Critics' Opinion:
Readers' rating:
Published Jan 2021
352 pages
Genre: Literary Fiction
Publication Information
A shockingly powerful exploration of the lasting impact of prejudice and the indomitable spirit of sisterhood that will have readers questioning what it truly means to be an ally, from sister-writer duo Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, authors of Dear Haiti, Love Alaine.
ISN'T BEING HUMAN ENOUGH?
When teen social activist and history buff Kezi Smith is killed under mysterious circumstances after attending a social justice rally, her devastated sister Happi and their family are left reeling in the aftermath. As Kezi becomes another immortalized victim in the fight against police brutality, Happi begins to question the idealized way her sister is remembered. Perfect. Angelic.
One of the good ones.
Even as the phrase rings wrong in her mind—why are only certain people deemed worthy to be missed?—Happi and her sister Genny embark on a journey to honor Kezi in their own way, using an heirloom copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book as their guide. But there's a twist to Kezi's story that no one could've ever expected—one that will change everything all over again.
"[B]rilliant storytelling...This novel, the second collaboration by the sisters behind Dear Haiti, Love Alaine (2019), is an explosive look behind the hashtags at race and history, taking readers on a road trip mapped by love and grief. Close to perfection." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A thrilling read for fans of historical and realistic fiction. A great title for public and school libraries." - School Library Journal (starred review)
"Though a late-breaking plot twist jars, thrusting the story into a high-octane soap opera that never quite coheres, it's an otherwise riveting story about an all-too-familiar series of tragedies and the all-too-familiar attitudes that surround them." - Publishers Weekly
"Thrilling and thrillingly intricate, genre-bending One of the Good Ones investigates intergenerational racial trauma through the eyes of three very different sisters while it testifies to the power of love and hope in spite of it. Astonishing!" - Laura Ruby, two-time National Book Award finalist and author of Bone Gap
"Maika and Maritza are conjurers, unearthing strange and sublime ways to tell a story that's both America's oldest and today's newest. One of the Good Ones is magic." - Damon Young, author of What Doesn't Kill You Makes You Blacker
"One of the Good Ones is more than a spectacular thriller — it's also a compass, seeping into your soul and helping you redefine your true north. Impactful, insightful, and perfectly timed. Get ready. Maika and Maritza Moulite are the real deal." - Brad Meltzer, bestselling author of The Escape Artist
This information about One of the Good Ones was first featured
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Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Maika Moulite is a Miami native and the daughter of Haitian immigrants. She earned a bachelor's in marketing from Florida State University and an MBA from the University of Miami. When she's not using her digital prowess to help nonprofits and major organizations tell their stories online, she's sharpening her skills as a PhD student at Howard University's Communication, Culture and Media Studies program. Her research focuses on representation in media and its impact on marginalized groups. She's the eldest of four sisters and loves young adult novels, fierce female leads, and laughing.
Maritza Moulite graduated from the University of Florida with a bachelor's in women's studies and the University of Southern California with a master's in journalism. She's worked in various capacities for NBC News, CNN, and USA TODAY. Maritza is a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania exploring ways to improve literacy in under-resourced communities after being inspired to study education from her time as a literacy tutor and pre-k teacher assistant. Her favorite song is "September" by Earth, Wind & Fire.
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