ONE OF THE GOOD ONES
The Hate U Give meets Get Out in an honest and powerful exploration of prejudice in this stunning novel 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.
The Hate U Give meets Get Out in an honest and powerful exploration of prejudice in this stunning novel 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.
- Inkyard Press
- Hardcover
- January 2021
- 384 Pages
- 9781335145802
Buy the Book
$18.99
About Maika Moulite & Maritza Moulite
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 writing stories of her own. She also blogs at Daily Ellement, a lifestyle website featuring everything from diverse inspirational women to career guidance. She’s the eldest of four sisters and loves young adult fantasy, 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. An admirer of Michelle Obama, Maritza is a perpetual student and blogs at Daily Ellement. Her favorite song is “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.
Discussion Questions
1. How does each character’s race impact their awareness of the world around them? How do they have to think about both physical and emotional safety?
2. The refrain of “one of the good ones” is evident throughout this book. What does this phrase mean? Kezi was described as “one of the good ones” and Shaqueria was not. How did the world react to their arrests and subsequent events?
3. What does Kezi value about herself, and how does that align (or not) with what her parents value about her, and what her sisters value? How does that contrast with what society values?
4. The Smith family is going through a time of profound grief. How are they each reacting to it and channeling it? What are the pressures from society on how they channel their grief?
5. Describe how the three sisters react differently to growing up in the same household and in society. How do these differences affect the way they interact with each other?
6. Guilt manifests itself in a variety of ways throughout the book. Give examples of ways in which Kezi, Happi, and Genny express guilt and how their guilt drives and influences their actions.
7. How do the actions of the past shape the narrative of the present? In what ways are the characters aware of this legacy, and how do they react to it? Are there times when they have to change and adapt from it? How does a character’s race affect the way that these legacies are passed down?
8. How does Kezi’s relationship with Ximena intersect with her relationship with her family and with how she is viewed in society?
9. Discuss what allyship looks like in One of the Good Ones in terms of supporting the Black community and the LGBTQ+ community. How does that intersect in real life?
Discussion questions written by Shanetia P. Clark, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Literacy, Salisbury University.