The Summer I Ate the Rich

De: Maika Moulite, Maritza Moulite

Narrado por: Ashley De La Rosa, Fedna Jacquet, Khaya Fraites, Melinda Sewak, Mieko Gavia, Zuri Washington

“Melinda Sewak's tender, sometimes sinister, delivery of food descriptions enhances the story's evocative language.”—AudioFile

Just add garlic, lemon, and a dash of the one percent.

This smart, biting novel, which features multicast narration, explores what happens when a Haitian American girl uses her previously hidden zombie abilities to exact 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 Brielle’s mom suddenly loses her job, Brielle steps in and uses her culinary skills to earn some extra money. The rich families who love her cooking praise her use of unique flavors and textures, which keep everyone guessing what’s in Brielle’s dishes. The secret ingredient? Human flesh.

Written by the storytelling duo Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite, The Summer I Ate the Rich is a modern-day fable inspired by Haitian zombie lore that scrutinizes the socioeconomic and racial inequity that is the foundation of our society. Just like Brielle’s clients, it will have you asking: What’s for dinner?

A Macmillan Audio production from Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

©2025 Maika Moulite and Maritza Moulite (P)2025 Macmillan Audio

Reseñas de la Crítica

"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 Moulite Sisters have created a character like no other in Brielle, an ambitious, compassionate, flesh-hungry aspiring chef who happens to be a teen zonbi. Brimming with biting commentary about survival while subverting stereotypes, this story challenges notions of who gets to consume and who gets consumed. The Summer I Ate the Rich is a delectable meal of a story, served up with a side of culture, romance, and revenge.”—Ibi Zoboi, New York Times Bestselling Author

A different view on Zombies

I loved this story but I think the author's note should be at the beginning of the book.

Borderlands Zombies

I was expecting more horror. I would call this a fantastical imagining closer to magical realism of the first generation immigrant child struggling to find and define themselves through and against expectations.

Unique take on zombies

Was this the best book I've ever read, no, but so much about it made it an obvious five star for me. This is a YA horror book that took something personal that happened in the authors family, added in some hot button issues many are dealing with in the US and finished it off shedding light onto the immigrant experience, Haitian immigrant to be precise with a sprinkle of class system issues. They really wrapped so many important issues into a very entertaining book. This was a zombie book written in a way so different than what mainstream American culture has made it. I really enjoyed learning about the Haitian people, their foods, customs and lore. They even managed to toss in the opiate crisis and struggle with insurance plus cost of life saving meds. I was just blown away by how much real life was entertained into this horror book. Even though cannibalism plays a part, I didn't feel like it was super gory. I think this book would be good for any reader.