Every family has a story it tells itself.

Sometimes it’s a treasured memory. Sometimes it’s an object passed carefully from one generation to the next. And sometimes it’s a wound so old and so deep that no one quite knows where it begins anymore.

In Good Dirt, Charmaine Wilkerson builds a family saga around all three. A shattered heirloom jar, an unsolved tragedy, and centuries of inherited history become the threads connecting one family across generations. What emerged for me wasn’t the emotional gut punch I expected, but rather a layered exploration of identity, resilience, and the ways the past continues to shape the present. Here’s what worked for me, what didn’t quite land, and whether this much-discussed novel is worth adding to your reading life.

*Spoilers will be hidden and labelled so you can choose to read or skip.

An expressionist-style painting of a broken jar graces the cover of Good Dirt. Brightly and imaginatively colored, the effect is eye-catching. The jar is off-kilter and clearly broken–this is a story about trauma and healing.

Color Story

Brightly colored, the cover of Good Dirt is both vibrant and warm.

Typography Notes

Bold, clear geometric sans serif in bright white stands out against the multi-colored background. The type has a distressed treatment that speaks to age and wear. It is a good fit for the story within the pages of Good Dirt. The title also interacts with the jar in the background making the connection between the title and the pottery.

Genre Signals

No clear signals point to a specific genre, so its a good bet that this would be considered literary fiction.

Hidden Details

On close inspection, you can see the profile of a person’s face (presumably our main character) within the cracked portion of the jar.

Mood Check

The rich textures and layered, artistic quality hint at the same level of nuance and detail within the text.

Beyond the Dust Jacket

Good Dirt has good formatting and clear POV indicators. The end pages have both a book club question guide and a soundtrack list! What a fun detail!

Did the design affect whether I bought the book?

Yes, the cover absolutely drew me to this title.

Ebony “Ebby” Freeman’s point of view is most prominent in the telling of Good Dirt. Arguably, the main character, Ebby, has had a traumatic past and is struggling to find a way to move forward, to heal. Her struggle is clarified by all of the other points of view that feed into the story of this family and their heirloom. Ebby isn’t a lone voice; her journey is not taken in isolation. Each part of her family and friends circle, as well as the history of her family, adds something to her story and identity. Just as none of us exists alone, but is made up of our experiences, our knowledge, and the family that has brought us into being.

A wide cast with resoundingly clear and distinct voices makes up the chorus that tells Ebby’s story. Each of them contributes a different amount to the tale.

Snapshots and vignettes layer one on another to build the rich and complex story of Good Dirt. This writing style is reflected in the themes and symbols sprinkled throughout the entire book.

Third-person narration keeps the reader at arm’s length for the characters. The emotional currency of such a tale should have made Good Dirt a straight-up tear-jerker. Alas, not a tear was shed.

The POV range of Good Dirt is wide and varied. Everyone gets a chapter. The effect is to allow the reader to see the jar (and the family) from lots of perspectives. Good Dirt wraps up linking the artifacts in the book with this writing style; it’s a very cool effect.

Trauma and its residual effects are deeply explored, especially trauma that is highly publicized.

Black history is American history. Good Dirt calls out how much this fact is overlooked and sheds light on the stories of enslaved folks and their impact on the development of this country.

Prejudice. Interestingly, Good Dirt looks at racial discrimination with a very specific and nuanced eye. Rather than sweeping generalizations, Wilkerson shines light on microaggressions, racially skewed assumptions, and such, especially as it ties to old money and exclusive circles.

What Worked:

• Unique storytelling style
• Interesting plot and characters

What Didn’t Fully Click:

• The writing style didn’t allow a deep connection to the characters, leaving the emotional depth lacking
• A bit repetitive in Ebbys pov specifically with regard to her being constantly recognized from her childhood trauma

Overall:

• Solid read. absolutely worth checking out

When I pulled the card for a family saga, I searched through my TBR and came up with a pretty short list of qualifiers. I was a little late this week to get started on a book, so I narrowed the list by number of pages. Read the descriptions of each book in the 350-ish page range. Good Dirt seemed like it would have the most interesting at the moment.

I wasn’t quite in the mood for a family saga, but was hooked by the short chapters and varying pov. as I close the book, I feel like it was a good choice.

Good Dirt gave me a peek into the lives of people unlike myself, and in that regard, challenged me. Will I be thinking about it long after? I’m not sure. Ask me next year.

Read if you like:

• Multi-povs, short chapters, dual timelines
• Strong families that love and support each other
• History and art

Skip if you dislike:

• Slow-paced, character-driven stories
• Trauma-based stories

I read Good Dirt to fulfill the Playing Card Reading Challenge prompt: Read a family saga. It could also fulfill: Read a book about grief/loss or Read a book with a dual timeline.

Wilkerson also provides a recommended soundtrack at the back of Good Dirt. Check it out before you start reading. I think it will make the experience even richer.

Does your family have an heirloom? What does that object mean to your family?

May your life be as full as your bookshelf and as long as your TBR list.

Happy Reading!