From the bestselling author of The Boat People comes a page-turning moral drama about money, the dark side of philanthropy, and what happens when you try to change the world for all the wrong reasons.
They have the best of intentions. What could go wrong?
Claire Talbot is the publicist at Children of the World, an international aid charity. Morally burnt out after decades working in reputation management, Claire is relieved to finally use her PR skills for good. Too bad the organization is on the verge of bankruptcy. In a last-ditch effort to keep them afloat, Claire arranges for an A-list actress to volunteer at one of their overseas orphanages. When the actress decides to adopt a baby and promises a massive donation, it seems as if Claire has single-handedly saved the day. But after a journalist digs into their operations and reveals a shocking crime, Claire and her colleagues must reckon with their complicity and all the ways their work abroad has harmed the very people they set out to save.
Moving between Children of the World’s headquarters in Toronto and their compound in Central America, Good Guys charts the charity’s rise and fall. Scathing yet compassionate, the novel is a thought-provoking exploration of power, philanthropy, and the lengths we go to for redemption. Emotionally engrossing, tightly paced, and sharply observed, it ultimately asks: Is it possible to do good in an imperfect world?
Thoughtful, informative and persuasive narrative
"This book had my blood boiling. I was riveted to this dissection of how philanthropy works and who really benefits. How donations are contingent on the donors getting something out it, the economy of giving. A sort of collective complicity to turn a blind eye against suffering unless we see a personal gain in intervention. That nothing is ever truly free, especially charity. Inevitably it becomes an expression of power with the expectation of indentured gratitude. In this case, it may be somewhat extreme, but these are easily recognizable stories. For aid is a narrative written by the giver and often ignores or sugarcoats the needs of the receiver. This thought provoking story balanced the humane with the politics around charity. It is a multi-POV narrative with several characters who in theory want to help, but cannot see their flawed and arrogant approach. A moral high ground synonymous with wealth and negating the land, culture and inherent spirit of a people. Assuming only foreign intervention can bring the required leadership for aid, ignoring the community that already exists. If this is making you as a reader uncomfortable - good. I have been complicit in this problem and understand this knowledge is the first step to formulating a viable solution. This is a serious topic and while delicately handled in this book the narrative creates a lot of grey area in perspective and the challenges of creating lasting change in developing areas. Instead of putting money into a local economy a middle man program is created to stoke the egos of philanthropists. Vanity project that exploit the people they are purportedly helping. A sort of white saviour complex that showcases pictures of volunteers with starving children sharing their diagnoses and images without consent as though poverty negates the need for basic rights. Pandering to western investors in a way that is demeaning to the individuals they hope to help, but that’s all part of the game. It is easy to make decisions about the greater good when those decision don’t directly affect you. Isn’t sacrificing one baby worthwhile if they can save hundreds of others? Is it really a sacrifice to the family if their child can have access to western health care and education? Is manipulation by admin desperate to keep underfunded centres afloat wrong? When is a small sacrifice for the greater good worthwhile? These are the sorts of complicated questions this book poses in a clever way that reflects onto the charity workers who aren’t aware of their own hubris and contradictory expectation when it comes to their own lives. They all benefit from the decisions they make without fully contemplating their implications towards others. It also considers the root causes. The international corporations that operate in these developing countries taking resources and leaving the local community without, but then offering a handout to assuage any guilt or legal action. How few consider that a trip of personal growth could translate to fund boots on the ground with a cash donations, thereby having a much larger impact. That people can only really reckon with inequality, see their vast privilege when forced to confront it with a different reality is an argument towards volunteerism, but the harm these programs inflict is often overlooked. It is a complicated topic with no real altruistic heroes and often comes with strings. In theory, celebrity endorsements could be great, but not when they abut with the ethos of an organisation or come at a cost that dictates how funds are used or when a persona overshadows the cause itself. Good deeds can and should be done without the fanfare. I really loved Bala’s first book so I was excited to get an eARC of her next and it certainly did not disappoint. It was thought provoking and insightful. A book to sink your teeth into and one that will linger in your mind. Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada and Netgalley for an eARC."
