Purchase to Support Our Program

“Maika and Maritza Moulite lean on Haitian folklore to examine class and racial inequality in this biting novel. While 17-year-old Haitian American Miami native Brielle dreams of being a chef, her primary focus is supporting her immigrant mother. …But their medical and financial challenges aren’t the only things Brielle finds difficult to manage: Brielle, born a zombie, craves human flesh, an appetite that strains her relationship with her mother. …Brielle’s fluidly rendered narration and the novel’s ambitious premise result in a captivating look at one immigrant family’s experience via a fantasy lens.”

– Publishers Weekly

The Summer I Ate the Rich

Written by Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite
Published by Farrar, Straus and Giroux

A modern horror about a Haitian American girl who uses her previously hidden zombie abilities to enact revenge on the wealthy elites who’ve caused her family pain.

Brielle Petitfour loves to cook. But with a chronically sick mother and bills to pay, becoming a chef isn’t exactly a realistic career path.

When her mom’s boss gets killed in a hit and run, washing their financial stability down the drain, Brielle manages to win over the rich families who employ them when they taste her one-of-a-kind meals. Everyone praises her for their unique flavors and textures, which keeps everyone guessing what’s in her dishes. The secret ingredient? Human flesh.

Written by the storytelling duo, Maika and Maritza Moulite, The Summer I Ate The Rich is a biting, smart new fantasy inspired by Haitian zombie lore that scrutinizes the socioeconomic and racial inequity that is the foundation of our modern times.

Primary ISBN: 9780374390532
Publication Date: April 2025
Available As: Hardcover, Audiobook, eBook
Young Adult, Age 14 or older

Community Represented:

Themes: , , , , , ,

Setting: United States (Miami FL)

Character's Place in the Immigration Journey: 1st Generation

Book Creator(s) Connection to the Community Represented: Own Voices/Lived Experience

Click here for details about how we define our titles.

Engagement Projects & Resources:

Share your favorite resources for this book with info@imyourneighborbooks.org.