I am a lover of history, and African-American history has always held a special place in my heart. What a wonderful way to learn about this history through the delightful character of Ebby Freeman. Ebby is the daughter of an affluent Black family that suffered a terrible loss. During the tragedy, a family heirloom, a large pottery jar from the 1800s, was also shattered. This jar was such a big part of their family's history, and a reminder of their greater family loss. To compound their loss, the media refused to give the family any privacy over the years, which caused Ebby constant heartache and anxiety.

The media was especially cruel when Ebby had romantic troubles. It is bad enough to suffer from heartache, and all the more painful to read about it in the news. It is only Ebby's strength of character that enabled her to pick up the pieces, again, and move on.

This multi-generational story is told from several points of view, and from several time periods, but always centers on Ebby and her transformation. It captures the reader's attention immediately, and you will soon find that you are scheduling "Ebby Time" at least once a day. You simply will not want to put the book down, and when you are forced to, you will be planning the next time to visit with Ebby again. Good Dirt is a hauntingly beautiful story that will impact you for times to come.

I found this this novel informative and thought provoking. I never realized that there were slaves who didn’t work in the fields or the master’s house. This was a learning experience for me.I think it brought to light that there were slaves who were very creative and most time that creativity was repressed; other times it was used for the owner’s profit while not giving credit to the true artist. This is definitely what happened to Moses”. That’s is why a piece of pottery large jar called Old MO made by one of the Freeman family ancestors takes center stage. It is the receptacle and guardian of their ancestors stories or memories dating back to slavery. Both Ebby and Baz never, forget its importance as a treasure keepsake but also include it in their lives like another family member. Through many years of hard work and determination by their ancestors, their family has moved up the social ladder from slaves to upper- class Americans, and Old Mo is the symbol of this. It also has caused Ebby to have a very difficult life since she was 10.

This brings the reader to the thought provoking part of this novel. We always hear people say everyone grieves in their own way, but question how the person processes that grief. How long is it acceptable to grieve: a week, month, a year, a lifetime. Should the person allow it to affect their lives or should they just get on with it. Because of her grief Ebby becomes the main chapter not to be confused with the central figure. Having her fiancé not show up on her wedding daymares the reader take a closer look at the question of grief and how it can affect a person’s by how they processed it.

To me these were the two main themes in the novel. The first is our lack of knowledge of the Afro_Americans creative talents. In most history books, they are only shown as housemaids, field hands, some of whom were taught a trade:: blacksmith, farm equipment repair, but nothing about creative talent. The second makes us look at ourselves and ask, “Are we too judgmental when we know someone is grieving”?

As to the title, it can be seen as a reference to the clay used to make the pottery. However it can also be used to remind the reader of people being treated like dirt; they treated him like dirt meaning he wasn’t worth anything. The Freeman family and their ancestors and all enslaved people are worth more than dirt, and they are good.

I feel like this will be one of the best books of 2025.

Good Dirt is a multigenerational story that focuses on grief. Every character is so deep and likable. There are also historical points mentioned that were very new to me.

I loved Black Cake, but I think this novel is even better.

Ms Wilkerson is a very good writer and story teller. Very much enjoyed the book not just for the story, but the writing and the evolution of the story.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to read and good luck with the book

Part multigenerational family drama and part historical fiction, Charmaine Wilkerson’s novel 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵 tells several intriguing stories from various points of view and time. There is Ebby Freeman, a 29-year-old copyeditor whose failed wedding brings negative attention back to her prominent Black family. She decides to work abroad in France for a few months to escape the renewed scrutiny. There are her parents, Ed and Soh, who have had a somewhat codependent relationship with Ebby since the tragic death of their other child Baz during an infamous home robbery nearly twenty years ago. They struggle with Ebby’s distance and unresolved issues of their own. There are Moses and Willis, ancestors and enslaved stoneware artisans whose clay jar later becomes a Freeman family heirloom and then a symbol of loss. And there are several other narrators in these multiple timelines that add more depth and dimension to the saga.

While I overall enjoyed the different perspectives and appreciated the value they added to the book, I admit there were times that the narrative seemed meandering due to the many voices and time jumps. I felt it took a bit too long to get to the meat of the main plot. Nonetheless, I think 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘵 is a beautifully written novel that discusses an important part of American history as well as overcoming grief, confronting trauma, and finding the resilience to move forward. I recommend it to those who enjoyed Wilkerson’s first novel 𝘉𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘊𝘢𝘬𝘦.

4.5 stars rounded up. Thank you to Ballantine Books for an advance reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

"Good Dirt" is engaging and heartfelt. A young girl witnesses her brother's death and the crime is never solved. Years later, when a romance falls apart, she moves to France and takes time to process the death of her brother, and the significance of a family relic. Wilkerson has provided historical fiction at its best. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for the ARC. Pub Date: January 28th, 2025.

#GoodDirt

I just could not get into this book. I loved Black Cake, but this one was a struggle to read. Every time it bounced backwards into the past, I wanted to put the book down. Ebby was interesting. I really wanted to read her parts.

*Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of "Good Dirt" by Charmaine Wilkerson.

This is the second book I've read by the author, Charmaine Wilkerson. I loved the first book, "Black Cake," so I had high hopes for "Good Dirt" — and it didn't disappoint. I have loved historical fiction since I was a kid, and "Good Dirt" certainly falls into that genre. The book takes us on a journey through the Freeman family's history, centered around a beloved family heirloom. The story is told through multiple voices and time periods, all of which add to the depth and beauty of this novel. Themes throughout this book include death, family, mental health, racism, slavery, and trauma. I could not put this book down!

I struggled to get into this book. Whilst beautifully written it just wasn't right for me and I found it somewhat slow moving and tedious.

I enjoyed this story just as much as Black Cake! Wilkerson’s writing is just beautiful and has the ability to draw you in and not let go!

This story centers around the Freeman family who suffered a terrible tragedy. Ebby witnesses her brother’s murder over their families stone jar heirloom years earlier and she struggles to deal with the subsequent grief and guilt. In the present, her fiancé Henry abandons her at the alter and Ebby flees to France to deal with her feelings. When Henry shows up at the village she’s staying in, she is forced to deal with trauma of losing her brother and face her families history.

This story was so beautifully done. Wilkerson weaved the stories of the ancestors from the past and the present so cleverly. I loved the mystery surrounding the ancient stone jar beloved by the family and how it played into the story.

I could not put this book down! One of my top reads this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine books for my e-copy in exchange for my honest review.

Just like this author's previous (and debut) novel Black Cake, this new one, Good Dirt focus on a storytelling about siblings, parents, hidden family secrets and multiple characters from different generations, all connected. It's about a family tragedy that changed everyone's life in the past and, after so many years of resentment and regret, they all turn their seemingly endless grief into a powerful lesson.
Good Dirt goes back and forth, throughout the entire book, between past and present: the past focus on the history behind a jug made of pottery - who has made it and what happened to it since it was made in the 1800's, and how it ended up being an heirloom to the Freeman family; and the more present timeline when we follow the Freeman's and how a tragedy (taken place many years ago) connecting the youngest son and the jug changed everything in this family life.

Charmaine Wilkerson is a very talented writer, in my opinion, and she captivates me again with her new book and her stunning narrative.
The characters are very realistic - flawed and relatable, the plot is very intricate in a way that, even though it requires attention and patience, it reads beautifully and it moves you, and the conclusion is mostly likely to be very satisfying to most readers.

Personally, I prefer Black Cake. I could connect better with the main characters. Even though it was very easy to sympathise with the characters from Good Dirt, I couldn't help feeling that I never truly connected to anyone. I rooted for them. I wanted to see justice being made, but never a strong connection to them. My favourite parts, though, were Ebby's storyline in France and all the moments she would reminisce about his younger brother so fondly.
What's more, I usually don't mind several characters in a story, but this book surely has A LOT of characters. Some of them failed to hold my attention.
I can easily recommend this book to anyone who has read Black Cake and enjoyed it - and if you like historical literary fiction you definitely should consider picking up Black Cake.

Thank you to NetGalley and to Random House Publishing Group Ballantine for providing me with a free eARC of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

Charmaine Wilkerson's storytelling prowess shines through in her latest novel, Good Dirt. This emotionally rich and intricate tale left me completely captivated. The multi-layered narrative spanning generations is a five-star masterpiece that I believe would translate seamlessly to the big screen – I've already casting all the characters in my head lol! Having been a fan of Wilkerson's debut novel, Black Cake, I already knew she was an amazing author. However, Good Dirt has truly exceeded my expectations – it's undoubtedly going to be one of my top reads this year. Good Dirt would spark thought-provoking discussions, making it a perfect choice for any book club. In my opinion, it's an absolute must-read!

Thank you net galley for letting me preview this novel. I was interested in reading this, as I really enjoyed Blake Cake and the adaptation based on the book on Hulu. I read this in just a few days. I was very invested in the lives of Ebby and her family, past as well as present and finding out the secrets they were keeping. I liked the explorations of race, family and belonging. Highly recommend.

I loved this family saga so much. I am familiar with the author’s other works and appreciated this book just as much as the others. Her character development is superb, along with her writing style.. I would recommend this to everyone.

I enjoyed every minute of this book. It was based on a family that had to deal with tragedy, with the loss of the son and a beloved family heirloom shattered on the same day. It was well written story that had fascinating characters. Thank you Net Galley ARC

Phenomenal read. Good Dirt centers on the Freeman family, a prominent black family in New England with a tragic past. Their son Baz was murdered during a home invasion and an heirloom was also destroyed that day. Nearly two decades later, Ebby is left at the altar and then takes off to France shortly after to rediscover herself. Intermingled is the story of the family’s enslaved ancestors, as well as the heirloom, Old Mo, a large stoneware jar brought to New England by Willis, an ancestor trying to escape enslavement. It seems as if the pottery stories are a metaphor for Ebby’s own reshaping of her life. Not to mention the jar being broken in pieces during the home invasion, much like the family and their lives.
I thought the book was beautifully written and really connected with the characters and the plot. Thank you to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for access to this ARC.

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

A compelling realistic fiction novel with an interwoven historical fiction storyline. I love Ebby. Baz broke my heart. Old Mo was meant to be resurrected.

I could not put this book down! This story is many many stories woven together in a beautiful, heartbreaking, and brilliant way. We follow the journey of Ebby Freeman in present day, a woman who lost her brother in a violent crime at a young age, whose love life is currently falling apart and is simply looking to hid but to eventually find herself. Her story is woven together with those of her family, both present and far in the past. The stories are all told in the third person and in a non-linear and non-chronological way so if that's hard for you to follow, this book isn't for you. This book was so engaging and I found myself feeling deeply for each character. Each character's resolve and resilience was what spoke to me most. This story isn't just one family's story, but a part of America's story and a story only gets better with more voices!

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group for this ARC!

As a huge fan of Black Cake, I couldn’t wait to get my hands on my approved request for an advanced readers copy of the book in exchange for an unbiased review. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ballentine Books, I am forever grateful.

Charmaine Wilkerson is one incredibly talented author. She takes her craft to a higher level. The plot for Good Dirt is clear and precise. There is a back story with an interesting cast of characters. She stays on point even while introducing the back story. There is educational info on slave/trade history not just in the United States but around the world. Another blight in world history. How could this happen? Steeling people right out of their homes and off the streets to be transported and sold in far away countries. It’s terribly sad but the resilience of humans after so much abuse and heartache is nothing short of miraculous. The plot was interesting and very different. Being born and raised in New England I enjoyed the New England connections of the Freeman family and their history.

The story of Ebby, Baz and the Freeman family in addition to Old Mo is one you will take with you. They turn tragedy into something powerfully positive. I was a strong champion for each one of them with the exception of Henry who I eventually gave the benefit of the doubt.

Don’t let this one slip by. GET YOUR COPY!!

I was so excited to be able to read this book as I loved the author's previous book, Black Cake.

This was a great bit of history, family, tragedy & it all pulls together.
There are chapters told from the times of this family's slave connection, how that came to be, what jobs were performed & one particular job is what ties this story together.

There are more chapters told over various time frames & up to current times.

I hate to give too much away, as I don't care for reviews where I learn too much about a story & this book is not going to be released for a bit so I won't leak things.