Book of The Month discussion

The daughter of an affluent Black family pieces together the connection between a childhood tragedy and a beloved heirloom in this moving novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Black Cake, a Read with Jenna Book Club Pick

When ten-year-old Ebby Freeman heard the gunshot, time stopped. And when she saw her brother, Baz, lying on the floor surrounded by the shattered pieces of a centuries-old jar, life as Ebby knew it shattered as well.

The crime was never solved—and because the Freemans were one of the only Black families in a particularly well-to-do enclave of New England—the case has had an enduring, voyeuristic pull for the public. The last thing the Freemans want is another media frenzy splashing their family across the papers, but when Ebby's high profile romance falls apart without any explanation, that's exactly what they get.

So Ebby flees to France, only for her past to follow her there. And as she tries to process what's happened, she begins to think about the other loss her family suffered on that day eighteen years ago—the stoneware jar that had been in their family for generations, brought North by an enslaved ancestor. But little does she know that the handcrafted piece of pottery held more than just her family's history—it might also hold the key to unlocking her own future.

In this sweeping, evocative novel, Charmaine Wilkerson brings to life a multi-generational epic that examines how the past informs our present.

Part 1 / 35%

(view spoiler)[ hmm. . .I'm not feeling as pulled into this as I'd hoped. it's hopping around so much between POV that I'm finding it hard to care about anyone yet

Henry - I don't like him at all. I don't want his POV because I don't care how he feels about leaving her
Avery - she's even worse. I don't want her POV at all right now

Ebony - she deserves so much better than the spineless Henry. I agree with the mom - he'd never faced hardship and so he wasn't prepared to handle being with such a strong woman who had suffered and had come through it

Soh - I'm not sure about her POV.
Dad - I guess we'll see what his secret is about - it's somehow tied to the MO jar. Are the stories all a lie?

and Baz's murder was so sad and horrible and I dislike Henry even more for not being able to face that Tucker might know something. Coward. (hide spoiler)]

Part 2 / 58%

(view spoiler)[
wow, I'm glad they cleared Henry quickly
but what could be going on. hopefully it's not Robert or Georgio or anyone else she knows in the town. yikes. she did sneak out so who knows
I didn't think there would be a murder mystery

I'm liking the story of Edward/Willis and more about the pot but I thought Ebony would be finding it out. seems she already knew the history and is just writing it down?

I still don't like Henry. and Avery is still an awful person - but I'm glad she's not being ugly to Ebony's face (although she was awful behind her back!)

this story isn't how I thought it would be. It's a bit distracting to have so many POV. (hide spoiler)]

Part 3 / 83%

(view spoiler)[ I'm so glad to have left Avery and Henry's POV behind - hopefully he won't pop back up
we still don't know who could have known about the jar but I think we're about to find out

I'm so sad the couple is struggling this long after the loss of their son. I'm sad Soh and Ed haven't talked more - relieved each other of any guilt

and we still don't know the full saying on the bottom of the jar. curious to find out what that is
and curious if she goes back for Robert

and who killed that girl or will we never know that? they skipped right over that mystery . . . (hide spoiler)]

and done

(view spoiler)[ awe, I love that the dad saved it and then they put Old Mo in the museum. I'm so sad he kept that from everyone

and I'm glad Henry came back but boy was I glad he went away again too

Love that Avery stopped by

that was a good conclusion (hide spoiler)]