A review by mhinnen
Good Dirt by Charmaine Wilkerson

challenging emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.25

"This is the story of our family, Baz once told her. And their mom, who’d overheard him, said, That’s true, Baz, but not only. Because our history is everyone’s history. Our history is American history."

When I was in college, I took a class on African American history and wrote a paper about the tradition and art of quilting - the familial stories that quilts told and passed on through generations. "Good Dirt" is a powerful novel about six generations of the Freeman family, all connected by a 20-gallon clay jar that serves as a vessel of their stories—stories that encompass enslavement, tragedy, affluence, and collective healing. 

At the heart of the novel is Ebby, who as a child witnessed the tragic death of her brother. In the present day, she finds herself left at the wedding altar, grappling with how to reclaim her life. Wilkerson expertly shifts between the perspectives of various characters, from those who were stolen and enslaved to those who escaped, and from Ebby's parents and grandparents to others connected to the family's history. The clay pot, known as "Old Mo," becomes a symbol of survival, made under forced labor but bearing a literal hidden message that resonates through time.

Wilkerson weaves these complex stories with skill and depth, creating a narrative that is both intricate and moving.

I was thrilled to receive an advanced copy of this book, which is set to be published in January. I highly recommend adding "Good Dirt" to your 2025 reading list.
#GoodDirt #NetGalley