Ship of Souls

by Zetta Elliott

When Dmitri, an 11-year-old bird watcher and math whiz, loses his mother to breast cancer, he is taken in by Mrs. Martin, an elderly white woman. Unaccustomed to the company of kids his own age, D struggles at school and feels like an outcast until a series of unexpected events changes the course of his life. First, D is asked to tutor the school’s basketball star, Hakeem, who will get benched unless his grades improve. Against the odds, the two boys soon realize they have something in they are both taunted by kids at school, and they both have a crush on Nyla, a beautiful but fierce eighth-grade girl. Then Nyla adopts D and invites him to join her entourage of “freaks.” Finally, D discovers an injured bird and brings it home from the park.

D is stunned when the strange bird speaks to him and reveals that she is really a guiding spirit that has been held hostage by ghost soldiers who died in Brooklyn at the start of the American Revolution. As Nuru’s chosen host, D must carry her from Brooklyn to the African Burial Ground in lower Manhattan, but the ghost soldiers won’t surrender their prize without a fight. With the help of Hakeem and Nyla, D battles the Nether Beings who lurk underground, feeding off centuries of rage and pain. But it takes an unexpected ally to help the trio reach the ship that will deliver the innocent souls of the dead back to Nuru’s realm. An urban fantasy infused with contemporary issues and historical facts, Ship of Souls will keep teen readers gripped until the very end.

Genres: Fantasy, Young Adult, Middle Grade, Contemporary, Paranormal, Magical Realism, Audiobook

129 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2012

About the author

I’m a Black feminist writer of poetry, plays, essays, novels, and stories for children. I was born and raised in Canada, but have lived in the US for 30 years. I earned my PhD in American Studies from NYU in 2003; I have taught at Ohio University, Louisiana State University, Mount Holyoke College, Hunter College, Bard High School Early College, and Borough of Manhattan Community College.

My poetry has been published in New Daughters of Africa, We Rise, We Resist, We Raise Our Voices, the Cave Canem anthology, The Ringing Ear: Black Poets Lean South, Check the Rhyme: an Anthology of Female Poets and Emcees, and Coloring Book: an Eclectic Anthology of Fiction and Poetry by Multicultural Writers.

My novella, Plastique, was excerpted in T Dot Griots: an Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers, and my plays have been staged in New York, Cleveland, and Chicago. My essays have appeared in School Library Journal, Horn Book, and Publishers Weekly. My short story, “The Ghost in Her Bones,” was published in a 2020 special issue of Obsidian.

My picture book, Bird, won the Honor Award in Lee & Low Books’ New Voices Contest and the Paterson Prize for Books for Young Readers. My young adult novel, A Wish After Midnight, has been called “a revelation…vivid, violent and impressive history.” Ship of Souls was published in February 2012; it was named a Booklist Top Ten Sci-fi/Fantasy Title for Youth and was a finalist for the Phillis Wheatley Book Award. My short story, “Sweet Sixteen,” was published in Cornered: 14 Stories of Bullying and Defiance in July 2012. My YA novel, The Door at the Crossroads, was a finalist in the Speculative Fiction category of the 2017 Cybils Awards, and my picture book, Melena’s Jubilee, won a 2017 Skipping Stones Honor Award. I received the Children’s Literature Association’s Article Award for my 2014 essay, “The Trouble with Magic: Conjuring the Past in New York City Parks.”

I am an advocate for greater diversity and equity in publishing, and I have self-published numerous illustrated books for younger readers under my own imprint, Rosetta Press; 3 were named Best of the Year by the Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature, and Benny Doesn’t Like to Be Hugged is a first-grade fiction selection for the 2019 Scripps National Spelling Bee.

Dragons in a Bag, a middle grade fantasy novel, was published by Random House in 2018; the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) named it a Notable Children’s Book. Its sequel, The Dragon Thief, was named a Best Middle Grade Book of 2019 by CBC Books. The fifth book in the series, The War of the Witches, will be published in January 2024. The prequel will be self-published in 2024.

Say Her Name, a young adult poetry collection, was published by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers in January 2020; it was named a 2020 Book of the Year for Young People by Quill & Quire and a 2020 “Best of the Best” YA Title by the Black Caucus of the American Library Association; it was also a nominee for the YALSA 2021 Excellence in Nonfiction Award and a Top Ten title for Rise: A Feminist Book Project. Say Her Name won the 2021 Lion and the Unicorn Award for Excellence in North American Poetry.

A Place Inside of Me: a Poem to Heal the Heart from FSG was named an ALA Notable Book and a Notable Poetry Book by the National Council of Teachers of English; it won a 2021 Skipping Stones Honor Award and Noa Denmon won the Caldecott Honor Award for her stunning illustrations. Moonwalking (FSG 2022), a middle grade verse novel co-authored with Lyn Miller-Lachmann earned four starred reviews and was a Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection; it made the NYPL and Bank Street College of Education’s Best Books of 2022 lists, was one of Kirkus Reviews’ 100 Best Middle Grade Books, and made the 2023 Notable Books for a Global Society list. The National Education Association has selected Moonwalking for its 2024 Read Across America program.

I was honored to

Reviews

[TJ · Rating 1 out of 5]

THE REVIEW

Why this book?

It seemed interesting

What I thought

This is not what I was expecting. I wish the fantasy elements were developed more. Also did it really need to have a love triangle why couldn't they be just a group of friends? I liked the bit of history we got. I didn’t like reading the racial slurs at all, it really bugged me and cost the book a star. Overall it wasn't a book for me.

[Andrea]

Set in New York, we meet D as he becomes adrift in the foster system, full of the pain of recent loss, his situation made doubly hard by his awareness that he has to be the best version of himself to avoid the possibility of being sent to a group home. Without the luxury of dealing with his pain, he has numbed himself, untrusting of connections, keeping his head down to survive. D's lack of ties to anyone means he's a suitable host to Nuru, a being from 'another world' who wishes to rescue trapped souls.

Parts of this story are downright creepy, and others - particularly D's fear of the foster system and his need to be constantly on his best behaviour - resonate with hurt. And the two other main children of the story, Nyla and Keem, are rich and interesting characters. I am a little sorry we never got to know what the deal was with D's father, and it does feel like some aspects of the story were sketched in rather than fully detailed, but this is a short, touching story that makes for a very different sort of urban fantasy than what usually comes out of that genre.

[TheBookSmugglers · Rating 4 out of 5]

First Impressions:

Thea: Wow. I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started Ship of Souls, given its slender nature at under 200 pages (not that I have anything against slender packages, given that some of the most potent and effective stories I’ve ever read come with deceptively low page counts). I wasn’t expecting the power and poignancy of Ship of Souls, that’s for sure. This is a story that gets under your skin, that makes you feel and ache and love. If I had to sum up this novel in one word, again: wow.

Ana: Word. This is going to be one of those reviews where I fully agree with Thea. Ship of Souls is a seamless combination of Contemporary and Historical with a side of Urban Fantasy that works well on all of its fronts. It is basically a full measure of awesome in a small package and I just loved it wholeheartedly.

On the Plot:

Thea: Dmitri is an eleven-year-old boy that has never questioned how much his mother loves him. His father has never been around, but he’s always known that his mother’s love has been more than enough – together the two of them face the world. When his mom is diagnosed with breast cancer, and dies shortly after, D is left utterly alone in the world and sent into foster care. Desperate to get out of the group home system, D invents a perfect version of himself to impress anyone looking to foster a new child, and finds a home with the elderly Mrs. Martin. Determined to be the most perfect incarnation of himself, D is always on his best behavior with Mrs. Martin, careful to be polite, to help out around the house, and to take school seriously. It is here, at his new school that D meets and forms an unlikely bond with Keem, the popular basketball jock, as his math tutor. It is also here that he meets Nyla, the most beautiful girl in school, who takes D under her wing.

Despite these new, tenuous friendships, D still feels utterly alone, but he takes solace in his trips to Prospect Park and in his favorite hobby of watching birds. One fateful day, he spies an unusual bird – a bird that speaks to D and knows his thoughts, fears, and deepest hopes. The bird is no ordinary bird, but a creature from another realm, named Nuru. Because D has no ties to bind his heart, Nuru has chosen him as her own host to aid her in her quest to free the souls of the dead. But soon, D discovers that his heart might not be so free – and he learns the power of true friendship, trust, and love.

I repeat: WOW. D’s journey in Ship of Souls is breathtaking in its gravity and heartache. While, from a plotting perspective, the actual story proper is a rather small, contained thing, it is not without its taste of the fantastic, drawing a portal between the current world and the ghosts of the past through the magic of a very special park and its historical significance. Do you know what I love the most about Zetta Elliott’s work? In both A Wish After Midnight and in Ship of Souls, Elliott effortlessly weaves history – a painful, grim, but true history – with fantasy. In this novel, she explores one of the first major battles of the British-American Revolutionary war. In 1776, Prospect Park (along Flatbush Ave) was the battleground for British and Hessian soldiers as they fought the Continental Army (led by George Washington) – and this iconic battle serves as a key point for the story. To do this, to add on top of the historical commentary also one that explores the issues of race, gender, and religion in contemporary Brooklyn, this is no small feat. But Zetta Elliott does it all without making the story didactic or dry, by making these threads more than just a Message or underlying theme – each of these facets of identity are a part of our main characters (D, Keem and Nyla).

Most of all, though, Ship of Souls is a story about a young boy as he grapples with the issues of grief, of isolation and neglect, and of love and friendship. But more on that in a bit.

Ana: Yes, exactly! I loved how the story perfectly combines elements of Contemporary YA, UF and History without being excessive or without losing sight that at its core, this is the story of a young boy. Just like Thea, I was awed by how historical commentary (not only about the British-American War but also about African American Slavery) connects with current social commentary on issues of gender, race, religion. In that sense, I think the most impressive accomplishment of Ship of Souls is indeed how it is both self-contained but also part of something much bigger – it is a perfect example of how individual lives are affected by history which in turn affect current cultural and social arenas. And even when the story takes its turn into fully Fantasy territory it is the characters’ backgrounds and personal histories that move them. Another thing worth mentioning is how this story is imbued with a really strong sense of location – be it the Brooklyn of now or then, be it above ground or underground.

And yes, all of it is expertly handled but like Thea mentions, it is not a dry, dull, didactic story – this was a very emotional read for me and I found myself in tears as the book came to a close with its beautiful and heart-warming ending.

On the Characters:

Thea: On the character front, Ship of Souls soars. Dmitri’s narration drives the story, and it is through the connection to the precocious young boy that the novel depends. D’s story is so heart-renderingly open, so painfully honest that you can’t help but fall in love with the character who so needs love in his life. From his mother’s life and death, to his time in the foster home, to his new life with Mrs. Martin, D’s story is one of heartbreaking young loss. Instead of falling into anger, though D compensates by trying to become the Perfect-D, the boy that will always strive to please, to keep his head down, to stay away from others to make sure he isn’t hurt or sent away again. When Nuru tells D that she has picked him precisely because his heart isn’t complicated with any other ties, I felt my own heart break for the young boy. And when D DOES make other connections, to Keem and Nyla, I wanted to pump my fist in the air with joy. THAT is how powerful Zetta Elliott’s characterizations are, especially for her young protagonist.

The other two main characters are also beautifully drawn too, if they get a little less time than D in the spotlight. Hakeem is so much more than his label as a brainless jock – occasionally ostracized himself because he is Muslim, Keem gradually, begrudgingly befriends D through their tutoring sessions. And then, there is Nyla – beautiful and confident, Nyla has more piercings than D can count and doesn’t seem to have any problem changing and challenging people’s expectations or views of her. She also is a loyal friend, that cares for those that others call “freaks” – including D. These three characters form an unlikely friendship, and as things start to turn bad for D, both Nyla and Keem are there to help him, to fight for him, with him. This is awesome.

I am not going to lie, dear readers. I teared up when I reached those last pages, when D finally realizes that Nyla and Keem aren’t just glad to be rid of him, and that they are truly his friends. Elliott’s writing is powerful, and her characters are what make the story so poignant.

Ana: In one of the most heartbreaking moments of this story, D says:

Problem is, most days I just feel numb. When I’m not numb, I’m miserable. And even when I’m not miserable, I’m still alone.

This is an incredibly poignant moment that shows how extremely self-aware this young boy is – D has gone through a lot and prompted by the grief for his mother’s death he tries to detach himself from any deep connections with friends or with his foster mother in order to avoid more suffering. That frame of mind is what puts him in the path of Nuru and that’s how he becomes a hero for the trapped souls. I loved the subtle exploration about heroism, what makes a person become a hero (or not) and how heroes need not act by themselves. It explores the powerful effect of friendships, of opening up to people and of accepting (and offering) help in time of need.

D’s developing friendship with Nyla and Hakeem is deftly handled and even though that friendship does happen quite fast, I didn’t think it was to the detriment of the story. Rather the contrary: I felt the fast, deep connection formed between the three to be believable and I loved all three characters and how well developed they were.

That the author also manages to give strong voices to the long-dead ghosts of the soldiers and of the slaves is a thing of beauty, really.

Final Thoughts, Observations & Rating:

Thea: Ship of Souls is the second book I’ve read by Zetta Elliott, and I think it exceeds its predecessor. Beautiful, heartbreaking, and powerful, Ship of Souls is a book that I want to give to every middle grade and young adult reader. Absolutely recommended.

Ana: Ship of Souls is that type of story that can be quickly devoured in one sitting, but it’s not a fleeting story – it stays, it matters, it has a long-lasting effect. I loved it and it’s definitely a Notable Read of 2012.

[Phoenixfalls · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was a well-intentioned novel with a decently evocative sense of place that I found unfortunately too heavy-handed to be enjoyable to read.

The three main characters are the sort I wish there were more of in fantasy -- non-white characters who are centered in the narrative and who are clearly shaped by their race but not entirely defined by it. Unfortunately, they are never given the room to come to life. We are given the information encapsulated in the jacket description, and one or two offhand statements that begin the process of humanizing those descriptions (D giving up on dreams of college because his foster mother is unlikely to pay for it; Hakeem trying to figure out how to integrate his faith into his day-to-day life; Nyla's alternately manipulative and supportive relationship with her stepmother), but then the entire rest of the novel is spent developing one of the clunkiest love triangles I have ever had the displeasure of reading.

The setting was similarly disappointing -- there was just enough that piqued my interest for me to know that Elliott had a potentially fascinating world built up in her head, but somehow it never quite translated to the page. (And the "Prologue" completely threw me, with its "I" who was clearly not D but did live in a Brooklyn teeming with both magic and history; I had to read it twice before I figured out that the "Prologue" was really an author's note/introduction and that "I" was Elliott, rather than being an actual prologue connected to the book itself. Major fail on the publisher's part.)

But the element I found most cringe-worthy, that made the book nearly unreadable to me even at 124 pages, was the plot itself -- the magical bird with a glorious mission only D can complete. That was handled with all the grace of a Saturday morning superhero cartoon. Here is a representative sample of the bird's dialogue:

"It's a long story, and I don't have the strength to tell it all tonight. I can, however, share some of my history."
"You have endured much for one so young."
"You should rest now. You'll need your strength for the task we must undertake."
"When it is time, all will be revealed."

Just absolutely the worst sort of not at all informative, vaguely mystical claptrap that always seems to come out of the mouths of poorly realized magical mentors in programs aimed at five year olds. The dialogue was so trite, in fact, that I was kind of hoping that the bird would turn out to be evil, manipulating the vulnerable, newly orphaned and unsure D with the things little kids want to hear. But, unfortunately, the bird was played entirely straight.

The second half of the book was a series of action sequences that, while not tremendously thrilling, were always clear about who was doing what and why. But overall, this felt like a novel that would have been stronger with significantly more space for the non-fantastical aspects of character and world-building, and needed an entire rewrite of the fantasy plot to remove the cliched dynamics and dialogue.

[Leesha · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a re-read and I forgot how much I really liked this book. I originally read this book when I was much younger, and since reading it again I have picked up on more of the underlying messages of this story. This wasn’t the best book I have ever read, but I’m giving it a high rating because of how nostalgic it makes me feel.

[Chelsea · Rating 5 out of 5]

*some spoilers*

Ship of Souls by Zetta Elliot follows Dmitri, our teenage protagonist and narrator, as he navigates life after the death of his mother (though, he prefers to go by D). The death of D’s mother sends him into the system, where he develops a “perfect me” persona in order to be better liked by adults. He is eventually homed with Mrs. Martin, an elderly woman who also fosters a “crack baby” named Mercy. D begins going to a new school, joins the math club, and takes a job tutoring an older athlete, Hakeem (Keem), in math. As D navigates his way through grief, uncertainty, and high school, he stumbles across a magic being in the form of a bird (Nuru) who tells him that his free heart makes him the perfect host to free an untold number of lost souls. Nyla, the object of D’s (and the whole school’s?) affection, is a military brat who’s unabashedly herself and joins the newly-formed crew.

The team faces unique challenges, both natural and supernatural, together. Nyla curses rude boys out in German, has a complex home life, and her “alternative” appearance makes her both an object of interest and an outcast; Keem’s Muslim identity earns him ridicule from his peers and his family’s strict adherence to their religion puts Keem at odds with some of his classmate’s ideas of normality in dress and behavior. Nuru’s mysterious appearance changes D’s outlook on life, and the adventure that the friends undertake together is all at once scary, relationship-fortifying, and entirely necessary.

This novel does a fantastic job of weaving the fantastic into the ordinary and mundane. I was honestly wondering where the “magic” was for the first few chapters of the book, but I was thoroughly engrossed in D’s story regardless. When the magic finally did appear, it was in a completely believable way. Elliot masterfully integrates the supernatural creature Nuru, hidden passageways and tunnels in NYC, and “nether” beings, into the real world without pulling punches about the realities of the foster care system, racism, and grief.

[Kiki · Rating 4 out of 5]

Zetta Elliott has a wonderful talent for crafting young black protagonists that feel so real and tangible you want to reach out to touch them. Dmitri was such an *individual*--by which I guess I mean that he didn't feel pulled from the typical roster of main characters. Black parents who homeschool are figures I rarely come across on the page although I know many in reality. Fear clutched my throat when Dmitri ended up in the foster system but I appreciated Elliott's choice to diverge from the typical presentation of the sprawling Black family in which relatives are always in each other's business. Dmitri's thoughts on how he discerns others may respond to his foster parent challenged my own assumptions. The care with which Elliott wrote his story is, by far, the best thing about this novella. I was happy to know him.

The two teen side characters were fine, even if Nyla sometimes came off as more a part of Dmitri's infatuation than her own person. (Think of how teen girls/young woman are presented in those endless coming-of-age boy films.) I liked Keem and his dad. Again, Elliott very deliberately pokes at the Black jock stereotype and bucks expectations.

The fantasy element was intriguing but I did find it, in some respects, undercooked with what read as a rushed ending. I loved the concept but wish Elliott had more pages to develop it. D's relationship with the mystical bird was its best part because, as lovely as the being could be, I sometimes doubted whether it had D's best interests at heart. It wasn't entirely benign. The tension kept me engaged. Elliott's poetic vision came through for the ending scene as it did for Mother of the Sea.

Finally, Elliott's author note is as fascinating as the story itself. I'd love to see a nonfiction title from her, like an essay anthology. I look forward to reading more from her.

P.S. White readers need to shut up about whether or not they "like" to read racial slurs in a text. You don't matter here.

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[Francesca Forrest]

Lovely characterizations and a touching, unusual plot. I would love to read an expanded version of this, so we could linger in situations and exchanges a little longer, but even happening as fast as it does, the story gives us a great sense of D, Nyla, Keem, Nuru, and Billy.

[Cheryl · Rating 4 out of 5]

D became a ward of the state, when his mother died from cancer. Lucky for D, he is taken in by Mrs. Ward, a nice white lady. Things are going great for D until Mrs. Ward cares for Mercy, a crack baby. Soon, all of Mrs. Ward’s time is occupied by Mercy.

D is a math whiz. This is why Mr. Powell hires D to tutor his son, Hakeem in math. Nyla has captured the attention of both D and Hakeem. Soon, D, Hakeem and Nyla are hanging out together.

D decides one day to go to the park. Once in the park, D hears a voice. The voice is coming from a small, white bird. The bird’s name is Nuru. D. takes Nuru home with him. Nuru tells D that she must return and help the lost souls. D agrees to help Nuru on her mission. He is joined by Hakeem and Nyla. It will be a dangerous mission as they battle the Nether beings.

I thought this was an entertaining, quick read. In fact, I sat down to read this book and didn’t put it down until I had finished it. D and Nyla I felt were the strongest characters. This book is classified as a young adult read and I would say that it is appropriate for this audience. There was nothing too scary about the nether beings. What I did like the most about this book was that D, Nyla and Hakeem were misfits and the most unlikely of people to group together but in this book it worked. I hope to see these three again in the future.

[Katrina Burchett · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dmitri (aka D) is intelligent, an overachiever, a math whiz. The only family he had was his mother, until he lost her to cancer. Now D is in foster care. His foster mother, Mrs. Martin, is like a grandmother to him and it doesn’t bother him that she’s white. But then she gets another foster child and that does bother D; he’s left feeling like he matters to no one. Until a talking bird named Nuru comes into his life. Nuru is on a mission and she needs D’s help.

Zetta Elliott has a good imagination and she writes well. I had no problem visualizing everything that was going on once the fantasy part began, but I felt some scenes should have been more intense – what was going on with the stone beast, for instance – and the young people should have reacted differently at certain times. Even though this story is fantasy, it can still be realistic in its portrayal of characters.

I liked the words of wisdom D’s mom had shared with him. I wasn't clear on why he never had a relationship with his dad, but it would have been nice to know. I liked D and his friends, Keem and Nyla. I liked the bit of history. I didn’t like reading the racial slurs.

Ship of Souls wasn’t as adventurous as I expected it to be. It was an interesting read and I really felt for D in the end.

[MacKenzie Abernethy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ship of Souls by Zetta Elliott beckons readers to continue turning pages to learn what will become of Dmitri, or “D”, who is left without his close family and merely beginning to form new friendships with distinct character as his school, when a talking bird convinces D to take it home and assist it in an unbelievable mission. At first skeptical, D’s new friends Hakeem and Nyla soon support D’s strange journey to assist the bird with glowing eyes and a voice of its own.

This book would best suit middle and high school-aged readers, while also relevant to advanced younger readers. The language, vocabulary, and pacing offer accessibility for young readers who may still be building confidence in their reading skills. The protagonist, D is eleven years old when he becomes a foster child. Reflective of the author’s intentions to create more narratives that serve as “mirrors” for African-American young adult readers, this book spotlights Afro-centric characters and details of their cultural backgrounds. For example, when D applies his math skills to tutor an older student for income as well as companionship, readers learn about Hakeem’s interest in basketball as well as his Muslim upbringing.

This book offers fantastical portrayals of of soldiers that died in the Revolutionary War—including enslaved black soldiers who fought alongside Americans as well as the British who promised their freedom—who continue to haunt as a response to unrecognized violence and injustice. The setting of today’s African Burial Ground National Monument offers an opportunity to discuss challenging topics alongside young readers.

It may pose challenges as a “window” for students unfamiliar with the foster care system, though this can be a useful resources to build students’ empathy towards children who have lost one or both parents and needed to form new relationships with caretakers and foster parents. For example, D’s actions are influenced by his wanting to please his white foster parent so that he does not need to return to the halfway house. Another potential concern of adults may be the blend of realistic, historical, and fantastical elements; yet, Elliott does well to distinguish through tone the more imaginative parts of this narrative that build suspense for readers’ desire to continue learning what will occur. Overall, I recommend this book mostly for its detailed, diverse, and thoughtful characterization that illustrates to readers the qualities of true friendship and support.

For educators and guides, Elliott includes Discussion Topics and Writing Activities at the back of the text. These range from complex text themes and topics, including: parental relationships and absent parents; peer relationships, name calling, discrimination based on religion, and creating community and a sense of belonging for one’s self; identifying significant historical sites in the community, the history of slavery in the the Revolutionary War and the founding of America. Elliott also includes writing prompts that both spark imagination and practical writing skills on issues including gendered street harassment. The writing prompts allow room for student choice, for motivation and critical thinking. This adds to an already enthralling read with mature content that challenges students to grapple with real and creative elements of the narrative.

[Michelle (driftingsong) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've seen other reviews claim that this book is hard to categorize, which is true. This book seems to be contemporary urban fantasy with a historically influenced bent to it.

Honestly if you asked me about 65%-70% of the way through the book how I'd be rating this, I probably would have said 3 stars. It's just that for me, when the fantasy elements were first revving up I was not into it, and also wished that there was more explanation regarding the elements that were introduced.

Once I finished the book, I grew to appreciate it more due to the ending and the journey I went on. Also, I will not spoil the book but there is an element that occurs at the very end of the story that I always appreciate in stories when it is well done, and where a pivotal choice has to be made.

[Tibby]

This would have been a great book to read around Halloween as it involves spirits and history and creepy adventure. D's mother has recently died, leaving him alone in the world. This leads a spirit to seek him out to help her bring peace to long dead souls living in limbo in New York. Except D has made some friends at his new school and they want to help him save the souls and himself. As always Elliott has crafted an exciting middle grade story with enough creep-factor and friendship to make the historical aspects feel fresh and natural to the story (as opposed to pedantic, which a lot of historical stuff can feel for this age range).

[Katya · Rating 4 out of 5]

Certainly unlike any other book of its kind, Ship of Souls is loosely plotted but deeply felt, with an urgent internal logic to its telling, like a fable or a myth, but grounded in many small everyday Brooklyn realities.

[Laura · Rating 2 out of 5]

Odd mix of realism and fantasy with an uneventful ending. I can appreciate the attempt to mix the history of NYC into a fantasy piece, but this never came to fruition and the whole thing felt rushed. A lot of saying and not showing.

[Korie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, the concept behind the book is brilliant! However I do think it could have been longer as everything was very rushed.

[Diane DeVore-Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delight

So much love and light in this book! I read it all in one sitting. I couldn’t wait to see where D would end up, in the light or in the dark. Wonderful Ending!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Part of me wishes it was longer, but I did enjoy this one especially when explored themes of grief.

[Ed]

Elliott, Z. (2012). Ship of souls. Las Vegas, NV: Amazon Publishing. 124 pp. ISBN: 978-1-6121-8268-1. (Paperback); $9.95.

Zetta Elliott lives in Brooklyn. On a recent trip to New York City, I walked through Prospect Park with Elliott. She pointed out two Revolutionary War marker stones that helped urge her toward this story. In Central Park, I walked mindful of this history. Elliott teaches ethnic studies and has her PhD in American Studies (with a focus on depictions of racial violence in African American literature). Ship of Souls is based on her careful research of the African Burial Ground and the lives of African-Americans in her neighborhood during the Revolutionary War time period. Dmitri or D, as he is called, doesn’t have it easy. His mother has died from cancer. He is shuffling between his foster home and a new school. Just when he thinks he might make it in Mrs. Martin’s foster home, she takes in a baby addicted to crack. D cannot compete with the needs of this small child. He passes the time watching birds in the park. At school D has no time to dwell on his own troubles because he has been offered a job tutoring Hakeem (Keem), a basketball player who defies any stereotypes by his very unusual lineage. And there is Nyla, a young woman he has been watching with great interest. Nyla invites D to sit with her at lunchtime. It looks like Keem, who is “built like a giant, and kids at school worship the ground you walk on!” (p. 22) has his sights set on Nyla too. The three of them settle into something resembling a friendship. When D rescues an injured bird from the park, his life changes. This bird shifts shapes and seems to expect something from D. It even speaks! When D shares the story of this bird, Nuru, with Nyla and Keem, readers can almost hear the eerie music. Sharing this hard to believe secret proves to be a main factor in establishing the trust necessary for the friendship between the three to flourish. Nuru, leads D, Nyla, and Keem along the paths trod by soldiers during the Revolutionary War. These ghosts seem to feed on pain. Monsters rear their ugly heads. Danger lurks. Elliott introduces to readers firmly grounded history mixed with creepy, graveyard language that will appeal to young readers. Students may argue whether Nyla should like Keem or D, but they will also pick up facts about the Revolutionary War. They will see that New York was a battleground during this war. They will absorb the fact that African-Americans fought and died during the Revolutionary War… Many readers are unaware that Broadway, very close to ground zero, has the bones of African-American soldiers just below its sidewalks and asphalt. This is a book filled with significance and I haven't even mentioned that Elliott peppers her novel with comparisons to 9/11 and the racism with which modern day New York City Muslim students face on a daily basis. I appreciate books that use very real history, in context, to tell a story that will grip young readers. When that book is also likely to spark an awareness of cultural differences and an interest in history and how it impacts current events, so much the better. Purchase this one for middle school libraries and point it out to the history teachers. By the time this review is printed and distributed, you should find a video interview with Dr. Elliott talking about this book and other topics on my website (http://www.spicyreads.org/Author_Vide...).

[Doret · Rating 3 out of 5]

After 11 yr old Dmitri, who goes by D loses his mother to cancer, he's placed in foster care and goes to live with Mrs. Martin. Just happy to have a place to live, D is on his best behavior. D's only indulgence is bird watching in the park and he keeps to himself at school. D's status as a loner is challenged after he finds himself hanging out by chance with two of the popular kids, Hakeem and Nyla.

D's life changes forever after coming to the aid of a Bird that is anything but, its a being that goes by the name Nuru can take on any shape of its choosing. D has been selected has a host to assist Nuru in bringing peace to millions African American souls by providing them with a way to finally pass over. Though the friendship is newly formed Hakeem and Nyla will not let D do this alone.

When I finished it the first time I thought it was good. I loved the characters. They made the story for me. One of the things I love about Elliott's writing is she knows how to craft dimensional characters. Even the walk- ons, will leave an impression. Though at times this skill can lead the reader astray. I found myself being wanting to know more about the characters that were meant only to make a quick appearance. A good example of this was the eclectic group of kids that sit at Nyla's lunch table and embrace their freak status.

While this is D's story from beginning to end, Elliott still makes room for Hakeem and Nyla, sharing enough about both to paint a clear picture. Much of the appeal for all three characters comes from the fact that they easily come across as real teenagers, with distinct voices. The three had good chemistry together and I would've liked at least another chapter in which they got to know each other better.

The guiding spirit that goes by the name Nuru has the task of helping the dead who want to pass over to find eternal peace. Though Nuru has been held captive for 100 of years and unable to help the souls of many African Americans that died around the time of the American Revolution cross over. Nuru elects D has is host to complete this quest. When Nuru first appears I didn't know if D could trust this being or if it was simply using D has a host to accomplish its mission without any concern for his well being. I liked not knowing, it kept me on my toes.

The first time in I felt Ship of Souls had a few unexplored threads but there was still a lot to like about it. Beyond the characters its visually amazing. When the kids finally found the room where the African American souls were trapped, Elliott had my heart. She describe sorrow with such beauty. Also Elliott's writing is strong and crisp. There are moments and lines that are hard not to be moved by. The first time in I wished Ship of Souls was longer. However when I read it again I was more okay with the length (though I still wanted an extra chapter in which the three friends get to know each other better) and everything came together better.

Everything I enjoyed the first time was still there and I found a few more things to appreciate. Ship of Souls is claffisified as YA but comes across as more MG. Ages 11 up. The chapters are short making this an excellent choice for reluctant readhers. The cover wasn't final until around mid or late Janurary I believe but I think it was well worth the wait. I really like it and believe it has some serious eye appeal.

[Cecelia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I like reading in my comfort zone. And my comfort zone usually means strong women in fantasy. However, I also try to stretch myself, to read something that will introduce me to an unfamiliar culture or experience. Zetta Elliot’s Ship of Souls seemed to be the perfect compromise – a fantasy featuring a young black boy, set in (of all places) Brooklyn.

D has been on his own since his mother died of cancer. But being a math geek in New York City and trying to navigate school, a foster home and a new baby foster sister doesn’t leave much room for healing and hope. D eventually makes friends with some of his schoolmates, but then his life is interrupted by the appearance of a white bird that is more than it appears. It asks him an important question, and his answer takes him on the adventure of a lifetime, and through the historic past of the city he calls home.

First, let’s do the positive: for the first thirty pages of Zetta Elliott’s Ship of Souls, I was hooked. Here was an urban fantasy, featuring a black male protagonist, and his world and grief were vividly described. My sympathies were engaged, I was interested in the great characterization of the three teens at the focal point of the story, and I kept thinking to myself, “Oh, this is good,” with a little bit of relief, and a lot of anticipation.

Then a white bird showed up, and my main reaction to the rest of the book was “Umm…?!?”

I spent a lot of time trying to figure out what, exactly, went so wrong. It was more than the inclusion of fantastic elements, because some of those worked, and worked well (the descriptions in that final scene underground were rather glorious). I think, and this is totally subjective, that there were two major issues. The first was uneven, stilted dialogue. The story was at its strongest when told in D’s head, from his personal point of view. It faltered numerous times when the reader was supposed to gather information and see plot movement solely through the medium of dialogue. In this case, not enough was SAID or added to the context of spoken words to make sense of scenes, characters, and swift plot changes.

Second problem: flat secondary characters. Elliott made D, Keem and Nyla real in the mind of the reader and each of these had different, understandable and complex motivations for his/her actions. On the flip side, the secondary characters, such as Nuru, Nyla’s mom, the soldiers and D’s foster mother, served only to point out character quirks and reasoning of the main characters. And yes, I said even Nuru. Billy, I give a free pass. Main lesson? Wherever characters-as-plot-devices go, disappointment is sure to follow.

While not without merit, this book could have done with more: a) developed dialogue, b) fantasy and history world-building, and c) secondary character development. Final verdict: Ship of Souls will leave the reader confused by its split personality, disappointed by its spoilt promise, and wholly underwhelmed. Want a second opinion? The Book Smugglers posted an extensive (and much more positive) review.

Recommended for: those interested in an urban fantasy featuring a POC main character and the ghosts of New York City, and anyone willing to take a chance on a short, uneven and non-traditional tale of redemption and friendship.

[Ari · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish some of the fantasy elements had been developed a bit further, such as Nuru's role, his dialogue also came across sounding a little ridiculous and heavy on the 'wise mentor' scale. The characters did come across as having a message. It is made very clear that Hakeem is Muslim and Nyla is 'different from the stereotype. I wish the individuality of the characters had come off in a more subtle way (for example when Hakeem describes how his older sister listed all Muslim basketball players to convince his dad to let him play. And then Hakim lists them all and weaves in tidbits about the hijab. It came across as stilted for middle school dialogue). But then again this book is intended for a younger audience who need it hammered in that it's dangerous to define people and put them in boxes. I also wish the book had been longer just by a few chapters, selfishly because I wanted more historical tidbits but also because I felt that the fantasy elements happened so fast as did the sudden strong friendship with Hakeem and Nyla. And the love triangle made me sad but that's not the author's fault! Although I would have been happy without it.

Yet again Zetta Elliott seamlessly blends together history and fantasy, Black American history that is often ignored in textbooks. Unlike the descriptions of the characters I found the historical tidbits woven in artfully. There are so many goodies in here about the importance of working with other people, that heroes need not go it alone. This is especially vital because the author makes it explicitly clear that D is unbearably lonely but he keeps himself isolated from other people because he doesn't want to be abandoned or disappointed or lose them in a tragic way as happened with his mother. The author does a great job of making you truly feel and understand D's loneliness and your heart aches for him. Also while I didn't think the friendship had enough time to really grow into the strong bonds that developed so quickly, it was a very genuine friendship (once you suspend your disbelief) in terms of doing anything and everything for your friends and believing the seemingly improbable. It is also clear that the author has a strong appreciation of nature and that makes the fantasy elements more interesting while also making it appear more realistic.

Ship of Souls is a great story that focuses on a portion and population of the American Revolution that is completely ignored by most history outlets. The fantasy world is well-thought out, I only wish the book had been longer to explain more about the world D and his friends get involved in as well as more time to believably develop their friendship. The characters are strong, but they were written with a heavy hand that tries hard to point out how they defy stereotypes. I devoured the story not just because of the length but because it is so different from anything else out there and it's a lovely addition to the YA/MG fantasy world. I can't wait to see what the author does next and again I adored her first YA novel A Wish After Midnight. I recommend both books.

Disclosure: Received from the author, who I do consider a wonderful friend and mentor. Many thanks Zetta!

[Em · Rating 4 out of 5]

Em's Review: D’s mom was his best friend and his only family. When she passes away, he ends up in foster care with a kind elderly woman named Mrs. Martin. Not wanting to be sent back to the group home, D is mindful to always be the best possible version of himself. Like the grandmother he never had, Mrs. Martin cares for D, but lately her attention has been focused on a new addition to the family, a crack-addicted baby that Mrs. Martin has decided to foster. At school, he doesn’t have to worry so much about begin perfect, but he still joins the math club, because the coach asks him and he feels it would be rude to say he’d rather be alone. When star basketball player Hakeem’s dad is looking for a math whiz to tutor his son, D lands the job. D soon finds an ally and friend in Keem and together they attract the attention of Nyla, a beautiful, self-proclaimed freak. One day after school in the park, D comes across a trapped bird. In freeing the creature, he learns that what looks like a bird is actually a being from another realm. Not only that, but he is now the being’s host and there is an important task that he must take on. With his new friends by his side, he will attempt to gather the dead and help them find long overdue freedom.

If Zetta Elliott’s Bird and A Wish After Midnight had a baby, it would be Ship of Souls. While Bird‘s Mekhai and D are both unique, they have things in common – their respectful and calm temperaments, their intelligence, their fondness for birds, and their loss of a loved one. With A Wish After Midnight, the magic also begins during a visit to a park/garden in Brooklyn and the magic involves history, though in a much different way. I loved both of these previous Elliott works and I found that the similarities were a welcome connection rather than leaving me with a sense of “been-there, done-that”. In fact, even with familiar aspects, this book feels intensely original.

At just 132 pages, Elliott does an impressive job creating a cast of complex and amiable characters, weaving in history, and conjuring up some magic like I’ve never seen before. I would gladly spend more time with D, Keem, and Nyla. Each are interesting, distinct characters, but even more so their chemistry and their growing camaraderie were enchanting. Elliott does a fabulous job of creating believable characters in realistic settings. In both of her urban fantasy novels, I’ve found myself intensely connected to the contemporary/realistic sections of the stories, before diving headfirst with the characters into the fantasy. In Ship of Souls, what starts off feeling like a contemporary fiction novel, eventually turns into an all-out fantasy adventure. The story is fast-paced, with short chapters and lots of action, making it a great choice for struggling readers or those craving a quick read that doesn’t lack in quality and depth. While Ship of Souls is a bit more MG than YA, with it’s complex character development, strong sense of place, beautifully imagined fantasy, and unique feel, it should find a home with many ages of reader.

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ship of Souls

by Zetta Elliott


Product Details

ISBN-13: 9781612182681
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Publication date: 2/28/2012
Pages: 198
Product dimensions: 5.40 (w) x 8.20 (h) x 0.50 (d)

Summary: D’s mother has passed away, leaving him an orphan. Luckily, D is very intelligent from being home schooled as a child, so he is placed into foster care quickly. D and his foster-mother get along very well. He is on his best behavior, and he does enjoy being with her. However, his life changes slightly when a new baby comes into her care. D is left to his own devices a bit more and has more freedom. At school, D offers to help one of the basketball stars, Hakeem, in math at the library. After his initial tutoring session, there is a small kinship formed between the two of them. Then, the popular hot girl, Nyla, asks D to sit with her group at lunch. She finds out that D is interested in birds, so she invites herself along on a bird watching expedition. After such a busy day, D goes to the park on his way home. While there, he finds a bird that has been trapped. He sets her free and finds out that this is no ordinary bird. This bird speaks to him and says that she is from another universe and D is her host. The next day, Hakeem, Nyla, and D go on their bird watching excursion. This seemingly innocent adventure turns perilous when beings from another realm try to capture them and D’s bird.

My thoughts: This was interesting and had some historical aspects that were fun to read about. I enjoyed the budding friendship, and the general plot line of the book. I felt that it was lacking a lot of description though. The characters never really came alive to me because I didn’t have any real back story on any of them, including D. There is not a lot of development that makes you feel for his loss or gain of two friends. Even the adventure of otherworldly beings was glanced over. I kept wanting to know more. I was craving details and never really getting them. This may have been by design because the novel is meant for a young audience, but I’ve read several middle grade novels that did not leave me feeling this way. I gave the story to one of my reluctant readers because it is fairly short, but he did not read much past the first ten pages before he told me that it was boring and went to find another book. I love the premise, but wish that I didn’t leave feeling like I didn’t care one way or the other about the characters and situations. (3 stars)

[Edith · Rating 3 out of 5]

D never really had a lot of friends so the loss of his mother is particularly devastating to him. As the only child of a single mother, there’s little else for him other than the foster care system. D doesn’t know much about the workings of the system, but he knows that nothing in his life will be secure anymore. Elliott does a masterful job of writing this story on so many levels! Where we see how much D has: his quick placement in a caring home, a good school with teachers who care about him and two true friends; we also feel his immense insecurity and loneliness. D had so little and lost so much that he couldn’t realize his own blessings. There was something in him, though, something from his mother that never allowed him to give up on himself or others. His pain makes him doubtful in his relationships but his upbringing demands him to be thoughtful and giving.

It’s this depth of character that brought Nuru, the bird creature to him so that D could work with her to save the lost souls in the netherworld.

It’s D’s intelligence in math that brings him his new friend, Hakeem, ‘Keem’, the basketball star who needs help in math. While working together, the meet Nyla, an elusive and carefree soul in whom Keem has a bit of an interest. Keem and Nyla prove to be true friends to D as they fight save D from the creatures below.

Some authors are writers while others are storytellers. I think this short novel attests to Elliott’s skills as both. The events flow flawlessly, without contradictions or miscues. Historic elements are woven into the story from the American Revolution to 9/11 which speak to the presence of so many ethnic groups in the creation of America and the historic misinterpretation of their contribution. Water, trees and birds are magical elements of nature that serve as portals between the physical world and other dimensions. And then there’s Nyla and Keem, two supporting characters who are developed so well that we cannot help but wonder what more will happen to them, alone and/or together.

[Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted at: http://aurorareviews.blogspot.com/201...


Dmitri’s entire world is turned on its ear when, at eleven, his mother loses her battle with breast cancer. Because he’s being shuffled between foster care and his new home, starting a new school, and finding new friends, he’s more than just a little off kilter, to say the least. So, he shouldn’t be too surprised when the injured bird he rescues from the park turns out to be anything but a bird, right?

Dmitri, or D as he comes to be called, is an example of entirely too many kids in this day and age. He’s being raised by his mother and has no idea who his father is. When his mother dies, he’s on his own. Left without any family, he becomes a ward of the state, but he’s okay with that. He’s even okay with the idea of being fostered by an elderly white woman, as odd as it seems at the time. His easy manner and ability to adapt to the situation are what guide him along in his quest to help Nuru, the otherworldly being he found in the park, ferry lost souls to their final resting place.

He’s a good kid who’s had a bit of bad luck, but makes it work for him as best as he can. It was nice to see a story about a misfit who not only finds his fit, but also his purpose. D takes his passion for math and bird watching and embraces them, giving himself some kind of focus in his out-of-focus world.

Ship of Souls is a different sort of story sure to catch your attention and hold it tight. An entertaining novel that's good for any age. Its inventive storyline and charming band of misfit characters will intrigue you. It’ll also help reassure you that no matter how lost you’ve become, there will be someone there waiting to help you find your way home. It may be in the form of a friend or an otherworldly being like Nuru, but you will find your guide.

A charming story, well worth the read.

[Sheila · Rating 4 out of 5]

The fact that the protagonist, D, is a math whiz caught my mathematical eye and drew me to this intriguing children’s book. But no, you don’t need to be a mathematician to enjoy it. Having some small sympathy for kids who feel like outcasts will help of course, but then, what kid doesn’t feel that way sometimes. And, as this story tells, even the popular kids can be outcasts of a sort. All of which Ship of Souls a pleasingly different story for young teens.

D is a foster child who tries too hard to be perfect, Hakeem is a Muslim basket-ball player, beloved for his skills but never quite trusted for his faith, and Nyla is the natural beauty and great leader they both long to talk to.

In Ship of Souls, birdwatcher D meets a mysterious un-bird and the team of teens is led to discover strange secrets under lower Manhattan. But D is discovering truths about himself too, and even the child who feels totally separate might find himself bound by friendship and common goodness.
The history of Manhattan, from Revolution to African Burial Ground and beyond, feeds nicely into this tale, with hints of spirituality, very practical details of adventure, and a touch of science fiction mystery. Lost souls of various sorts find home while others refuse to recognize “the war is over.” Meanwhile D learns that home’s not just a place.

The writing is detailed, told in first person present tense, and the story’s relatively short, equally balanced between a modern-day Brooklyn school and the realms of fantasy. For myself I’d have liked more background in the fantasy, but I’m sure that’s just me. Ship of Souls is a pleasing tale with good characters, an intriguing touch of history and fantasy, and a wise lesson for young readers.

Disclosure: I received a free advanced readers’ copy of this novel in exchange for my honest review.

[Caitlin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm primed to like any book that begins with an author essay about the magic she sees in the world around her and the little synchronicities that inspire connections that might not otherwise be made. I'm a person who gets up every day looking for the magic, no matter how small it might be. Magic's always there and it's a universally great reason to get out of bed when compared with all the other more mundane reasons. It also helps me keep my mind open and stay in the moment rather than spending my days shut off from the best parts of the world.

Ship of Souls is a middle-grade book (ages 11 and up) about the difficulty of being an outsider kid (or group of kids). D is in the foster care system having lost his single mother and only family. He is fortunate to have two friends, Hakeem and Nyla. Hakeem is a star basketball player who is always under suspicion because of his Muslim religion. Nyla is the self-appointed head of the "freaks" who band together to stave off the rest of the kids and their contempt. When these three children find each other, magic begins to occur.

Slipping back and forth between modern day Brooklyn and the past of Harlem's African Burial Ground, between reality and fantasy, Ship of Souls seamlessly interconnects magic, fantasy, history, and the realities of modern day life for many children. Written with delicacy and an eye towards creating glorious pictures in your brain, this one is a must read. Highly recommended (whether or not you're 11 years old - remember the "and up" part).

[Tracy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Loved the demon bird cover, book was kind of meh.
11/12yo "D" (no one except his mom calls him Dimitri) has had some struggles. Dad is a mysterious, non-existent figure from his past. Mom has recently passed away from breast cancer. D spends a brief time in the foster care system before being taken to live with kindly old Mrs. Martin. But then the crack-addicted baby foster girl comes to live with them and D feels a little overwhelmed. He's just getting into his new school and is accelerating in math, has made a friend of an older boy named Keem that needs a math tutor, and there's an awkward friendship with Keem's crush Nyla. (Both Keem and Nyla seems older than what I guess are 8th grade in the story). Anyway, then D finds a possessed bird who wants him to be a "host" for her spirit and go down under Prospect Park in NY to find the souls from the African Burial Ground and help them move on to the next realm.

There's a LOT that's left unexplained, and everything moves too quickly to be satisfying for my taste. I think if this story had been fleshed out more it would have been much better.

Since it's kind of simple, I'd say it would be ok for grades 4-8, but there's some scary points where D is attacked by inanimate objects, chased by spirits/skeletons, and both D and Nyla are hurt. So maybe just gr 6+ depending on your reader's sensitivity.

[Laurel-Rain · Rating 4 out of 5]

In New York City, a pre-teen boy named Dmitri loses his mother to cancer, and without any other family, finds himself in foster care. His foster mother seems caring, but she is also parenting a crack-addicted baby, so her attention is divided.

In school, “D” meets a Muslim basketball star Keem when he is asked to tutor him in math. Both boys are enchanted by a young girl, Nyla, who has numerous piercings and an attitude.

These three African-American pre-teens connect and form an odd pack when they decide to go to the park with D, who enjoys bird watching.

A strange bird that talks and shape shifts appears to D one day, and from that day forward, nothing is the same.

What quest is D following with the bird as his guide? Why do Keem and Nyla decide to participate? When the three end up underground with an even stranger assortment of “characters,” what will eventually bring them back to their world?

A very short book, "Ship of Souls" was an inspiring tale that helps the reader understand how loneliness and not fitting in can lead to intriguing journeys. Despite the shortness of the story, I did find myself empathetic with each of the characters and rooting for them in their quest. Four stars.