“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