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Sky Full of Elephants
In this exquisite speculative novel set in a world where white people no longer exist, college professor Charlie Brunton receives a call from his estranged daughter Sidney, setting off a chain of events as they journey across a truly “post-racial” America in search of answers.
One day, a cataclysmic event occurs: all of the white people in America walk into the nearest body of water. A year later, Charles Brunton is a Black man living in an entirely new world. Having served time in prison for a wrongful conviction, he’s now a professor of electric and solar power systems at Howard University when he receives a call from someone he wasn’t even sure existed: his daughter Sidney, a nineteen-year-old who watched her white mother and step-family drown themselves in the lake behind their house.
Traumatized by the event, and terrified of the outside world, Sidney has spent a year in isolation in Wisconsin. Desperate for help, she turns to the father she never met, a man she has always resented. Sidney and Charlie meet for the first time as they embark on a journey across America headed for Alabama, where Sidney believes she may still have some family left. But neither Sidney or Charlie is prepared for this new world and how they see themselves in it.
When they enter the Kingdom of Alabama, everything Charlie and Sidney thought they knew about themselves, and the world, will be turned upside down. Brimming with heart and humor, Cebo Campbell’s astonishing debut novel is about the power of community and connection, about healing and self-actualization, and a reckoning with what it means to be Black in America, in both their world and ours.
One day, a cataclysmic event occurs: all of the white people in America walk into the nearest body of water. A year later, Charles Brunton is a Black man living in an entirely new world. Having served time in prison for a wrongful conviction, he’s now a professor of electric and solar power systems at Howard University when he receives a call from someone he wasn’t even sure existed: his daughter Sidney, a nineteen-year-old who watched her white mother and step-family drown themselves in the lake behind their house.
Traumatized by the event, and terrified of the outside world, Sidney has spent a year in isolation in Wisconsin. Desperate for help, she turns to the father she never met, a man she has always resented. Sidney and Charlie meet for the first time as they embark on a journey across America headed for Alabama, where Sidney believes she may still have some family left. But neither Sidney or Charlie is prepared for this new world and how they see themselves in it.
When they enter the Kingdom of Alabama, everything Charlie and Sidney thought they knew about themselves, and the world, will be turned upside down. Brimming with heart and humor, Cebo Campbell’s astonishing debut novel is about the power of community and connection, about healing and self-actualization, and a reckoning with what it means to be Black in America, in both their world and ours.
304 pages, Hardcover
First published September 10, 2024
About the author
Cebo Campbell
5 books125 followersCEBO CAMPBELL is an award-winning, multi-hyphenate creative based in New York and London. He is a winner of the Stories Award for Poetry, and his writings are featured in numerous publications. As co-founder and CCO of the renowned NYC creative agency Spherical, Cebo leads teams of creatives in shaping the best hotel brands in the world. His range of talents as a creative director have sent him all over the globe infusing creativity, from working with the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust in the UK, to concepting the Million Miracles humanitarian campaign throughout Africa and India, to writing and directing the VR short film Refuge: Triumph in Tulsa, based on the famed Black Wall Street in Oklahoma. Cebo’s expansive work as a writer, designer, and director are powered by a singular mindset: contribute meaningfully to the culture. And he does. With everything he touches.
At present, Cebo is likely somewhere in Europe enjoying good whiskey and better conversation.
At present, Cebo is likely somewhere in Europe enjoying good whiskey and better conversation.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
April 30, 2024
I am a straight white middle-class educated cisgender male. I check off every category of privilege possible in the USA of 2024. This book was not written for me, and it made me uncomfortable. I think that's why it was important for me to read it.
Sky Full of Elephants begins with all the white people in America walking into the sea and drowning. The book centers around Charlie, a former inmate liberated after the event, who is a master of electricity overseeing the transformation of a new United States. He receives a message from his estranged daughter who was living in Wisconsin with her white family, telling him to take her to the South where some white folks might still be alive. The rest of the story follows Charlie and Sidney as they take electric cars (because nobody drills for gas anymore) into the South and expose the beauty and the complicated realities of a post-White world.
The tough part for White readers, of course, is that this is a utopia predicated on genocide. At some points in the book Campbell seems to savor that fact, but at his best, the characters in the novel wrestle with that reality in different ways. In this new world, Black folks can laugh and dance and sing without fear of violence or reprisal. Campbell even seems to suggest that capitalism and oppression are natural features of White culture, and both have been gleefully abandoned once the White folks are gone. That's the Utopian piece, and I can see where Campbell is coming from in his imagination, but it's still an oversimplification that can lead to the very danger and violence that Campbell seems to be against. I give Campbell credit for at points questioning this violence, and for his imagination - this world is a world that I would want to live in, without question. The bigger concern is whether I would be allowed to -or whether the utopia requires the death of people like me.
Sky Full of Elephants begins with all the white people in America walking into the sea and drowning. The book centers around Charlie, a former inmate liberated after the event, who is a master of electricity overseeing the transformation of a new United States. He receives a message from his estranged daughter who was living in Wisconsin with her white family, telling him to take her to the South where some white folks might still be alive. The rest of the story follows Charlie and Sidney as they take electric cars (because nobody drills for gas anymore) into the South and expose the beauty and the complicated realities of a post-White world.
The tough part for White readers, of course, is that this is a utopia predicated on genocide. At some points in the book Campbell seems to savor that fact, but at his best, the characters in the novel wrestle with that reality in different ways. In this new world, Black folks can laugh and dance and sing without fear of violence or reprisal. Campbell even seems to suggest that capitalism and oppression are natural features of White culture, and both have been gleefully abandoned once the White folks are gone. That's the Utopian piece, and I can see where Campbell is coming from in his imagination, but it's still an oversimplification that can lead to the very danger and violence that Campbell seems to be against. I give Campbell credit for at points questioning this violence, and for his imagination - this world is a world that I would want to live in, without question. The bigger concern is whether I would be allowed to -or whether the utopia requires the death of people like me.
March 27, 2024
A bold, high-concept premise brought into sharp focus by Cebo Campbell’s lively and vibrant prose.
A twist on a familiar formula (see The Leftovers or The Last of Us) – here, all white people walk into the sea and never return. What follows is the quest of an estranged father and daughter seeking common ground as they trek across a fundamentally altered version of America.
I really enjoyed Campbell's writing style. It is lively and flows smoothly from page to page, making it a true pleasure to read. It effortlessly conveys the complexities of the new world and the complicated feelings of the characters that inhabit it.
An eyebrow-raising plot development in the latter half of the book recontextualizes the way the story is understood. And while certain plot beats push the boundaries of plausibility, they are grounded in the magical realism that permeates the narrative.
My thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer note: Anecdotally, I noticed a batch of 1-star ratings (not reviews) popping up on Goodreads for this title – presumably a blind backlash to the plot description. Please don’t make assumptions about what the book is actually about. At no point do any characters rejoice in the absence of white people. It’s not a wish-fulfillment parable about how to make the world a better place. It’s a fascinating “what-if” scenario that shines a necessary light on the unvarnished realities of the country and who controls the levers of power and influence in our society. There’s no trivialization of the subject matter and the book offers many intriguing examinations of race and racial identity. Give this book a chance, and if you can’t, don’t blindly bomb the ratings.
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A twist on a familiar formula (see The Leftovers or The Last of Us) – here, all white people walk into the sea and never return. What follows is the quest of an estranged father and daughter seeking common ground as they trek across a fundamentally altered version of America.
I really enjoyed Campbell's writing style. It is lively and flows smoothly from page to page, making it a true pleasure to read. It effortlessly conveys the complexities of the new world and the complicated feelings of the characters that inhabit it.
An eyebrow-raising plot development in the latter half of the book recontextualizes the way the story is understood. And while certain plot beats push the boundaries of plausibility, they are grounded in the magical realism that permeates the narrative.
My thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.
Reviewer note: Anecdotally, I noticed a batch of 1-star ratings (not reviews) popping up on Goodreads for this title – presumably a blind backlash to the plot description. Please don’t make assumptions about what the book is actually about. At no point do any characters rejoice in the absence of white people. It’s not a wish-fulfillment parable about how to make the world a better place. It’s a fascinating “what-if” scenario that shines a necessary light on the unvarnished realities of the country and who controls the levers of power and influence in our society. There’s no trivialization of the subject matter and the book offers many intriguing examinations of race and racial identity. Give this book a chance, and if you can’t, don’t blindly bomb the ratings.
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May 19, 2024
I see many white people reviewing this book and calling it uncomfortable. It’s SUPPOSED to be uncomfortable for us. It SHOULD be uncomfortable for us.
That reaction to whiteness and white people being wiped out should really make is think about why that bothers us so much; and really, truly weigh and consider that fact that it not even equivalent to what has been done - and CONTINUES to be done - to Black Americans and Native People in the US.
Ok, so lemme step off of my soapbox and talk about this book. It is so beautifully written & the characters are drawn for us in such powerful ways… i thoroughly enjoyed learning about who Charlie and Sidney are and how complicated their relationship to each other and their Blackness is. I wanted to stay with them, and mourned a bit that the book was over.
I also love the ending - i’m a fan of ambiguous endings in art - and think that the way that we interpret that final page says a lot about who we are.
I’m excited to dive into more of Cebo Campbell’s work. I hope this book gets wide recognition.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
That reaction to whiteness and white people being wiped out should really make is think about why that bothers us so much; and really, truly weigh and consider that fact that it not even equivalent to what has been done - and CONTINUES to be done - to Black Americans and Native People in the US.
Ok, so lemme step off of my soapbox and talk about this book. It is so beautifully written & the characters are drawn for us in such powerful ways… i thoroughly enjoyed learning about who Charlie and Sidney are and how complicated their relationship to each other and their Blackness is. I wanted to stay with them, and mourned a bit that the book was over.
I also love the ending - i’m a fan of ambiguous endings in art - and think that the way that we interpret that final page says a lot about who we are.
I’m excited to dive into more of Cebo Campbell’s work. I hope this book gets wide recognition.
Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC
May 5, 2024
This spectacular idea was a bit bumpy in its execution, but it did give me a lot to think about.
I know we, as white people, aren’t always willing to embrace the part we may have played in Black trauma. I wonder if that’s why this was quickly bombed with one star ratings on Goodreads. When I first glanced at the book’s profile, its average rating was under three stars. I was enraged by this so I requested it on NetGalley. Perhaps I was a bit too confident in the love I expected to feel for it. I am glad, however, that others have now read and loved it so it can be fairly rated. We all know those early one star ratings did not come from people who had actually engaged with the content.
It hurts my heart to confess that I am not able to rate this as well as I’d hoped to, but it wasn’t the premise that didn’t work for me. I think it’s a brilliant one, as well as an important concept to explore. And I don’t think the author was completely careless with the idea.
Sky Full of Elephants was uncomfortable, and that discomfort communicated a powerful message, but its potency was diluted by the issues I found within the text.
My first complaint is that the author explained too much. Since he invested so much time into making his point, the elements that needed a more profound development were shortchanged. The author wanted to mold a narrative around the harm that white people have done, and that’s fair, but his overt communication muffled the actual story. As a result, no conflict ever truly felt strained, including Sidney’s relationship with her father.
I wish Charlie’s storyline had been a bit different. I do understand that what he endured has happened to Black men, and that there was a time when a Black man wouldn’t have even made it to a courthouse under such circumstances, never mind prison. I know the author’s choices further exemplified the cruelty we are capable of. He demonstrated Charlie’s goodness beyond what had been done to him while explaining that he wasn’t (as Sidney presumed) a deadbeat dad at all. It was just difficult for me to embrace the device used because, as a woman, I know that my gender is also marginalized, that our voices have been silenced, and that most claims regarding sexual assault are actually true. I realize Sidney’s mother did not fling the initial accusation, but this angle in the narrative felt problematic to me. I did, however, like Charlie’s character.
Sky Full of Elephants did make me think a lot about our failure to encourage cultural identity, as well as our blatant attempts to erase it. I felt saddened as I considered my own children, who are mixed race like Sidney. Although it was never deliberate, I do fear I did not expose them to enough Black history or culture while they were growing up. I’d like to say that I was overwhelmed and dealing with my own trauma as I raised them, but who’s to say I would have done any better without those impediments? Would I have even recognized the need? The novel certainly made me want to do better, even though my children are adults now. I grieve the pieces of their identity I never nurtured.
I am immensely grateful to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
I know we, as white people, aren’t always willing to embrace the part we may have played in Black trauma. I wonder if that’s why this was quickly bombed with one star ratings on Goodreads. When I first glanced at the book’s profile, its average rating was under three stars. I was enraged by this so I requested it on NetGalley. Perhaps I was a bit too confident in the love I expected to feel for it. I am glad, however, that others have now read and loved it so it can be fairly rated. We all know those early one star ratings did not come from people who had actually engaged with the content.
It hurts my heart to confess that I am not able to rate this as well as I’d hoped to, but it wasn’t the premise that didn’t work for me. I think it’s a brilliant one, as well as an important concept to explore. And I don’t think the author was completely careless with the idea.
Sky Full of Elephants was uncomfortable, and that discomfort communicated a powerful message, but its potency was diluted by the issues I found within the text.
My first complaint is that the author explained too much. Since he invested so much time into making his point, the elements that needed a more profound development were shortchanged. The author wanted to mold a narrative around the harm that white people have done, and that’s fair, but his overt communication muffled the actual story. As a result, no conflict ever truly felt strained, including Sidney’s relationship with her father.
I wish Charlie’s storyline had been a bit different. I do understand that what he endured has happened to Black men, and that there was a time when a Black man wouldn’t have even made it to a courthouse under such circumstances, never mind prison. I know the author’s choices further exemplified the cruelty we are capable of. He demonstrated Charlie’s goodness beyond what had been done to him while explaining that he wasn’t (as Sidney presumed) a deadbeat dad at all. It was just difficult for me to embrace the device used because, as a woman, I know that my gender is also marginalized, that our voices have been silenced, and that most claims regarding sexual assault are actually true. I realize Sidney’s mother did not fling the initial accusation, but this angle in the narrative felt problematic to me. I did, however, like Charlie’s character.
Sky Full of Elephants did make me think a lot about our failure to encourage cultural identity, as well as our blatant attempts to erase it. I felt saddened as I considered my own children, who are mixed race like Sidney. Although it was never deliberate, I do fear I did not expose them to enough Black history or culture while they were growing up. I’d like to say that I was overwhelmed and dealing with my own trauma as I raised them, but who’s to say I would have done any better without those impediments? Would I have even recognized the need? The novel certainly made me want to do better, even though my children are adults now. I grieve the pieces of their identity I never nurtured.
I am immensely grateful to Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for my copy. All opinions are my own.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 18, 2024
I’ll start at the end. The conclusion of this novel is a dud. Like a flat soda, no sizzle left for the denouement. However, getting to that end is quite a thoughtful journey. Protagonist Charles is the center of this highly implausible tale. As I’m sure you are all aware, the premise, all the white folks walk into their nearest body of water in a massive self drowning, leaving America to Black folks and others. Wow! So, as you can imagine the language and thoughts and dialogue give readers much to ponder. And Cebo Campbell’s prose keeps the pages turning. One thing most people haven’t considered is the generational trauma that has impacted Black folks, not only in America but in the world. Clearly that has affected how Black people move in the world, while others remain detached from the pain and the shame.
“Feeling what deserves to be felt is the only pathway to understanding. Let’s get it straight: white folks did rape and steal and kill, and black folks died by the thousands—was dying all the way up ’til a year ago. Never feeling shame for that, and not allowing us to feel anger over it, means we don’t evolve. We just go on repeating evil we can’t understand. I’m sure your momma was a nice lady with a good heart, but her not feeling ashamed about all that happened is the same as not feeling anything at all.”
Charles who is able to extricate himself from prison after the event, becomes a professor at Howard University because he has valuable knowledge of electronics, so the new standard becomes, “if you know, teach” credentials be damned. Charles learns he has a daughter, and when she reaches out to him for help getting to Alabama, because she believes some of her people may be gathered there, the novel gains propulsion. So Charles makes his way to Wisconsin to scoop his daughter Sidney, and they embark on a journey to Alabama. And on the way, they find out who they are to each other and who they are to their self. In uncovering identity, a discovery of fitting in unfolds.
This book will leave you with a lot to ruminate upon. I’m certain some will find some discomfort, but push on and come through the tough questions that will arise. Cebo Campbell will make you better for having persevered. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster for an advanced DRC. Book drops 9/10/24, get ready world!
“Feeling what deserves to be felt is the only pathway to understanding. Let’s get it straight: white folks did rape and steal and kill, and black folks died by the thousands—was dying all the way up ’til a year ago. Never feeling shame for that, and not allowing us to feel anger over it, means we don’t evolve. We just go on repeating evil we can’t understand. I’m sure your momma was a nice lady with a good heart, but her not feeling ashamed about all that happened is the same as not feeling anything at all.”
Charles who is able to extricate himself from prison after the event, becomes a professor at Howard University because he has valuable knowledge of electronics, so the new standard becomes, “if you know, teach” credentials be damned. Charles learns he has a daughter, and when she reaches out to him for help getting to Alabama, because she believes some of her people may be gathered there, the novel gains propulsion. So Charles makes his way to Wisconsin to scoop his daughter Sidney, and they embark on a journey to Alabama. And on the way, they find out who they are to each other and who they are to their self. In uncovering identity, a discovery of fitting in unfolds.
This book will leave you with a lot to ruminate upon. I’m certain some will find some discomfort, but push on and come through the tough questions that will arise. Cebo Campbell will make you better for having persevered. Thanks to Netgalley and Simon&Schuster for an advanced DRC. Book drops 9/10/24, get ready world!
September 14, 2024
Charles Brunton is our main character in this speculative science fiction novel. Twenty years ago, he was wrongfully convicted of a horrific crime and was imprisoned until a strange phenomenon occurred: every white person in America went into the closest body of water, and drowned themselves. Family members of people left in jails and prisons came to let everyone go, so Charles is now a free man. Despite his lack of formal education, he is now a professor at Howard University in Washington, D.C., using his ability to fix things to help this new society thrive.
A year after the country changed, his daughter Sidney calls him. She watched her white mother, stepdad and stepbrothers walk into water; she tried to drown herself too, but couldn’t. She hasn’t left their house since everything happened, but her aunt left her a note saying that people were heading to Orange Beach, Alabama, and that she hoped Sidney would join. This led to her calling Charles, angrily telling him that he owes her for abandoning her, and insists he drive her from Wisconsin to Alabama - despite Charles warning her that the south was a dangerous place to be.
Some cities, like D.C. and Chicago, are still running relatively smoothly, but other cities have changed. The country’s Infrastructure is bad in places, as cars were left on roads. There is no government, no military and no homeless - plenty of houses now sit empty. After a scary encounter on the road, Charles and Sidney decide to fly, but find out at airport that Alabama is a no-fly zone, as they are now a monarchy and the king doesn’t allow planes to fly over. Most places in the south are considered too dangerous to fly into, but they find a pilot who is willing to take them to the Mississippi/Alabama border in search of jet fuel to keep his planes airborne. They were caught coming into Alabama and were brought to Mobile, where they meet the king, Hosea, and his queen wife, Vivian. They are stunned by the beautiful and peaceful city full of history and hoodoo, and begin finding their roots.
This book was so poetic and beautifully written; it’s hard sometimes to describe sci-fi without it sounding cheesy, but this was quite an interesting read. It did get slow in a few places, and dipped into some fantasy along the way, but overall I thought this was really unique. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Cebo Campbell and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
A year after the country changed, his daughter Sidney calls him. She watched her white mother, stepdad and stepbrothers walk into water; she tried to drown herself too, but couldn’t. She hasn’t left their house since everything happened, but her aunt left her a note saying that people were heading to Orange Beach, Alabama, and that she hoped Sidney would join. This led to her calling Charles, angrily telling him that he owes her for abandoning her, and insists he drive her from Wisconsin to Alabama - despite Charles warning her that the south was a dangerous place to be.
Some cities, like D.C. and Chicago, are still running relatively smoothly, but other cities have changed. The country’s Infrastructure is bad in places, as cars were left on roads. There is no government, no military and no homeless - plenty of houses now sit empty. After a scary encounter on the road, Charles and Sidney decide to fly, but find out at airport that Alabama is a no-fly zone, as they are now a monarchy and the king doesn’t allow planes to fly over. Most places in the south are considered too dangerous to fly into, but they find a pilot who is willing to take them to the Mississippi/Alabama border in search of jet fuel to keep his planes airborne. They were caught coming into Alabama and were brought to Mobile, where they meet the king, Hosea, and his queen wife, Vivian. They are stunned by the beautiful and peaceful city full of history and hoodoo, and begin finding their roots.
This book was so poetic and beautifully written; it’s hard sometimes to describe sci-fi without it sounding cheesy, but this was quite an interesting read. It did get slow in a few places, and dipped into some fantasy along the way, but overall I thought this was really unique. 3.5 stars, rounded up.
(Thank you to Simon & Schuster, Cebo Campbell and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review.)
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2024
I didn't realize this was more lit fic than genre fic, so that's on me.
But besides that, I loved Sidney's journey and internal conflict with being biracial. It was both frustrating and enlightening (speaking as someone with no firsthand experience).
I also liked Charlie's journey at the end, when he realizes what it means to be Black without having to juxtapose it against Whiteness.
But besides that, I loved Sidney's journey and internal conflict with being biracial. It was both frustrating and enlightening (speaking as someone with no firsthand experience).
I also liked Charlie's journey at the end, when he realizes what it means to be Black without having to juxtapose it against Whiteness.
August 9, 2024
Sky Full of Elephants was a compelling read with a completely unique twist on a classic premise. Not only was this an "end-of-days" sort of tale, but it added a thought-provoking component in which all white people walk into the sea and drown.
The book is about Charlie, who meets his estranged, biracial daughter, Sidney, after the event. The two have a lot of time to make up, and it isn't a hallmark reunion. Sidney must grapple with the fact that this man has never been a part of her life in addition to mourning the losses of her white family members. Charlie has a desire to prove his worth and prove to Sidney that he's her family, too.
I enjoyed the story more at the beginning than the end, but I can't deny what an imaginative concept it was. It was uncomfortable in a way it should be (particularly as a white reader), and I can picture this being THE book club pick later this year. I'm glad I picked this up.
The book is about Charlie, who meets his estranged, biracial daughter, Sidney, after the event. The two have a lot of time to make up, and it isn't a hallmark reunion. Sidney must grapple with the fact that this man has never been a part of her life in addition to mourning the losses of her white family members. Charlie has a desire to prove his worth and prove to Sidney that he's her family, too.
I enjoyed the story more at the beginning than the end, but I can't deny what an imaginative concept it was. It was uncomfortable in a way it should be (particularly as a white reader), and I can picture this being THE book club pick later this year. I'm glad I picked this up.
June 4, 2024
This book is incredible. The writing is beautiful. The plot intriguing. The characters are heartfelt and awe inspiring. I loved every single word.
September 16, 2024
4+ stars
There are some books that are extremely challenging to "score" and this is absolutely one of them. There are parts of me that want to rate this higher, for how much it made me consider and look at myself and wonder about my complicity in all of this. It's a very provocative book - all the white people, as if in a trance, walk off into a body of water and drown. That's not something you write or discuss lightly and you immediately turn off a whole bunch of people you would want to read this. I'm sure this book was a victim of "review bombing" for that very fact, which is very sad and almost seems to make the author's point.
I did want to read this and before writing my review, I read some extremely thoughtful reviews where similarly, people struggled with what to think and feel about this topic. We all seem to share common thoughts about despite it making us uncomfortable, it's important to read and put our minds in this headspace. For myself, the simple fact of all the history that has been erased or stolen from Black people is pretty eye opening. I know a lot of what I learned in school was white-washed, but I was ignorant to how much and how far back it went. It certainly makes sense though.
I won't be able to properly express my thoughts eloquently enough on how important I think this book is. As a woman, I am myself marginalized to a degree and whenever I felt uncomfortable, or defensive, I would tell myself what I was reading is no different than how angry and upset I feel about women's historical contributions being buried, or hidden and how similarly, women had to fight for their right to vote or exercise independence from their husband's. A review I read brought up something I hadn't even considered and that is the idea that Black utopia is created from a genocide. So there is just a lot to unpack and consider, but I am happy to have read it and will be sure to pass it along to those I feel would want to read it because it's important to read even for the education I received on certain topics, the perspective it provided me and what the characters in the book grappled with as they came to terms with being in a world without centuries of oppression on their back.
I listened to this book on audio, but I wish I would have done that while also reading the book because there were many lines that were due to be highlighted and quoted. The writing was marvelous and you could tell the author put a lot of care into what he was trying to convey. The narration was very good and while it was worthwhile to hear the voices, this most certainly would have been better served by having the print copy to accompany the reading experience as well.
If you have an interest in this book - I highly recommend you give it a try. It's 100% worth your time.
Thank you so much to Simon Books for the gifted arc as well as Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 09/16/2024
Publication Date: 09/10/2024
There are some books that are extremely challenging to "score" and this is absolutely one of them. There are parts of me that want to rate this higher, for how much it made me consider and look at myself and wonder about my complicity in all of this. It's a very provocative book - all the white people, as if in a trance, walk off into a body of water and drown. That's not something you write or discuss lightly and you immediately turn off a whole bunch of people you would want to read this. I'm sure this book was a victim of "review bombing" for that very fact, which is very sad and almost seems to make the author's point.
I did want to read this and before writing my review, I read some extremely thoughtful reviews where similarly, people struggled with what to think and feel about this topic. We all seem to share common thoughts about despite it making us uncomfortable, it's important to read and put our minds in this headspace. For myself, the simple fact of all the history that has been erased or stolen from Black people is pretty eye opening. I know a lot of what I learned in school was white-washed, but I was ignorant to how much and how far back it went. It certainly makes sense though.
I won't be able to properly express my thoughts eloquently enough on how important I think this book is. As a woman, I am myself marginalized to a degree and whenever I felt uncomfortable, or defensive, I would tell myself what I was reading is no different than how angry and upset I feel about women's historical contributions being buried, or hidden and how similarly, women had to fight for their right to vote or exercise independence from their husband's. A review I read brought up something I hadn't even considered and that is the idea that Black utopia is created from a genocide. So there is just a lot to unpack and consider, but I am happy to have read it and will be sure to pass it along to those I feel would want to read it because it's important to read even for the education I received on certain topics, the perspective it provided me and what the characters in the book grappled with as they came to terms with being in a world without centuries of oppression on their back.
I listened to this book on audio, but I wish I would have done that while also reading the book because there were many lines that were due to be highlighted and quoted. The writing was marvelous and you could tell the author put a lot of care into what he was trying to convey. The narration was very good and while it was worthwhile to hear the voices, this most certainly would have been better served by having the print copy to accompany the reading experience as well.
If you have an interest in this book - I highly recommend you give it a try. It's 100% worth your time.
Thank you so much to Simon Books for the gifted arc as well as Simon Audio for the gifted audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
Review Date: 09/16/2024
Publication Date: 09/10/2024
September 21, 2024
4.5 rounded up.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to really put into words the energy that this book contains. To state simply, this book could read as one of discovery, found family, and even adventure. But honestly, Sky Full of Elephants is so much more. After an unforeseen event in which white people have all drowned themselves, Sidney finds herself even more lost and unknown than she ever felt before. We then enter a journey of a once imprisoned man, now a Howard University professor named Charlie, as he ventures out for redemption and purpose after being contacted by Sidney, his biracial daughter, who only sees him as her last resort.
Sidney aches for what she’s lost, as her connection to whiteness has been gravely severed. Charlie craves a purpose outside of himself, and in Sidney, he sees both hope and pain. This book will definitely ruffle some feathers, but it’s a conversation that’s necessary. It’s not only a book of pride and resilience but also one of sacrifice and community. It presents the toll and weight of years of misinformation and lies on not only an individual, but on a culture, a people.
Sky Full of Elephants is a story that should be read by everyone. It will spark conversations that are hard to have. Campbell dissects so much of mixed identity and experience. Every character has such depth that makes them feel both firm and unique while yet so connected. And as a Black woman, reading about Sidney’s experiences and tone irritated me—intentionally so. I wanted to shake her and hold her. From her teen angst, disillusion, loss of identity—I was frustrated because we all know a Sidney. Though painful and hurtful, I grieved for her. I grieved her loss of self, her loss of security, her mistaken identity, and the shame that she’s carried. And through that grief, I was able to enjoy every moment of connection and pride Sidney discovered along the way.
While Charlie’s path at times felt a little more predictable, his passion and heart shone through. Campbell’s prose captivates and urges you to push forward. It’s one of grief, anger, understanding, and identity. It’s magnetic and powerful in every moment of vibrancy that Campbell has captured. The narrative and scenes are rich in culture, determination, and care. To say I loved this book down would be an understatement.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and most of all Cebo Campbell. This met all my expectations.
I don’t know if I’ll be able to really put into words the energy that this book contains. To state simply, this book could read as one of discovery, found family, and even adventure. But honestly, Sky Full of Elephants is so much more. After an unforeseen event in which white people have all drowned themselves, Sidney finds herself even more lost and unknown than she ever felt before. We then enter a journey of a once imprisoned man, now a Howard University professor named Charlie, as he ventures out for redemption and purpose after being contacted by Sidney, his biracial daughter, who only sees him as her last resort.
Sidney aches for what she’s lost, as her connection to whiteness has been gravely severed. Charlie craves a purpose outside of himself, and in Sidney, he sees both hope and pain. This book will definitely ruffle some feathers, but it’s a conversation that’s necessary. It’s not only a book of pride and resilience but also one of sacrifice and community. It presents the toll and weight of years of misinformation and lies on not only an individual, but on a culture, a people.
Sky Full of Elephants is a story that should be read by everyone. It will spark conversations that are hard to have. Campbell dissects so much of mixed identity and experience. Every character has such depth that makes them feel both firm and unique while yet so connected. And as a Black woman, reading about Sidney’s experiences and tone irritated me—intentionally so. I wanted to shake her and hold her. From her teen angst, disillusion, loss of identity—I was frustrated because we all know a Sidney. Though painful and hurtful, I grieved for her. I grieved her loss of self, her loss of security, her mistaken identity, and the shame that she’s carried. And through that grief, I was able to enjoy every moment of connection and pride Sidney discovered along the way.
While Charlie’s path at times felt a little more predictable, his passion and heart shone through. Campbell’s prose captivates and urges you to push forward. It’s one of grief, anger, understanding, and identity. It’s magnetic and powerful in every moment of vibrancy that Campbell has captured. The narrative and scenes are rich in culture, determination, and care. To say I loved this book down would be an understatement.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster, and most of all Cebo Campbell. This met all my expectations.
September 10, 2024
Neither brief nor calamity had ever stopped the joy of the black people. We smiled through the worst the world had to offer. Smiled even when our lips bled."
Picture this - 'Every single white person in America walks into the nearest body of water and kills themselves.' What kind of aftermath would such a cataclysmic event leave behind? What kind of cascading effect would it have on society?
This is the fascinating premise of the book, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell. Set in the United States after 'The Event,' the novel explores a country no longer driven by capitalism, where homelessness is eradicated, and life seems surprisingly 'easier.' The story follows Charlie Brunton, a Black man who has spent twenty years of his life wrongfully imprisoned. An unexpected phone call from his estranged daughter sets them on a journey across post-racial America, as they search for identity and long-buried truths.
Campbell is a fantastic writer, and Sky Full of Elephants is filled with beautiful prose and powerful quotes. What spoke to me the most, however, was the author’s nuanced exploration of his characters and their internal conflicts.
For Charlie, his entire life has been defined by the darkness of his skin. Now, with an unexpected freedom he feels he might not deserve, he struggles with his identity in a world where his race no longer defines him. This shift challenges his sense of self, especially when he's only ever known a certain way of life, one that has been framed by racial adversity.
On the other hand, Sidney, who is biracial and raised by her white family, has always struggled to fit in. The trauma of witnessing her entire family’s drowning adds depth to her struggle with her external identity versus her internal self. Campbell captures this with remarkable sensitivity and insight.
Campbell also draws attention to familiar issues that often fade into the background of daily life and become normalized over generations. He challenges the status quo with pointed observations. For example, as father and daughter board a flight, Sadie reflects, "I've never even seen a Black pilot before.". While this is something I'm aware of, I've never stopped to think about what this lack of diversity in certain fields mean.
My only concern is that the plot takes an unexpected turn in the middle of the book, shifting significantly in tone towards themes of magical realism and sci-fi. Additionally, the novel seems specifically tailored to a Black audience, without addressing the broader spectrum of minority experiences in America. In a world devoid of white people, other racial groups, such as Asians, are only passingly mentioned, which feels somewhat odd. The book also has a few notable plot holes and pacing issues.
Ultimately, this isn’t a book to read for the plot. Instead, it’s a book that prompts deep reflection on race and identity, posing uncomfortable questions that challenge deeply ingrained and normalized societal ideas and perspectives.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC. Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell is out today(9/10/2024). #SkyFullofElephants #SimonBooksBuddy
Picture this - 'Every single white person in America walks into the nearest body of water and kills themselves.' What kind of aftermath would such a cataclysmic event leave behind? What kind of cascading effect would it have on society?
This is the fascinating premise of the book, Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell. Set in the United States after 'The Event,' the novel explores a country no longer driven by capitalism, where homelessness is eradicated, and life seems surprisingly 'easier.' The story follows Charlie Brunton, a Black man who has spent twenty years of his life wrongfully imprisoned. An unexpected phone call from his estranged daughter sets them on a journey across post-racial America, as they search for identity and long-buried truths.
Campbell is a fantastic writer, and Sky Full of Elephants is filled with beautiful prose and powerful quotes. What spoke to me the most, however, was the author’s nuanced exploration of his characters and their internal conflicts.
For Charlie, his entire life has been defined by the darkness of his skin. Now, with an unexpected freedom he feels he might not deserve, he struggles with his identity in a world where his race no longer defines him. This shift challenges his sense of self, especially when he's only ever known a certain way of life, one that has been framed by racial adversity.
On the other hand, Sidney, who is biracial and raised by her white family, has always struggled to fit in. The trauma of witnessing her entire family’s drowning adds depth to her struggle with her external identity versus her internal self. Campbell captures this with remarkable sensitivity and insight.
Campbell also draws attention to familiar issues that often fade into the background of daily life and become normalized over generations. He challenges the status quo with pointed observations. For example, as father and daughter board a flight, Sadie reflects, "I've never even seen a Black pilot before.". While this is something I'm aware of, I've never stopped to think about what this lack of diversity in certain fields mean.
My only concern is that the plot takes an unexpected turn in the middle of the book, shifting significantly in tone towards themes of magical realism and sci-fi. Additionally, the novel seems specifically tailored to a Black audience, without addressing the broader spectrum of minority experiences in America. In a world devoid of white people, other racial groups, such as Asians, are only passingly mentioned, which feels somewhat odd. The book also has a few notable plot holes and pacing issues.
Ultimately, this isn’t a book to read for the plot. Instead, it’s a book that prompts deep reflection on race and identity, posing uncomfortable questions that challenge deeply ingrained and normalized societal ideas and perspectives.
Thanks to Simon and Schuster and Netgalley for an ARC. Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell is out today(9/10/2024). #SkyFullofElephants #SimonBooksBuddy
September 24, 2024
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.”, Martin Luther King.
Evidently, Cebo Campbell strongly disagrees with this quote.
I’m sorry but… It’s impossible to believe that one who is not severely at odds with reality can write things like what I’ve been reading in the positive reviews of this book.
The book tells of a USA where all white people have died (magically — author was too lazy to come up with a hard science-fictional explanation).
Like the reviewer “Jeremy” says, once all the white folks have died, “black folks can laugh and sing and dance without fear of violence or reprisal”.
See, because that’s not something they can do today.
Rrrrright…
Well, Martin Luther King would spit on this stuff in disgust.
Shame on the author for sowing even further division in his country, and for pandering to the feeble-minded.
A reviewer also said: “the author hints at the fact that capitalism and oppression are features of white culture”. Wow. This one earns Cebo Campbell a big fat “F minus” in African history (or maybe he does know the truth, but he is just after revenge, success and money).
Another reviewer whines about all the 1 star reviews, and states that if you read it through to the end, it’s not as simple, it’s a “deep examination of race”. Is it really though? He doesn’t say how or why. No one says that. No deep examination of race comes out of the book’s plot or ANY of these reviews.
Btw, in this book, the elimination of all white folks brings, as a direct consequence, to the immediate improvement of the justice system.
Sigh…. what ignorance.
Ignorance is literally demolishing this beautiful country from within, thanks to people like Campbell and his fans, who focus on revenge and division instead of being agents of unity and communal strength.
I pray for America’s future.
Evidently, Cebo Campbell strongly disagrees with this quote.
I’m sorry but… It’s impossible to believe that one who is not severely at odds with reality can write things like what I’ve been reading in the positive reviews of this book.
The book tells of a USA where all white people have died (magically — author was too lazy to come up with a hard science-fictional explanation).
Like the reviewer “Jeremy” says, once all the white folks have died, “black folks can laugh and sing and dance without fear of violence or reprisal”.
See, because that’s not something they can do today.
Rrrrright…
Well, Martin Luther King would spit on this stuff in disgust.
Shame on the author for sowing even further division in his country, and for pandering to the feeble-minded.
A reviewer also said: “the author hints at the fact that capitalism and oppression are features of white culture”. Wow. This one earns Cebo Campbell a big fat “F minus” in African history (or maybe he does know the truth, but he is just after revenge, success and money).
Another reviewer whines about all the 1 star reviews, and states that if you read it through to the end, it’s not as simple, it’s a “deep examination of race”. Is it really though? He doesn’t say how or why. No one says that. No deep examination of race comes out of the book’s plot or ANY of these reviews.
Btw, in this book, the elimination of all white folks brings, as a direct consequence, to the immediate improvement of the justice system.
Sigh…. what ignorance.
Ignorance is literally demolishing this beautiful country from within, thanks to people like Campbell and his fans, who focus on revenge and division instead of being agents of unity and communal strength.
I pray for America’s future.
September 22, 2024
A fascinating premise that hooked me from the very first page. Imagine that a year ago every white person walked into the nearest body of water to unalive themselves, all at once. Imagine certain suburbs just being empty. Little pomeranians and maltipoos running around, wild. The Harvard campus, empty. No need for banks or prisons anymore. People leaving their cars at the airport with keys inside. First come, first serve. No homeless people at all, anywhere. I couldn’t help but look at the world around me and imagine what the street I was on would look like. A great indicator of good speculative fiction.
The first ten pages of this book are the best. 20% in I thought this would be a five star read. Somewhere in the middle it got very symbolic and ethereal and poetic. I enjoyed the plot and the way that Sidney changed from seeing herself as being an outsider to being part of an “us” over the course of the book. This one makes you think.
Boring on audiobook. I couldn’t follow the audio, I gave up and got the hardcover. Reading was much better for this title.
The first ten pages of this book are the best. 20% in I thought this would be a five star read. Somewhere in the middle it got very symbolic and ethereal and poetic. I enjoyed the plot and the way that Sidney changed from seeing herself as being an outsider to being part of an “us” over the course of the book. This one makes you think.
Boring on audiobook. I couldn’t follow the audio, I gave up and got the hardcover. Reading was much better for this title.
April 22, 2024
(Note: I received an advanced reader copy of this work courtesy of NetGalley)
Sky Full of Elephants is not a work that I would consider post-apocalyptic, even though its premise and setting are based off the mass death of a large segment of the population. However, said premise and setting, (not to mention the weight of trauma that can be felt throughout the narrative) also easily keep from me from categorizing it as utopic. There's a few elements of science fiction and the fantastical, but ultimately, this is a read that is very much its own unique experience. It carries its unapologetically introspection-heavy story forward in a confident manner - which is honestly very fitting, given how deeply themes of identity, self-discovery and self-actualization that permeate the narrative form start to finish.
I found myself hopelessly gripped as I flew through its pages. This is definitely one of my standout fiction reads of 2024 - and one that makes me excited to see what Cebo Campbell has in store for us in the future.
Sky Full of Elephants is not a work that I would consider post-apocalyptic, even though its premise and setting are based off the mass death of a large segment of the population. However, said premise and setting, (not to mention the weight of trauma that can be felt throughout the narrative) also easily keep from me from categorizing it as utopic. There's a few elements of science fiction and the fantastical, but ultimately, this is a read that is very much its own unique experience. It carries its unapologetically introspection-heavy story forward in a confident manner - which is honestly very fitting, given how deeply themes of identity, self-discovery and self-actualization that permeate the narrative form start to finish.
I found myself hopelessly gripped as I flew through its pages. This is definitely one of my standout fiction reads of 2024 - and one that makes me excited to see what Cebo Campbell has in store for us in the future.
August 25, 2024
What would the USA be like if there were no “white” people? This novel daringly tackles that scenario and does it with inventive and philosophical flair. One day, called simply “The Event”, every white person in America walks to the nearest body of water and vanishes. The story then focuses on Charles Brunton, a black man, recently released from prison, on a wrongful conviction and working now as a teacher. He suddenly receives a call from Sidney, his 19 year old daughter, who he did not know existed. She is mixed race, so has survived. She was brought up by a white family and since, Charlie is her only surviving relative, she reaches out to him. She asks him to take her to Alabama, where she believes some white people still exist. Their journey begins, as they travel across this changed landscape, from Wisconsin to the gulf shores of Alabama. Lots to chew on here, about what it means to be black in America. I enjoyed the ride. Fans of Station Eleven and the TV series Last of Us, should have a good time with this one.
September 16, 2024
Full of long, long preachings and pontifications, inconsequential plot lines, more of a wish fulfillment than a fantasy, characters who are all goody two shoes with extra icing and so on.
September 2, 2024
For a plot summary, I’d encourage you to go check it out on Simon & Schuster;’s website. I won’t focus on that, they do a nice job over there. Long story short: All white people across America drown themselves. The two main characters in this book (a father and daughter) couldn’t be dealing with it any more differently.
NO SECRET - my favorite genre is speculative fiction. And if you’ve been hanging around you’ll note that I read books by authors and about characters that aren’t just like me. I am attracted to books by BIPOC authors and explore their stories & books exploring LGBTQA accounts. Sure, I’ll read the Frieda so I don’t get FOMO, but the characters always seem to be the same. Stories that offer a wider-world perspective have opened my eyes, educated me and also entertained me along the way. This book has hit that sweet spot for me. I also took a lot away from this story.
Let’s get this out here too - Cebo Campbell is a fantastic writer. I’m talking about a high level of beauty here! He developed well-crafted characters, layed out an interesting plot and challenges and painted a fascinating utopian world. Campbell writes with love and laughter - this is a book that has the power to make you both smile, chuckle but also feel crushed and cry. He tells the story of a father and daughter who meet for the first time about a year after the event. They embark on a journey into the south where they have no idea what they’ll meet.
This book is an exceptional work of literary fiction that sucks the reader in and you’ll feel the world that Campbell has built. His descriptions are really elegant.
I’ll close with this. For any idiots calling this book racist or giving it low ratings due to its plot: you quickly show your ignorance and obviously haven’t read it.
Thank you to Cebo Campbell, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
NO SECRET - my favorite genre is speculative fiction. And if you’ve been hanging around you’ll note that I read books by authors and about characters that aren’t just like me. I am attracted to books by BIPOC authors and explore their stories & books exploring LGBTQA accounts. Sure, I’ll read the Frieda so I don’t get FOMO, but the characters always seem to be the same. Stories that offer a wider-world perspective have opened my eyes, educated me and also entertained me along the way. This book has hit that sweet spot for me. I also took a lot away from this story.
Let’s get this out here too - Cebo Campbell is a fantastic writer. I’m talking about a high level of beauty here! He developed well-crafted characters, layed out an interesting plot and challenges and painted a fascinating utopian world. Campbell writes with love and laughter - this is a book that has the power to make you both smile, chuckle but also feel crushed and cry. He tells the story of a father and daughter who meet for the first time about a year after the event. They embark on a journey into the south where they have no idea what they’ll meet.
This book is an exceptional work of literary fiction that sucks the reader in and you’ll feel the world that Campbell has built. His descriptions are really elegant.
I’ll close with this. For any idiots calling this book racist or giving it low ratings due to its plot: you quickly show your ignorance and obviously haven’t read it.
Thank you to Cebo Campbell, Simon & Schuster and Netgalley for the opportunity to read a review copy of this book.
September 22, 2024
Thank you Simon and Schuster for the advanced readers copy. This did not affect my rating.
Sky Full of Elephants is an incredible exploration into black excellence without boundaries. This story will sit with you for a long time and make you reflect real hard. I see it in my interactions with other people, seeing the relationships of families and communities all around, and in every thing I do. We live our lives in the West serving a society that was built upon the genocide and mistreatment of people of colour, being told a facade that it is no longer acceptable that reformations have been made.
This story examines this notion and breaks it down to present a world where healing is possible. It’s definitely a difficult read, one that makes you question things and has you questioning things. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong idea here, the discussions to be had from it are multifarious.
As a person of colour this whole book was a whirlwind. I can relate to a lot of it through both the perspectives of a relieved charlie and a grieving sidney, and I think it’s completely different to view this from a place where it strikes personal. These themes are important and integral. I fear all my thoughts on this topic are a bit too personal and hard for non pocs to understand which is why I’m trying to be general. I’d love to talk about this book if you read it! (Please do)
One big thing I took away from this was the power, importance, and impact of community. Community has the power to shape what we become and what we can achieve.
Concepts and stories that depend on questionable morality and discussions on ethics are my favourite. I would highly recommend reading this book, I honestly think it’s one every person should read - at least in the West.
Sky Full of Elephants is an incredible exploration into black excellence without boundaries. This story will sit with you for a long time and make you reflect real hard. I see it in my interactions with other people, seeing the relationships of families and communities all around, and in every thing I do. We live our lives in the West serving a society that was built upon the genocide and mistreatment of people of colour, being told a facade that it is no longer acceptable that reformations have been made.
This story examines this notion and breaks it down to present a world where healing is possible. It’s definitely a difficult read, one that makes you question things and has you questioning things. I don’t believe there is a right or wrong idea here, the discussions to be had from it are multifarious.
As a person of colour this whole book was a whirlwind. I can relate to a lot of it through both the perspectives of a relieved charlie and a grieving sidney, and I think it’s completely different to view this from a place where it strikes personal. These themes are important and integral. I fear all my thoughts on this topic are a bit too personal and hard for non pocs to understand which is why I’m trying to be general. I’d love to talk about this book if you read it! (Please do)
One big thing I took away from this was the power, importance, and impact of community. Community has the power to shape what we become and what we can achieve.
Concepts and stories that depend on questionable morality and discussions on ethics are my favourite. I would highly recommend reading this book, I honestly think it’s one every person should read - at least in the West.
August 8, 2024
Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell
Genre: Literary Fiction & Science Fiction
Pages: 304 pages
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
TW: Death by Suicide in a cataclysmic way.
Series: stand-alone
ARC?: Yes, Thank you Simon & Schuster for this free review copy of Sky Full of Elephants. I appreciated being able to read this ARC on Netgalley. #SimonBooksBuddy
This book had me in a chokehold from the first chapter. The book literally starts off with all White people killing themselves by walking into the nearest large body of water (the Ocean) and drowning themselves. Like if that doesn't make your ears perk up and make you say, " What in the hell", I don't know what will.
Living in a world where white people no longer exsist nore do the things they have created nothing have changed yet everything has changed. Charles gets released from prison along with others due to the justice system changing (not to mention he was wrongfully convicted in the first place). He goes from being a prisoner to a profesor at Harvard University.
Charles gets a call that with set his journey into motion and have him seaking answers he isnt sure he will trully find.
This story focuses on finding power in something more ancestral then tactile. Healing from years of programing and finding the difference in what it looks like and means to be black then and now in this new world.
I think the death of all white people my be harsh and uncomfortable for some to read yet some may not bat a eye-lash due to the desensitized world we live in where people are killed or killing themselves daily for nothing. It is all perspective and I hope all readers are able to understand this point in his writing.
This is a must read thought provoking novel that does not drop the ball. It is meant for some readers to be uncomfortable and for others to dare to dream. I was constantly picking up my jaw while asking myself "What if?"Over and over.
The beautiful thing about the book is you can have 10 people read it and get 10 different perspectives from it. I think it was meant to be thought provoking while acknowledging the challenges we face on a day to day just do to color.
Bravo Cebo Campbell. 👏🏽 This book will be tough for me to forget.
Genre: Literary Fiction & Science Fiction
Pages: 304 pages
Rating: ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️
TW: Death by Suicide in a cataclysmic way.
Series: stand-alone
ARC?: Yes, Thank you Simon & Schuster for this free review copy of Sky Full of Elephants. I appreciated being able to read this ARC on Netgalley. #SimonBooksBuddy
This book had me in a chokehold from the first chapter. The book literally starts off with all White people killing themselves by walking into the nearest large body of water (the Ocean) and drowning themselves. Like if that doesn't make your ears perk up and make you say, " What in the hell", I don't know what will.
Living in a world where white people no longer exsist nore do the things they have created nothing have changed yet everything has changed. Charles gets released from prison along with others due to the justice system changing (not to mention he was wrongfully convicted in the first place). He goes from being a prisoner to a profesor at Harvard University.
Charles gets a call that with set his journey into motion and have him seaking answers he isnt sure he will trully find.
This story focuses on finding power in something more ancestral then tactile. Healing from years of programing and finding the difference in what it looks like and means to be black then and now in this new world.
I think the death of all white people my be harsh and uncomfortable for some to read yet some may not bat a eye-lash due to the desensitized world we live in where people are killed or killing themselves daily for nothing. It is all perspective and I hope all readers are able to understand this point in his writing.
This is a must read thought provoking novel that does not drop the ball. It is meant for some readers to be uncomfortable and for others to dare to dream. I was constantly picking up my jaw while asking myself "What if?"Over and over.
The beautiful thing about the book is you can have 10 people read it and get 10 different perspectives from it. I think it was meant to be thought provoking while acknowledging the challenges we face on a day to day just do to color.
Bravo Cebo Campbell. 👏🏽 This book will be tough for me to forget.
August 7, 2024
This is a hard book to rate, because it’s profoundly Not For Me. It can be hard to know when requesting an ARC who the intended audience is, but this feels less like a book speaking to an expansive audience (something like Chain-Gang All-Stars) and more like a book specifically furthering intramural Black discourse.
As I read, I felt like it was oversimplifying at almost every opportunity. The lead is a Black man falsely imprisoned after a white woman cried rape, and the other lead is a biracial teenager taught a fair bit of self-loathing by her white family. While the book often gestured toward the problems in the post-apocalyptic premise, in general white people were gone and life was a whole lot better. In some ways plausibly better, in some ways implausibly. It just felt oversimplified.
But as I read on, I became more and more convinced that the oversimplification was intentional for the book’s project. It feels like a book that’s about two things. First, to remind Black people of their worth, even when society tells them otherwise. Second, to address the question of whether Black healing should be pursued in a way that harms oppressors and their descendants. And if the world without white people weren’t actually healing, it would be a very easy question. And so what looked like an oversimplification truly does serve the theme.
But the main question also feels intramural in a way such that it’s weird for me to step in as someone outside that conversation and assign a rating. The book is compellingly written and digs into serious themes. I’m not sure I was totally convinced by the ending, but I appreciate what it was trying to do. It was a disappointment to see the Black church almost entirely absent.
First impression: 15/20
As I read, I felt like it was oversimplifying at almost every opportunity. The lead is a Black man falsely imprisoned after a white woman cried rape, and the other lead is a biracial teenager taught a fair bit of self-loathing by her white family. While the book often gestured toward the problems in the post-apocalyptic premise, in general white people were gone and life was a whole lot better. In some ways plausibly better, in some ways implausibly. It just felt oversimplified.
But as I read on, I became more and more convinced that the oversimplification was intentional for the book’s project. It feels like a book that’s about two things. First, to remind Black people of their worth, even when society tells them otherwise. Second, to address the question of whether Black healing should be pursued in a way that harms oppressors and their descendants. And if the world without white people weren’t actually healing, it would be a very easy question. And so what looked like an oversimplification truly does serve the theme.
But the main question also feels intramural in a way such that it’s weird for me to step in as someone outside that conversation and assign a rating. The book is compellingly written and digs into serious themes. I’m not sure I was totally convinced by the ending, but I appreciate what it was trying to do. It was a disappointment to see the Black church almost entirely absent.
First impression: 15/20
September 5, 2024
This was one of the most unique books I've read this year that I'll need some time to think over. I want to dissect it, but in a good way. There's just so much to it. The imagery and conversations alone are everything.
Brief overview- All the white people have drowned themselves in bodies of water. A year later, Charlie gets a call from his daughter Sidney. She needs his help, even though they've never met. Charlie is a teacher now, but he was in prison at the time of the incident. Sidney should be starting college. Instead she had to watch her whire family plunge themselves into a lake while she held up alone for a year. While traveling together, the two find their identity again- as a free man and as a black woman.
So, I will say this. Being white and reading this you might want to object to certain parts, but just push it back and take it in. Yes, not all white people are a certain way or deserving. But this is about an overall feeling and more than individuals. So let that go and just read it. I gained a lot from this.
Once they got to Alabama things went in a completely unexpected direction for me. I was expecting Parable of the Sower, but it was tripping. Very interesting though! I needed to continue reading to find out about Orange Beach.
I couldn't put this one down. I can see it being taught in schools. A truly worthwhile read.
Thank-you so much to Cebo Campbell and Simon Books for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
#SkyFullofElephants #SimonBooksBuddy
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Things I dog- eared- and I NEVER usually dog ear!
1. When Sidney first used "they" instead of "we" to talk about white people and all those lost/before times. Paying attention to the theys/wes was interesting.
2. Sidney and Charlie's first meeting and the father and son they came across- the moment with the gun was when I first knew this book was something special.
3. Natchez- I found it so interesting this was mentioned, even briefly, because of the debate behind it. We will never truly know the real history of the Devil's Punchbowl- refugee camp with poor sanitation and bad drinking water that killed 20, 000 or concentration camp killing 100,000? Either answer is a tragedy. Historical misrepresentations can be so difficult to uncover and ever know the truth behind, but we do know that the freed slaves died in extremely high numbers. Local residents still will not eat the fruit from the fields because they know what fertilizes the trees.
4. There was one quote against white people that did bug me, the only one i couldn'tturn it off for- "Let’s get it straight: white folks did rape and steal and kill abd black folks diesld by the thousands- was dying all the way up 'til a year ago. Never feeling shame for that, and not allowing us to feel anger over it, means we don't evolve." I understand the anger part. And I understand why we should all be aware that our history is littered with terrible things like this and learn from it. But, no, I do not feel unevolved for not feeling ashamed for things I did not do and could never support or profit from (I might understand feeling ashamed if I had family money or ties that profited from this though.)
Last side note:
I kept wondering when they were going to address how the bodies poisoned the water. They don't. So I had to stop thinking about it. But I can't. And now I'm just thinking about the mass chaos, cleanup and dehydration there would be....
But the book was so good at talking emotions and imagery, what it means to find identity it really didn't need to concern itself with the water purity issues. I kept telling myself this, and it was true. The book was soooo good, it didn't need this. But now I need to write into Randall Munroe about this.
Brief overview- All the white people have drowned themselves in bodies of water. A year later, Charlie gets a call from his daughter Sidney. She needs his help, even though they've never met. Charlie is a teacher now, but he was in prison at the time of the incident. Sidney should be starting college. Instead she had to watch her whire family plunge themselves into a lake while she held up alone for a year. While traveling together, the two find their identity again- as a free man and as a black woman.
So, I will say this. Being white and reading this you might want to object to certain parts, but just push it back and take it in. Yes, not all white people are a certain way or deserving. But this is about an overall feeling and more than individuals. So let that go and just read it. I gained a lot from this.
Once they got to Alabama things went in a completely unexpected direction for me. I was expecting Parable of the Sower, but it was tripping. Very interesting though! I needed to continue reading to find out about Orange Beach.
I couldn't put this one down. I can see it being taught in schools. A truly worthwhile read.
Thank-you so much to Cebo Campbell and Simon Books for my free advanced reader copy. My review is unbiased and opinions my own.
#SkyFullofElephants #SimonBooksBuddy
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Things I dog- eared- and I NEVER usually dog ear!
1. When Sidney first used "they" instead of "we" to talk about white people and all those lost/before times. Paying attention to the theys/wes was interesting.
2. Sidney and Charlie's first meeting and the father and son they came across- the moment with the gun was when I first knew this book was something special.
3. Natchez- I found it so interesting this was mentioned, even briefly, because of the debate behind it. We will never truly know the real history of the Devil's Punchbowl- refugee camp with poor sanitation and bad drinking water that killed 20, 000 or concentration camp killing 100,000? Either answer is a tragedy. Historical misrepresentations can be so difficult to uncover and ever know the truth behind, but we do know that the freed slaves died in extremely high numbers. Local residents still will not eat the fruit from the fields because they know what fertilizes the trees.
4. There was one quote against white people that did bug me, the only one i couldn'tturn it off for- "Let’s get it straight: white folks did rape and steal and kill abd black folks diesld by the thousands- was dying all the way up 'til a year ago. Never feeling shame for that, and not allowing us to feel anger over it, means we don't evolve." I understand the anger part. And I understand why we should all be aware that our history is littered with terrible things like this and learn from it. But, no, I do not feel unevolved for not feeling ashamed for things I did not do and could never support or profit from (I might understand feeling ashamed if I had family money or ties that profited from this though.)
Last side note:
I kept wondering when they were going to address how the bodies poisoned the water. They don't. So I had to stop thinking about it. But I can't. And now I'm just thinking about the mass chaos, cleanup and dehydration there would be....
But the book was so good at talking emotions and imagery, what it means to find identity it really didn't need to concern itself with the water purity issues. I kept telling myself this, and it was true. The book was soooo good, it didn't need this. But now I need to write into Randall Munroe about this.
September 25, 2024
I haven’t read much speculative fiction, and what I’ve read I can’t say I’ve loved. However, this book finally showed me the phenomenal stories that can be told by toying with realism.
I was so struck by the ambition of this premise, and the writing is beautiful enough to make the plot’s potential swell. I would’ve enjoyed reading more about the immediate aftermath of the event and the coming-to-be of the world we enter. The characters that we meet were unlike anyone I’ve read about, and I could’ve indulged in at least 100 more pages getting to know them. Overall, I’d say the only problem I had with this book is I’d like to spend more time with it which, all things considered, is a good problem for a book to have. And that leaves me most definitely sat for whatever Campbell comes up with next.
Major thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for sending me my first ever (!!!) e-arc!!
———————————————————————————
“All that emotion, all that rage in the sky, poured out the way it did because for so long no one tended to it. No one cared about our sadness, or grief, or pain—none of it. And you know exactly what I mean. To be left in the darkness so long you become darkness. All I did was open the door and set it free the way it deserved to be.”
“We'd been looking to the daylight to save us, when all it did was hide and diffuse the power. Night waited for our eyes to come home. Charlie understood the stars didn't just twinkle and burn—they sang, just like us. Across the dark distance of space every star vibrated, a song belted through time—the music of life—offering more power than ever produced. All our ancestors looked up at the same night sky. In the dark, under ancient, cosmic sparkle, they found their gifts. In the dark they evolved math and poetry and song, found the language of themselves. In the dark, they discovered infinite power, black power, a heritage of and beyond the world.”
“Like her, all they knew, because all they'd been trained, was how well to suffer. And perhaps be rewarded by the consolation ot endurance. How does anyone begin to free themselves from the cycle of that type of conflict? Such struggle assumes an enemy one cannot punch or kick or kill. One that ravages memory and future alike. One no amount of apologies could satisfy. Conflict one lives with and tries, mightily, to live better than it demands.”
“I kept thinking, What a strange fruit we are to have never ripened. Hung, dangled, sweetened, eaten, but never just filled up with the miracle of ourselves. We had to heal, Charlie. We had to.”
review to come
I was so struck by the ambition of this premise, and the writing is beautiful enough to make the plot’s potential swell. I would’ve enjoyed reading more about the immediate aftermath of the event and the coming-to-be of the world we enter. The characters that we meet were unlike anyone I’ve read about, and I could’ve indulged in at least 100 more pages getting to know them. Overall, I’d say the only problem I had with this book is I’d like to spend more time with it which, all things considered, is a good problem for a book to have. And that leaves me most definitely sat for whatever Campbell comes up with next.
Major thanks to the publisher & NetGalley for sending me my first ever (!!!) e-arc!!
———————————————————————————
“All that emotion, all that rage in the sky, poured out the way it did because for so long no one tended to it. No one cared about our sadness, or grief, or pain—none of it. And you know exactly what I mean. To be left in the darkness so long you become darkness. All I did was open the door and set it free the way it deserved to be.”
“We'd been looking to the daylight to save us, when all it did was hide and diffuse the power. Night waited for our eyes to come home. Charlie understood the stars didn't just twinkle and burn—they sang, just like us. Across the dark distance of space every star vibrated, a song belted through time—the music of life—offering more power than ever produced. All our ancestors looked up at the same night sky. In the dark, under ancient, cosmic sparkle, they found their gifts. In the dark they evolved math and poetry and song, found the language of themselves. In the dark, they discovered infinite power, black power, a heritage of and beyond the world.”
“Like her, all they knew, because all they'd been trained, was how well to suffer. And perhaps be rewarded by the consolation ot endurance. How does anyone begin to free themselves from the cycle of that type of conflict? Such struggle assumes an enemy one cannot punch or kick or kill. One that ravages memory and future alike. One no amount of apologies could satisfy. Conflict one lives with and tries, mightily, to live better than it demands.”
“I kept thinking, What a strange fruit we are to have never ripened. Hung, dangled, sweetened, eaten, but never just filled up with the miracle of ourselves. We had to heal, Charlie. We had to.”
review to come
September 10, 2024
4.5⭐️ This is a very special book. Full review is up on http://instagram.com/chelseahudsonreads
September 20, 2024
Genocide of the entire white population of the United States.
I finished it because I hoped for redemption, or at least remorse.
This book was filled with hate and contempt, and represents a very dangerous and polarizing way of thinking.
Skip it.
I finished it because I hoped for redemption, or at least remorse.
This book was filled with hate and contempt, and represents a very dangerous and polarizing way of thinking.
Skip it.
August 16, 2024
Exceptional premise but ultimately disappointed. Lengthier review to come.
Read
July 9, 2024This was a DNF for me.
I wanted so much to like it, but the writing style was very literary and distant (perfect for many readers!), when I wanted something more entertaining.
In addition, though I understood the importance of the book, I've read similar things in the past and my head can't get past the science (or lack thereof) to concentrate on the message.
Unfortunately, not for me.
I wanted so much to like it, but the writing style was very literary and distant (perfect for many readers!), when I wanted something more entertaining.
In addition, though I understood the importance of the book, I've read similar things in the past and my head can't get past the science (or lack thereof) to concentrate on the message.
Unfortunately, not for me.
September 6, 2024
3 ⭐️ I enjoyed this speculative fiction story. The world is turned upside down when mysteriously all white people walk into the nearest body of water and drown. Told from the POV of Sidney, a biracial teen, left alone after her whole family disappears, and Charlie, a wrongfully imprisoned man and Sidney’s father, freed in the aftermath.
Both set out to find a hold out of leftovers where Sidney’s Aunt may be. On their journey they discover the Kingdom of Alabama, and an upcoming Mardi Gras in Mobile. Do King Hosea and Queen Vivian hold the key to what happened to all the white people?
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing in this book. The writer used beautiful prose, and deeply nuanced characters. The author did a great job delving into black tragedy and generational trauma. I just felt something was missing explaining how the giant radio tower was able to tap into white consciousness, causing everyone to walk into the water. Where did this tower come from? Who built it etc. The ending was a little ambiguous and I would’ve liked it more if Charlie and Sidney had reconnected at the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
Both set out to find a hold out of leftovers where Sidney’s Aunt may be. On their journey they discover the Kingdom of Alabama, and an upcoming Mardi Gras in Mobile. Do King Hosea and Queen Vivian hold the key to what happened to all the white people?
I thoroughly enjoyed the writing in this book. The writer used beautiful prose, and deeply nuanced characters. The author did a great job delving into black tragedy and generational trauma. I just felt something was missing explaining how the giant radio tower was able to tap into white consciousness, causing everyone to walk into the water. Where did this tower come from? Who built it etc. The ending was a little ambiguous and I would’ve liked it more if Charlie and Sidney had reconnected at the end.
Thank you, NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for the ARC in exchange for my honest review
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 18, 2024
This was unlike anything I have ever read. I was constantly thinking about this book while I was reading it and am not sure I will ever stop thinking about it.
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