4 stars for a book that is informative and sad. It is both historical fiction and literary fiction. The book opens in 2000, with a home invasion that results in the murder of Basil Freeman, a 15 year old boy. Then it flashes forward to 2018. Ebony or "Ebby", sister to Basil, or "Baz" as Ebby called him, is about to be married. But Henry Pepper, the groom flees on the wedding day. He does not even give Ebby an explanation. Ebby does eventually find out why Henry fled. The book discloses who was behind the home invasion. Ebby and her family find a way to deal with their grief over the loss of Baz.
The book goes back and forth between various time periods, including 1803, when 1 of Ebby ancestors, Moses, is stolen from Africa along with his mother. He grows up a slave and becomes a potter. He crafts many pottery pieces, some of which he makes for himself. One of these is passed to Willis, his brother-in-law. Willis escapes slavery by stowing away on a ship bound for the northern US. He takes a jar made by Moses with him. This jar is passed on through the family all the way to the present day. Although this book is fiction, much of it is based on actual facts:
There were enslaved potters in the pre Civil War South.
Many sailors during this period were black men, some former slaves and some free men.
However, the jar becomes very valuable and is the object of the home invasion.
The author did a great deal of research and cites the books that she consulted.
I recommend this book to fans of historical fiction, in particular to someone interested in the pre Civil War era.
One quote, describing Moses' mother on board the slave ship, while pregnant with Moses: "Instead, at the dawn of the next moon, she found herself shivering inside the rank cavern of a foreigner's ship, a monstrous vessel with wings of cloth, rocking and groaning as it crossed the water. She kept her arm resting over her belly, trying to warm the baby growing within."
Thank You KATHLEEN QUINLAN at Penguin Random House for sending me this eARC through NetGalley. #GoodDirt #NetGalley
Pub Date Jan 28 2025

Thank you Netgalley and Random House Publishing for this ARC! 🫶🏾 Pub date January 28, 2025

The premise of Good Dirt was really interesting! This story is about how a wealthy Black family grieve the tragic loss of a son and a precious family heirloom during a robbery. Most of the book is set about ten years after the robbery and traumatic death of the son, but we get to see glimpses of how the heirloom came to be and how the family currently grieves their losses.

In the earliest timeline (1800s), I was drawn to the ancestral history of the heirloom and the POV of Ebby’s enslaved ancestors. This timeline really solidified why the heirloom meant so much to this family; it gave them hope and represented survival. In the current timeline, I was really drawn to Ebby’s journey of growth and healing after the loss of her brother 10 years earlier and after her husband abandoned her at the alter (chileeee…).

Overall, I really enjoyed how the multiple stories and voices weaved together and painted a bigger picture about family history, grief and love. At the same time, I do wish the timelines/voices in the stories were more streamlined because it felt very confusing switching back and forth through time/character POVs in the beginning. Some of the POVs were also less interesting and didn’t contribute much to the overall story. However, this is a read if you like historical fiction!

Truly remarkable. I became so immersed in the story at times that I forgot I was reading a fictional novel. The weaving of stories through varying timelines and narrators was seamless and beautiful. A testimony to family, love, perseverance, and forging your own path. The characters and places may not be real, but their stories are based in the reality of America's history and current racial inequities and societal biases.

Good Dirt is a multi-generational story that centers around the present day main character, Ebby, who witnessed her brother be shot and killed during a home robbery when they were children. That same shooting destroyed a family heirloom, a historic stoneware jar. The book follows the history of the jar, and the family, and how the jar has inspired them throughout the years.
I am not usually drawn to historical fiction, but I loved Charmaine Wilkerson's first novel, Black Cake, so I was excited to read this one. Her writing is so engaging and enjoyable to read. I loved the multiple POVs (at least 6 main POVs), locations, and short chapters in this book. I think this novel is also very important, especially in light of the most recent election. With Black history not being taught, and racists becoming increasingly emboldened, we need to seek out Black stories. I highly recommend checking this one out when it comes out in January!
Also, personally, I read this while taking my first wheel pottery class, so I liked reading about how Moses and Willis threw pottery way back in the 1800s!
Thank you to NetGalley and Random House - Ballantine for the ARC.
ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Right out of the gate, this is a 5 star review. Wilkerson does it again as she hooked me straight for the first page. If you get confused with the story with its jump around narrative, hang in there. The back story is so very important. The title is the essence of this book, Good Dirt - important in the making of clay jars which was essential for this story. The jar, made by Moses, an enslaved man, is a testament to their history and legacy. I loved that while it had great monetary value, the real value was the history and connection to family for them. Following the tragedy that scars this family and especially Ebby, it is the jar that will pull them back together and heal them. Some sensitive content regarding racial disparity, history of enslaved people, prejudices and equity and inclusion. Well done by the author, this is a story that will resonate with you long after the last page. What a great discussion this will lend itself to in bookclubs. Many thanks to #netgalley #charmainewilkerson #gooddirt for the opportunity to read and review this book.

What a deep and complex book! Wilkerson writes about how trauma can affect us, and also the importance of family keepsakes - and their impact on future generations. A quote from the book that really made an impact on me was "history can only be told through a chorus of voices" - we all need to be represented in the American story. The story begins with Ebony Freeman being jilted on the day of her wedding - her white fiance did not even contact her, but left her standing in the garden at her parent's house with all the wedding guests. The author flashes back to the most traumatic event in Ebby's life - when she was ten years old, her brother was shot in a robbery in their home. The Freeman family was an affluent, educated black family living near the Sound in New England. The crime was never solved, and the family was faced with voyeuristic scrutiny from the public.
The other points of view come from Willis - Ebby's great, great grandfather, who escaped slavery on a ship in Charleston and fled to a new life in New England. He put his possessions in a large ceramic jug, made by his friend, a talented slave potter named Moses. The jug was called "Ole Mo" and was braided into the history of Ebby's family.
I loved "Black Cake" but "Good Dirt" takes Wilkerson to a new level.

I ADORED Charmain Wilkerson's last novel Black Cake so was super excited to see what her follow-up Good Dirt would be like. Like her previous novel, an object is used as a narrative tool to chart out a family's history. The main character of this book is Ebby Freeman, the daughter of a well-to-do Black family in a very white enclave in New England. Her future changed in an instant when her brother was killed in a robbery gone wrong. The crime was never solved and Ebby still hears whispers about being "that girl" when she meets people. Ebby tries to live a life expected from a family of high achievers and is engaged to a man from another well-off and white family, and again all eyes are on her when he does not show up to their wedding.

Ebby flees to France to get away from the attention and reassess her life and future. She still experiences nightmares about the day of the shooting and her guilt associated with it. Interspersed with her time are sections about her family history and how they ended up in an affluent culture in New England. The other loss the day of the robbery was a stoneware jug that had been in the family for generations and is an object that helps ground the generations of her family from Africa to enslavement in the South to fleeing North.

I ultimately found her family's history more engaging than Ebby's current situation. Some plot points seem a bit too convenient and the mystery of the robbery was not particularly surprising, but I enjoyed reading about her family's history all told through the journey of pottery.

Thank you to Ballantine Books via NetGalley in exchange for honest review.

Good Dirt centers around Ebby Freeman, the daughter of a prominent Black family who reside in one of the many privileged enclaves of Connecticut. Ebby has suffered significant trauma in her short life beginning with the unsolved murder of her older brother when they were children and most recently, the abandonment of her fiancé. The story follows Ebby as she attempts to piece her life back together and come to grips with all that has come to pass.

While Ebby is at the center of the story, Old Mo, a clay jar crafted an enslaved ancestor, is also at the heart of things. The story alternates between perspectives and moments in time showing readers the history of the Freeman family as they shake the bonds of slavery and rise to prominence.

This story combines mystery, family drama, and history in way that was so unique and compelling I couldn't put it down. Charmaine Wilkerson has done it again and I can't wait for others to read Good Dirt.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advance copy.

4.5 stars rounded up

Thanks to Random House Publishing Group and NetGalley for inviting me to read an ARC of Good Dirt. This book will be published January 28, 2025.

This is the second book I’ve read by this author. I also gave 5 stars to her book Black Cake.

There is a lot going on in this book. It goes back 5 generations when slaves were making pottery and teaching themselves to read and write. There’s a home invasion robbery where young Baz is shot and his sister Avery witnesses it. There’s a black family living in a white, affluent neighborhood. There’s an interracial marriage that doesn’t occur because the groom doesn’t show up on his wedding day. And most importantly is the story of the jar - a beloved 20+ gallon piece with an important inscription on the bottom - that is a main character of this book.

My only complaint is the book jumps around in time and so the story unfolds slowly but deliberately. I was immediately interested from the first few pages and the pace never slowed. The author definitely knows how to weave a brilliant story and do so eloquently. Highly recommend.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson is an intriguing story of the Freeman family, an upper class Black family living on the Connecticut shore, and especially the story of Ebony who has lost her brother to a fatal robbery and later, has been left at the altar by her white fiancé. This covers a slice of life not often covered in our daily lives and the characters, especially Ebby, are very interesting and likeable and one couldn't wait to finish and see what happens to her. and her family.

Charmaine Wilkerson's "Black Cake" was one of my favorite debuts of 2022 so I was really eager to pick up her latest book "Good Dirt". Like "Black Clake" the story focuses on an family heirloom and its secrets held throughout generations in a family. This time the heirloom is a highly sought out jar created by the enslaved ancestors of the Freeman family and its attempted robbery took the life of Baz Freeman. The book moves backwards and forwards in time with multiple points of view. While I can see the potential of the story and Wilkerson's vision, the book's execution is its greatest flaw. The numerous and (in my opinion) often unnecessary multiple points of view and subplots that distracted from the main story. Instead of a puzzle, the books plot becomes fragmented and I found myself quickly becoming uninterested. I wanted to stay in the past and learn about pottery and navigating the seas during enslavement instead of Ebony's melodrama.

Many thanks to Netgalley, Penguin Random House/Ballantine Books for an advanced reader's copy of the book.

"Good Dirt" is a captivating and deeply moving novel by Charmaine Wilkerson, whose storytelling prowess continues to shine in this, her second novel. Set in a rural Trinidad town, the story centers around a young woman named Ajara and her quest for self-discovery, healing, and connection amidst the complex web of family secrets, cultural expectations, and the lingering effects of colonialism.

Wilkerson's writing is both lyrical and visceral, transporting readers to the lush and vibrant landscapes of Trinidad while delving into the raw emotions and experiences of her characters. Through Ajara's journey, the author skillfully explores themes of identity, loss, and redemption, offering a powerful reflection on the lasting impact of the past and the transformative potential of forgiveness and love.

"Good Dirt" is a poignant and beautifully crafted tale that will stay with readers long after the final page. Charmaine Wilkerson's mastery of language, character development, and narrative structure make this novel a must-read for anyone who appreciates immersive storytelling and thought-provoking themes.

Wilkerson's novels are 2 for 2 by my scorecard and I can't wait for more people to read this one!

This was a well written story encompassing many themes including generational trauma, grief, racism, Black history. The stories of many family members and adjacent others are woven together in support of protagonist Ebbie, a young woman coming to terms with her brother’s murder 10 years ago. There is a lot going on, but the author does a good job of bringing all the narratives to a satisfying and hopeful conclusion. Thank you for the ARC!

This book delivers on so many levels.
It is a heartbreaking tale of a family's loss and trauma and how it has a generational affect far beyond what you may expect.

This story follows Ebby and how she deals with the loss of her brother who was murdered when she was in the house. The grief and loss that she and her family feels impacts all of their relationships for the rest of their lives. How will Ebby heal? How can Ebby love again? Who will Ebby be as she gets older?

The poignancy with which the author writes this story is heartfelt and tragic. She writes so beautifully. This is a story everyone should read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House- Ballantine for the eARC of this book!

Review to follow. In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.

What in heaven’s name did I just read? Was it romance, historical fiction, family drama or mystery? The beginning of Good Dirt starts off like a typical romance novel and my first thought was, please, Lord, no. Not a romance by the author who wrote Black Cake. Ebby Freeman has already endured one tragedy, the murder of her brother when she was ten. But when her rich white fiancée leaves her at the altar, her life goes off course again. She accepts the offer of a friend to live at her French guest house as a caretaker. So, who is the first visitor to the place? Her ex, with his latest flame.
But the book soon delves in other directions. Across multiple time periods and POVs, it covers an African woman sold into slavery, whose son creates a large stoneware jug. This jug, decorated by one of Ebby’s ancestors, becomes a family heirloom when he escapes north with the jug. We also hear from Ebby’s parents, the ex-fiancée, even his latest paramour. There were so many POVs and so many different storylines, it took me a while to get oriented. I would advise those who feel put off by the beginning to stick with it. Because it does draw you in. The characters were interesting and multi-dimensional. Even Henry, who was a total jerk and a wuss, had the good sense to realize what an ass he was.
At the heart of the story is moving on from trauma. It’s about being willing to have the difficult conversations, to being an adult. And it’s about how not just our individual past, but also our family stories, shapes us.
As with Black Cake, the writing here is luscious; meant to be savored.
My thanks to Netgalley and Random Housemfor an advance copy of this book.

If you’ve read Black Cake, you know the author’s style: the narrative hops from one person to the next, sometime within a scene and sometimes back hundreds of years. It took me a little longer to bring together the threads in Good Dirt - I didn’t quite know what the story was until I was 35 or 40% in to the book. But waiting for the full picture was worth it. I loved Ebby - who has developed a cool facade to deal with the media attention from her brother’s death and lets few people in. I weirdly loved Avery, the woman who next dates the man who left Ebby at the alter and who she gets to know under odd circumstances. And I loved waiting for all the threads to come together.

Good Dirt combines the suspense of a mystery, the family dynamics of literary fiction, and the multi-generational historical saga that helps you see how the family members arrived at their current situation. Compelling!

Such a heartbreaking story of how a tragedy can alter a family forever. Ebby Freeman witnesses the murder of her older brother and this incident haunts Ebby and her family. The PTSD Ebby experiences affects her adult relationships. How do you even being to cope with being a child and witnessing something so brutal and tragic? This book grabbed me from the start. Charmaine Wilkerson is a master at character development and story crafting. I just loved this book and how much I felt while reading it. Thank you Random House Publishing- Ballantine Group and Net Galley for this advanced copy.

Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson is a unique family drama combined with several “finding oneself “ stories. Alternating POV and timeline narratives tie the aspects of the book together in a beautifully crafted manner. Easy to read but complex emotionally, Good Dirt was a pleasure to read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballentine for the opportunity to read this ARC.