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An intensely gripping thriller

A historical odyssey for Kezi Smith’s sisters Genny and Happi and best friends Ximena and Derek.

The Blue Whale of Catoosa
one of the good ones book covers

Title

One of the Good Ones

Author(s)

Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite

Genre

LGBTQIA+ | Young Adult

One of the Good Ones is nothing short of a historical odyssey for Kezi Smith’s sisters Genny and Happi and best friends Ximena and Derek. Armed with Victor Hugo Green’s, The Negro Motorist Green Book—a Michelin Guide of sorts that lists Black-friendly businesses in North America—they embark on a road trip across the country. The purpose of the trip was to discover which business still existed, if any since the last edition of the guide was published more than 50 years ago. What the foursome discover, however—as they take turns driving a colorful Mustang convertible—is certainly much more than they had ever hoped for and worth reading.

This novel is everything. The prose is beautiful, descriptive, and imaginative. The story is a lesson in history, in humanity, and in sibling rivalry. There’s sadness and there’s hope. The characters are so well-developed that you’ll likely see yourself in them all. It’s an adventure we should all hope never happens to anyone, yet I’m all the better for reading it. This is American Literature!

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About the author(s).

MAIKA MOULITE is a Miami native and the daughter of Haitian immigrants. She loves writing: books, think pieces, journal entries, neverending lists, you name it. When she’s not scribbling every random thought into her notes app, she’s sharpening her skills as a Howard University PhD student. (That means more writing.) Her research focuses on representation in media and its impact on marginalized groups. She’s the eldest of four sisters and loves audiobooks, 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 but her favorite roles were Head Start literacy tutor and pre-k teacher assistant. She loved working with young people so much that she is now a PhD student at the University of Pennsylvania exploring ways to improve literacy through children’s media. She clearly couldn’t get enough of school. Her favorite song is “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire.

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