Ladee Hubbard

The LAST SUSPICIOUS HOLDOUT

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The critically acclaimed author of The Rib King returns with an eagerly anticipated collection of short stories including the title story written exclusively for this volume, that explore relationships in a Black neighborhood over the course from the late 1980s to the eve of Barack Obama’s inauguration.

The Rib King

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“Ladee Hubbard’s voice is a welcome original.” —Mary Gaitskill

Upstairs, Downstairs meets Parasite: The acclaimed author of The Talented Ribkins deconstructs painful African American stereotypes and offers a fresh and searing critique on race, class, privilege, ambition, exploitation, and the seeds of rage in America in this intricately woven and masterfully executed historical novel, set in the early twentieth century that centers around the black servants of a down-on-its heels upper-class white family.

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The Talented Ribkins

“For sheer reading pleasure Ladee Hubbard’s original and wildly inventive novel is in a class by itself.”
–Toni Morrison

“A quirky, bittersweet comedy, Hubbard’s novel offers an original perspective on the legacy of the civil rights movement… Crafts an irresistible idea of activists with de facto superpowers challenging the racist power structure of mid-20th century America.”
– Atlanta Journal-Constitution

“Ladee Hubbard delivers a fascinating twist on DuBois’ notion of the Talented Tenth in her debut novel… The Talented Ribkins recalls Colson Whitehead’s first novel, The Intuitionist.”
– Paste

“An entertaining coming-of-age story that flips the ‘magical Negro’ trope on its head… Inspired by a W.E.B. Du Bois essay, Hubbard delicately dissects race, class, and politics by calling on her characters to justify their actions beyond their well-meaning intentions.” – BUST

“First-time novelist Ladee Hubbard has created a collection of misfits like no other in The Talented Ribkins… fascinating… Hubbard’s tale ultimately transcends race, class and time itself.”
– Bookpage

"To describe this novel, as someone inevitably will, as Song of Solomon reimagined as a Marvel Comics franchise is to shortchange its cleverness and audacity."

- Kirkus Reviews