uncover more of the mystery of what truly happened along with the sisters. It also brings in a familial, historical perspective to the story which adds an additional layer of complexity, intrigue, and historical information I didn’t know before. This sister author duo has so impressed me with their storytelling ability, and the history they have shared through this book. One of the main goals of this book is to break down the idea of the “good Black person” who is supposedly more worthy of social justice, anger, and activism to the public eye. This book shared some vitally important themes such as racism, tokenism, social justice, police brutality against Black people, family, friendship, and performative activism. Again, the writing and characters drew me right away into the story, which took some twists & turns, and ended almost breathtakingly!

This is a must read!! And also please check out reviews of this book from Black, own voices reviewers.

I featured One of the Good Ones as Book of the Day on all my social media platforms, included it in a weekly roundup and will include it in a monthly roundup of new releases.

t’s an understatement to say that I was touched.

I love that it was told in multiple perspectives with timelines switching before, during, and after the looming arrest that served as the catalyst for the plot. It created layers to the story and did a lot to build the relationships between the characters.

I am completely soft for stories centered around a family/community and this book about sisters, written by sisters, encapsulates all the emotions that I wanted it to bring.

— overall thoughts: 4.75 —

An equally strong plot and character driven story that will get you lost in the writing.

If I were to describe the story telling style, I would say it’s closest to Daisy Jones & The Six wherein you go through the process of piecing together the details of the story as the narration goes on. Clearly, I have a type since I have read Daisy Jones four times now. I just find that kind of writing style to be highly thought provoking as a reader. With the fact that it managed to turn a usually-contemporary-plot into a mystery/thriller… I stan.

Truthfully, my favorite aspect of it boils down to the fact that you see the way everything builds up to the twist in the end. Then when it drops, you’re left wondering why you didn’t see it from the very beginning.


“But as I sit here and contemplate all of these things I know as confidently as my own name, I realize you probably have no idea why I want to pursue this degree in the first place. Well, it’s because I’ll be able to dig into our stories. I can do my part to help pull together the threads of our past to form a better view of our historical tapestry.”

PLEASE. Do you see this writing?? T_T


There were discussions on teen activism and exploration on socio-political themes embedded all throughout the plot of the story… while still being a highly enjoyable mystery/thriller that is borderline coming-of-age. And really, I am always enamored by well-written sibling/family dynamics.

There are times when I find characters in YA contemporary novels to be unbelievable because of how they interact with people their age… but this was not that. It’s so cleverly written and executed while still being relatable to young adults of this generation. You’re given the chance to be able to get attached to each of the sisters between everything that is going on (including side characters wink wink).

This was truly a timely book when I read this with what went down in the US. It's truly disheartening to see how differently you can be treated simply based on your skin color and this book explores all of that.

↣ Fast-paced, exciting, and emotional mystery/thriller with characters that feel like you’ve known them forever. ↢

This might turn into one of my most recommended books.

*Thank you to the publisher -Inkyard Press- for sending me an ARC for their Winter 2021 blog tours. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Disclaimer: I received an e-arc of this book. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: One of the Good Ones

Author: Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

Book Series: Standalone

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: LGBT+ characters, Black main characters

Recommended For...: ya readers, contemporary lovers, lgbt+ readers

Publication Date: January 5, 2021

Genre: YA Contemporary

Recommended Age: 16+ (grief, violence, police brutality TW, murder, generational trauma, coming out)

Publisher: Inkyard Press

Pages: 384

Synopsis: ISN'T BEING HUMAN ENOUGH?

When teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Perfect. Angelic.

One of the good ones.

Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind—why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?—Happi and her sister Genny embark on a journey to honor Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there's a twist to Kezi's story that no one could've ever expected—one that will change everything all over again.

Review: Do not read this book when you’re already sad. You’re going to cut onions reading this book and it’s going to give you a sadness headache. Or is that just me that gets those? Seriously though, this book is SO GOOD! I loved the story and plot and I loved that this book included something I’ve only read about before: The Green Book, which was this book that was published in the 1930s to help Black people travel and stay in safe places (seriously, more books should include this piece of history). The character development is amazing and the history and world building was amazing as well. This will definitely be a book I buy and reread.

The only thing I had an issue with was that the beginning was a bit slow but it definitely picked up.

Verdict: Highly recommended reading! We should know our history as a nation and how to best be an ally!

HOLY SHIT.

I am honestly still trying to process what I just read. I literally got hit with a mixture of Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, and Tiffany D. Jackson all at once with the dynamic sister duo of Maika and Maritza Moulite.

This book is INCREDIBLE. It is a poignant and timely story that tackles tough themes such as police brutality, systemic racism, grief, coming out to religious parents, historical Black trauma, and internalized racism.

One of the Good Ones seeks to dismantle the abhorrent ideology that Black lives do not deserve to be loved or treated with respect. This book beautifully humanizes Black people and shows the importance of our stories and honestly, our overall presence.

Amongst the heavy topics, there are moments of joy and reconnection with family and friends that I absolutely lived for.

I want to also note that this book is a mystery/thriller, so in addition to the incredibly important social themes, the thriller aspect of this story was equally riveting.

Thank you Inkyard Press for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Marisol Folks and the HarperCollins Canada Influencer program for NetGalley access to the eARC of One of the Good Ones by Maika & Maritza Moulite. This was the first time I received a widget outside of blog tour commitments, which is quite exciting. That said, this has not influenced my opinion. My thoughts are my own and my review is honest.

Teen YouTube influencer and rights activist Kezi Smith has been murdered, and BLM groups are raising her up with the likes of Breonna Taylor, "one of the good ones," a perfect girl full of potential who was stolen from this world too soon. (Presented as one of two opposing stereotypes, opposite of one of the "bad ones," the hopeless cases, the street kids destined for prison bars.) The way Kezi is distilled and bottled by the movement makes her sisters Happi and Genny feel robbed and that their sister is being dehumanized. Meanwhile, there's an element of mystery to be solved surrounding the circumstances of Kezi's death. What her sisters find will change everything.

One of the Good Ones is told in a split timeline fashion, both leading up to and after Kezi's death, and POV is split between the sisters. We open on Happi's point of view at a rally not long after Kezi's murder, then jump to Kezi herself the day before she died, and move on from there. Each POV or time shift is clearly labelled, so readers reading in print or eBook should have no trouble keeping it all straight. I haven't had the opportunity to listen to an audio recording, so I'm not sure how distinct the different sister voices will be in that case, but I do think they have been written to be unique in their own little ways. They are sisters, there will be similarities, but their individuality was captured well.

I must admit, as I write this review I'm still not entirely sure how to review this title. I found myself not wanting to pick it back up whenever I had to take a break (and thanks to motherhood with a toddler breaks were not optional), not because it isn't a good book (it absolutely is) but because it's so real, so honest. This book is making all the same black girl experience, anti-black racism, rights activism statements as recent YA books before it like A Song Below Water (which I was reminded of right away) but I think this one has a lot more success. To use A Song Below Water as an example, since I've already mentioned it, that book takes all these issues and puts them on a fantasy race that co-exists in modern-day USA. There's a disconnect because the victims aren't human, and the history of this sort of racism doesn't easily graft onto what should be a potentially superior species. One of the Good Ones doesn't hide in that way. These are human teenagers. These are the real issues and tragedies happening in the real world, to real people, and nothing has been sugar-coated or dressed up. That's what made it hard to get through because it hurt to read something so honestly raw and devastating.

With that said, this book also lost me a bit for a similar reason to A Song Below Water. I don't want to spoil the mystery element here by giving anything in the latter half of the plot away, so I'll just say that as the surviving sisters investigate Kezi's death, some things they find, some leads they chase, end up distracting from the police brutality, social injustice message that the first half sets up. While A Song Below Water distracted me from the message by making me question how all of this grafted onto what should have been the oppressor race in that alternate history, not the oppressed, One of the Good Ones distracted me from the social message entirely by morphing into a murder mystery Agatha Christie would be proud of, but kind of seems to have forgotten that it started out as a social commentary piece about the surreal and disorienting experience of being the family held up as a symbol for a social justice movement.

I do understand that this book was multiple things, though. It's very much about how society perceives you, good or bad, where you fit, and "why can't we just be human?" It takes a long, unflinching look at religion and patriarchy. It explores LGBTQIA experiences, being closeted, coming out, and reconciling one's true self with family traditions and upbringing. For readers who are not marginalized (BIPOC, LGBTQIA, etc.) it teaches how to be an ally.

I absolutely loved the sister relationships in this book and how this tragedy drew the remaining sisters closer together. I also really loved how honestly it looked at being the survivors left behind in a murder situation (and this could be extrapolated to suicide or missing persons as well.) Everyone reacts differently. Some feel pushed into particular roles and expected to grieve in certain ways. I really felt the alienation of strangers trying to sympathize with Happi and her family, even though they can't possibly relate.

Overall it's a really good book with tough messages and a whole lot of emotion. I recommend this to absolutely everyone, and I recommend pushing through the emotionally draining parts. This is a story that needs to be heard. It's worth it.

"Isn't being human enough?"

This is definitely a thought-provoking book. The reader is asked to ponder who exactly the "good ones" are.

The authors, sisters, do a fabulous job of capturing a family's worst nightmare. I enjoy stories told from multiple points of views, as it gives a full picture of things unfolding. The characters' voices are distinct and realistic. Real, and difficult, topics and challenges are addressed. It's interesting to see how all the twists come together in the end.

This is probably best for a 13+ audience, perhaps even 16+, due to some themes, including violence.

This is a very timely book for the world around us these days. Some topics addressed include:
- Police brutality
- Social justice
- Racism
- Family relationships
- Friendship
- LGBTQIA+ (not a main theme)