Good Dirt: A Novel
Jan 2025 · Sold by Ballantine Books
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10 reviews
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384
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About this ebook
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
“Engrossing . . . Wilkerson masterfully weaves these threads of love, loss and legacy [into] a thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined family saga.”—The New York Times
LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, NPR, Marie Claire, People, Chicago Public Library, Christian Science Monitor, Denver Public Library
When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.
The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.
So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.
In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.
“Engrossing . . . Wilkerson masterfully weaves these threads of love, loss and legacy [into] a thoroughly researched and beautifully imagined family saga.”—The New York Times
LONGLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL • A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR: TIME, NPR, Marie Claire, People, Chicago Public Library, Christian Science Monitor, Denver Public Library
When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.
The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.
So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.
In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick
“Engrossing . . . Wilkerson masterfully weaves these t...
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Ratings and reviews
10 reviews
A J Moschette
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December 13, 2025
At the center of the story is a stoneware jar family heirloom that has been passed down through six generations. As a rule, I am not a fan of alternating perspectives and timeline jumps, but this is so well done. Not only did the transitions make sense, they wove an intricate tapestry of survival, courage and love. It’s a reminder of what never should have been and hope for a better, more caring and giving future.
Linda Dossett
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January 28, 2025
Enjoyed this book, and at the beginning, I could not put it down. Once I moved into Part 2, it lost something, I found myself having to go back to the beginning of chapters to check dates. The story of Ebby,’s family’s past was heart rending and yet uplifting in their struggles to survive. Ebby left me unsatisfied, she needed more, she is “main character light”. The past storyline made this book and made the five star rating possible.
Paula Pugh
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February 3, 2025
An amazing novel of the story of a family heirloom jug that ties a family together over the ages. Its fracture during a home invasion robbery and murder of a son drives the family apart. The young daughter witnessed the murder and is hounded by the press throughout her life as her wealthy family struggles to find a new normal. Guilt is at the center of each person, rocking them to the core. A very moving story. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
About the author
Charmaine Wilkerson is the New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake, which was named a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick and adapted as a Hulu streaming series by Oprah Winfrey and Kapital Entertainment. She is an American writer who has lived in Jamaica and Italy. A graduate of Barnard College and Stanford University, she is a former journalist whose award-winning short fiction has appeared in various magazines and anthologies.
Charmaine Wilkerson is the New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake, which was named a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick and adapted as a Hulu streaming series by Oprah Winfrey and Kapital Entertainment. She is an American writer who has lived in Jamaica and Italy. A graduate of Barnard Colle...
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