Title: One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite
Publisher: Inkyard Press
Genre: Contemporary, Young Adult, Fiction
Length: 316 pages
Book Rating: B
Complimentary Review Copy Provided by Publisher Through NetGalley
Summary:
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.
Review:
One of the Good Ones by Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite is a poignant young adult novel.
After turning eighteen, Kezi Smith defies her parents when she takes her activism off the internet and into the streets. She and her best friend Ximena Levinson are protesting the recent murder of a Black man when Kezi is arrested. Upset and certain she is being wrongly detained, Kezi is manhandled while in police custody. In the aftermath of chaos at the station, she is dead and her family is left grieving.
Kezi’s younger sister Happi deeply regrets their last exchange. While Kezi’s short life is celebrated, Happi is left to deal with her conflicted feelings on her own. But that changes when her older sister, Genny, convinces her to embark on the trip Kezi planned to take along Route 66 to commemorate the various stops from a treasured copy of The Negro Motorist Green Book. Although a reluctant companion on the journey, Happi unexpectedly finds peace both within herself and her sometimes turbulent relationship with Kezi.
Kezi is a star student with a bright future ahead of her after graduation. She is an extremely popular YouTube sensation with a huge following. She uses her platform to draw attention to social injustices and hopefully enact change. Kezi does not like being at odds with her parents, but she refuses to give up the opportunity to join the protest. But she cannot foresee how much very wrong things will go as she comes to the aid of a fellow protester who is exercising his first amendment rights.
Happi is the complete opposite of her older sister. Although they were once very close, their relationship is a bit strained. Happi feel in love with acting and she is pursuing her dream of becoming an actress. She is prone to skipping school and partying just a little too hard on occasion. Her last interaction with Kezi haunts her as she tries to come to terms with the reality of Kezi’s death.
One of the Good Ones is thought-provoking young adult novel which deftly handles an all too frequent reality in America today. The characters are exquisitely developed with realistic human foibles and surprising strengths. Happi and Genny’s road trip turns intensely personal at one heartbreaking stop along their journey. With a very shocking plot twist, Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite bring this incredible novel to a very unexpected conclusion. An educational and sometimes heartrending novel that I greatly enjoyed and HIGHLY recommend to older teen and adult readers.
