SKY FULL OF ELEPHANTS was simply profound. I’ve seen a lot of people say it made them “uncomfortable,” and I think that’s exactly the point. America’s racist roots run deep. Relationships are devastatingly—and beautifully—complicated. And this is the kind of speculative fiction that doesn’t just build new worlds, it deepens the ones we already live in.

A bold and thought provoking exploration of race, identity, and connection. The characters are richly drawn, with resilience and internal struggles. It is a memorable read that lingers after the final page.
Many thanks to Simon & Schuster and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

There was so much that was really good about this book. First of all, the idea of this world where all white people in America essentially off themselves, leaving the country to everyone else is an interesting speculative fiction idea to explore what could happen in a “post-racial” America. Then we get such strong characters in Charlie and Sidney, both of which have had such vastly different experiences growing up in America. The ending was a little ambiguous, but otherwise I really had fun with this book and appreciated the perspective this book brings to looking at race in America, something that is greatly needed given our current government.

This is a very creative work, following a father and daughter reunited due to a phenomenal event where all whites in the US walked to the nearest body of water and drowned themselves. Teenage Sidney, abandoned by her white father, stepfather, and stepbrothers; reaches out to the Black father she never knew, now freed due to the event from being imprisoned for his wrongful conviction for raping her mother. He comes to find her from his collegiate life putting his vast mechanical skills to work teaching the remaining population how to fill the void left by all the whites disappearing. He finds her, and they deal with numerous challenges in this newfound world on her quest to meet up with an aunt who left her a note that she was going to Alabama. They pick up some pilot friends along the way, and go to the mysterious kingdom that has become Alabama.
There are amazing twists and turns along the way seeing how different people have adapted to the circumstances. Some, like the pilot Sailor and his kid, are very interesting but get mainly shunted aside for the Mobile crew, who are themselves spread thin in page time but many have very distinct moments, especially the ones that take Charles and Sidney under their wings as what was going to be a quick trip turns into and extended stay in apparent paradise.
As an allegory, there are of course several gaps -- as what happened to other people of color in the US and anyone in other countries is barely touched. What is and isn't working due to the disappearance of whites is also played for convenience to the plot, but that is understandable. Overall, this is a great meditation on dealing with intergenerational trauma, opportunity, and many other important considerations.
Sound those trumpets, sky elephants!!

Cebo Campbell's Sky Full of Elephants, is a thought-provoking and emotionally rich exploration of identity, community, and healing. Recommended!

This started out with a clever and interesting plot in the vein of Mohsin Hamid’s Exit West: one day a so-called “event” causes every white person in American to walk into the nearest body of water. A year later, a black man named Charlie gets a call from a daughter he didn’t know he had and sets out in an adventure across a new country of unknowns to give her what she wants - to go to Alabama where her remaining family might be.

The first half of this was so good. I was curious to see this new world and see Charlie and his daughter go on an adventure seeking closure on their identity. Instead I got a seemingly random ending with no closure and it felt very much like there was no ending. I was expecting a profound closing to a unique premise but it fell so flat for me.

Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot on identity and how the characters saw themselves in this new world. But there was also a king and queen of Mobile, a resurrection of Mardi Gras and what felt like an oversimplification of many complex topics. Also this one is ~very~ Aspen-y and I can see why it made it this year’s long list! I personally don’t think it’s a contender for the short list but we will see in a few weeks!

I will say, I loved the author’s grit and imagination and I will for sure be reading anything else he writes! But for this one I give it 5 stars for the first half and 2 stars for the second. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Definitely was excited to read this book, the premise really drew me in and I felt like it was bound to be a hit for me. Unfortuantely, I DNF'd this book at 57%. I just couldn't get into the storyline, and the MC's daughter was getting on my NERVES with how racist she was. I understand why she was racist... however it still irritated me! So, due to the fact that I also felt the plot was dragging, it just wasn't enough for me to see the book through.

Thank you to Netgalley and the Publishing Company for this Advanced Readers Copy of Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell!

This book made me uncomfortable which is how I know it worked really well. It's wildly unique but unfortunately the ending left something to be desired.

I was really looking forward to reading this one.

The premise was interesting, I was immediately drawn into the story’s but then as I continued to read, I started to get so caught up on some of the things that just didn’t make sense. I think I was so focused on the “event” because it felt like there were a lot of details that weren’t addressed, and then there’s so much over explanation in other things, I just didn’t think this overall ended up the way it wanted to. I also had a hard time grasping that the state of where things were happened in a year. Maybe five years?

Then once some of the things were addressed near the end, they were just sort of casually mentioned and not explained so they just didn’t make sense. (Sorry if this is confusing, I’m trying to avoid spoilers 😂.)

I also thought the final third of the book got a little all over the place. I thought this was supposed to be more focused on Sidney and the relationship with her dad, but then they aren’t together much later on in the story, and in the book ends so abruptly. It felt like it needed more.

Overall, again, I think this was an interesting premise. I thought the writing maybe just wasn’t strong enough yet, maybe with some better editing, this could have been a powerful book. And there were parts that really made you think, but all together it just wasn’t as strong as it could have been.

HOWEVER, I still think it’s worth a read. I’d pick up other books by this author in the future.

Thank you @netgalley and @simonandschuster for sending this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Cebo Campbell's debut novel *The Kingdom of Alabama* offers a striking and thought-provoking look at identity, race, and connection in the wake of a cataclysmic event that changes America forever. The story follows Charlie and Sidney as they set out on a road trip through a transformed America, where everything they thought they knew about race, family, and themselves is turned upside down. The central premise—of all white people in America walking into bodies of water—serves as a powerful metaphor for the disorienting effect that major societal shifts can have on our identities. As Charlie and Sidney head south toward the Kingdom of Alabama, Campbell explores themes of healing, trauma, and what it means to be Black in a “post-racial” America.

One of the things I love most about this book is the author’s ability to blend humor with deep, introspective insights into the human experience. Charlie and Sidney’s relationship is at the heart of the story, and their emotional journey, filled with history and unresolved tensions, feels real and raw. Campbell’s writing makes their connection come to life with authenticity and tenderness, and the dialogue is sharp and witty, offering moments of humor even as the novel tackles bigger, heavier questions.

Through its compelling story and rich characters, Campbell encourages readers to reflect on how race, identity, and history shape the way we see ourselves and each other. At its core, the novel is about community, connection, and self-discovery. It asks tough questions about healing, forgiveness, and the process of reimagining a world where the rules have changed, but the past still looms large.

The Kingdom of Alabama* is a bold and necessary novel that offers a deep look into what it means to be human in a world that’s constantly changing.

Thanks to Netgalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC and opportunity to provide an honest review.

Sky Full of Elephants is a unique and bold story that brings to question what life would be like for Black people if White people no longer existed. With phenomenally descriptive and imaginative language, Cebo Campbell scripts characters that appear to leap off the page and into real life. These characters not only explore the world within the story, but represent concise personalities many may recognize from the real world around them. I really enjoyed the books originality, but sometimes felt as if shortcuts were taken to arrive at the big picture. There’s a lot to learn within these pages, but there is also room for the story to be fully fleshed out. Would recommend nonetheless!

This is one of those books that forces you to experience the book rather than just read it. It’s not just a beginning, middle, and end—it was like a living thing that I had to wrestle with. I’m not sure who I wanted the winner to be, but I appreciated the match and it’s a story I’ll continue to think about.

A world without white people is a concept that I know will offend some. To them I’d say, this is a fictional book as opposed to the real life centuries of horrific things some of their ancestors and have done and continue doing to every other non-white race. Cebo was bold to write a book like this and I admire him for it.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC!

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell is a sci-fi debut that opens with a fantastical event in which all white people walk into the nearest bodies of water, resulting in their demise. Consequently, the remaining Black population is tasked with reorganizing societal structures and redefining their identities. This journey allows them to explore themes of family, belonging, obligation, and the pursuit of happiness and purpose.

The narrative is rich with profound racial and societal undertones, offering ample material for thought-provoking discussions in book clubs. The author introduces the idea of an intrinsic connection among those dispersed by the African Diaspora, emphasizing the internal work necessary to heal from trauma and access a shared sense of Black identity. A central character navigates the complexities of losing her white mother and non-Black relatives, reconnecting with her long-lost Black father, all while confronting challenges related to her bi-/multi-racial identity, unfamiliar cultures, unknown traditions, and a renewed sense of self.

As a fantasy and science fiction novel, it explores relatable human connections while also pushing the boundaries of the reader’s imagination.

I extend my gratitude to the publisher, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for the opportunity to review this work.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

Sky Full of Elephants by Cebo Campbell is an emotional speculative fiction novel that reflects on generational racial trauma. Campbell’s literary voice is outstanding especially for a debut author. In his acknowledgements, he cites Toni Morrison as an inspiration and her books are definitely what I would compare this to stylistically. The novel explores a lot of deep topics such as identity (racial and briefly, gender), trauma, family, and forgiveness. I kept thinking as I was reading that even though this leans more sci-fi than horror, I would compare this as a more successful version of what River Solomon’s Model Home tried to do earlier this year.

Although most of the characters are interesting and well-rounded, Sidney seemed a little flat in the first half of the book, and I kept thinking that she read a bit younger than her age of 19.

Also, while I don’t totally mind the ambiguity concerning the transmission at the end, I think Charlie and Sidney being together again physically (rather than connected by their “consciousness“) would have been stronger closure.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in literary novels concerning racial identity and trauma. It will definitely not be for everyone and it will surely make some people angry, but I believe that in this case, reading something uncomfortable will be a learning experience for the reader.

In this engrossing tale, all the white people are gone. This is set in a modern day America, and our story takes place one year after the event that took them. Some people think it was the “rapture,” and are upset that they weren’t taken. Others are happily moving into abandoned houses that are nicer than their old ones. We meet people who engage with this new world in many different ways.

Our main character, Charlie, was in prison for most of the past 19 years. But, he’s always been good at fixing things, and this lands him a job at a HBCU teaching others how to fix things. (Most notably, there is a need in the new world for people who know how solar panels work, so the survivors can still have electricity!)

But then, his daughter Sidney calls. She and Charlie have never met, and he had not realized she was still alive (because she is half-white). She needs a favor, and he is the only person she thought would have survived. So, first, he has to drive to Wisconsin to find her. Once there, she wants him to drive her to Alabama, where she thinks she’ll find an aunt still living. I really thought, at this point, that this would be a road trip story. But, it is only that for a short while.

Eventually, they find help getting to Alabama, but that comes with a warning that Alabama is now ruled by a king. Both are anxious about whatever that means, and determined to sneak past him.

But as soon as they cross over the state line, they are taken in a school bus to be brought in front of the “king.” He and his family live in Mobile, where they are currently getting ready for Mardi Gras. The family insists that Charlie and Sidney stay a while, and learn more about what they’re doing in Mobile, before deciding whether or not to leave.

Most of our action – which is sometimes just learning, or contemplating – takes place here. The king’s family had spent time in Haiti, and they’ve imbued Mobile with a sense of black joy that also includes some older traditions (think hoodoo and voodoo kinds of traditions).

Sidney has never considered herself black, and Charlie spent a lot of his life seeing his blackness as a burden. So, both have a lot to learn here.

One of the key turning points in the book, though, is when Charlie learns more about what the king is working on in his garage. Charlie loves machines, and loves to tinker, and wants to help. But he realizes that the machine – meant to connect all black people – also was the cause of the white people leaving. This leads multiple characters to have to weigh whether some lives matter more than others.

Two more notes on the “event” that was the catalyst for this world:

Although our main characters are black, there are other non-white people still around – Asians, Indigenous, Mexicans, etc. Also, we eventually learn that the king’s machine did not reach across the oceans, and it is assumed there are still white people on other continents.

This is a great read, but only if you’re ok with the characters spending quite a bit of the time philosophizing about their place in the world.

Sky Full of Elephants is intriguing - mass suicide always is, and this one apparently is utter and complete. A troubling tale, even if a fable, but if truly reflecting the narrator's perspective is satisfyingly deserved read through a scriptural lens.

All writing is an act of persuasion, and pieced together in ways that are layered with tension and tautness bound to trigger readers like me. My response was whole. The minute one reads that all white folk throughout the land have walked into the ocean without pause, the message received is of payback through genre. And although much of me agrees much is due on that score, this reader felt every word weighted, every character complicit, every situation manipulated to the message in a way that in disbelief-already-suspended fiction feels over-the-top. From early on my readerly self was divided - was it fiction or was it subtext wish fulfillment? The most alarming thing? I've rarely felt whiter. Altogether uncomfortable and brought me right out of the tale. Into the breach I went to finish, and so it went throughout the read.

That troubled distraction awoke something - hard to say exactly what, but sat (sits still) in my thought processes about this book must surely be the author's voice, message on something I've yet to grasp but will continue trying. I will read this again in another season, and look forward to other works by Cebo Campbell.

*A sincere thank you to Cebo Campbell, Simon & Schuster, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.*

A book that explores an unexpected topic that brings about so much conversation.

A world without white people and a place where black people can thrive and live in peace and prosperity. This book was a perfect example of how the world can change and thrive without hatred.

"Sky Full of Elephants" by Cebo Campbell is a beautifully written, emotionally charged novel that explores love, loss, and the complexities of human relationships. The protagonist's journey of self-discovery and healing is compelling, and Campbell's vivid descriptions really bring the setting to life. The pacing is mostly on point, with just enough tension to keep you hooked, but there are moments where it feels a little slow. The characters are multi-dimensional and relatable, making their struggles hit home. While it’s not a perfect read, the depth of emotion and rich storytelling definitely makes it worth picking up.

It's hard for me to rate this book so I will just say read it. The more I sit and reflect with it, the more complicated I feel. I loved the focus on Black community - across the world, diaspora, ancestry. I was frustrated by the daughter, while understanding she is a product of her experience and life with whiteness. And I still felt like it centered whiteness. But I think that is the point. That even without white people we are still living within white ideals. And what is white? What is "normal"? I haven't stopped thinking about it.