Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson on January 28, 2025
Genres: Fiction / African American & Black / Historical, Fiction / Literary, Fiction / Women
Pages: 512
Format: Audiobook
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Charmaine Wilkerson delivers a sweeping, multi-generational novel in Good Dirt, a powerful exploration of grief, inheritance, and the inescapable pull of the past. With richly drawn characters and a compelling dual-timeline narrative, this story examines how family legacies shape identity, trauma, and redemption.
At the heart of the novel is Ebby Freeman, the daughter of an affluent Black family, whose life changed forever when she was ten years old. A game of hide-and-seek with her brother, Baz, turned into a nightmare when two masked men broke into their home, attempting to steal the family’s cherished stoneware jar—a six-generation heirloom dating back to the time of slavery. In the struggle to protect it, Baz was killed, and the jar was destroyed. The crime was never solved, and Ebby, burdened with guilt, kept quiet about the thieves’ true motive.
Nearly two decades later, Ebby is once again thrust into the spotlight—this time, after her high-profile engagement ends abruptly. Seeking refuge from public scrutiny and her lingering trauma, she escapes to France, where she hopes for a fresh start. But instead of peace, she finds herself face-to-face with Henry, her ex-fiancé, and his new girlfriend. Forced to confront the heartbreak she tried to outrun, Ebby also begins to unearth the deeper history of the jar her brother died protecting.
As the novel shifts between past and present, we follow the journey of Edward “Willis” Freeman, Ebby’s great-great-grandfather, who escaped slavery and made his way to Massachusetts, carrying the very jar that would become a symbol of resilience and sacrifice. Through the lives of Willis, Old Mo, Betsey, and Aquinnah, Wilkerson paints a vivid picture of survival, hope, and the power of legacy.
Beautifully written and emotionally resonant, Good Dirt is a poignant meditation on ancestry, trauma, and the enduring strength of family bonds. With themes of mental health, racism, and the importance of preserving history, this novel is a must-read for fans of historical fiction and deeply moving family sagas. Wilkerson’s storytelling is both powerful and thought-provoking, making Good Dirt a novel that lingers long after the final page.