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Ship of Souls

by Zetta Elliott (Goodreads Author)

3.28 of 5 stars 3.28 · rating details · 64 ratings · 37 reviews

When 11-year-old Dmitri (?D?) loses his mother to breast cancer, he finds himself taken in by an elderly white woman, Mrs. Martin. D loves to watch birds and, while in the park, is amazed to find an injured bird that can talk. He takes it home and soon learns there are malevolent forces inhabiting the region beneath Prospect Park and they are hunting for the bird; Nuru is...more

Paperback, 129 pages

Published February 28th 2012 by Amazon Encore

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Mar 19, 2012 Cheryl rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 he...more

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Dec 04, 2012 Ed added it

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 Africa...more 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...).
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Aug 31, 2012 Tim Roast rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is a fantasy novel set in New York. D is a foster child having lost his mum to cancer, and never knowing his dad. One day he discovers a magic bird that needs him to help her save the lost souls of many dead people who have been prevented from making the final journey on the "ship of souls".

For me I was alright with the beginning of this book which introduced the back-story, D, his friends and his family circumstances, but then the fantasy elements came in and I was a little unconvinced by...more

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Apr 21, 2012 Judy & Marianne from Long and Short Reviews rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: contemporary, action-adventure, non-erotic, paranormal, young-adult

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 ca...more

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Apr 03, 2012 Katrina Burchett rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, amazon-vine, books-i-own

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...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Edi Campbell rated it 3 of 5 stars

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 a...more 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.(less)

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Mar 26, 2012 Sheila rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, coming-of-age, cultural, current_issues, spiritual, scifi-fantasy, young-adult

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...more

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Feb 18, 2012 Jennifer rated it 3 of 5 stars

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...more 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)
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Oct 01, 2012 Tracy rated it 2 of 5 stars

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...more

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Apr 08, 2012 Debra Martin rated it 3 of 5 stars

I don't usually read young adult books, but decided to take a chance when offered the book by the publisher. Ship of Souls is a short book, only 120 pages in print. The author starts with a good premise. We are introduced to D, aka Dmitri, an 11 year-old boy who has recently lost his mother to cancer, been placed in foster care and starts a new school. D is a good kid, polite to his elders and a math whiz. When he is asked to tutor the school's top basketball player, he meets Keem and then Nyla,...more

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May 23, 2012 TheBookSmugglers rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: notable-reads-of-2012, young-adult

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, a...more

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Apr 12, 2012 Greenjasminetea rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: books-read-2012

I'm surprised by the low score of Ms Elliot's "Ship of Souls". I enjoyed D's historical adventure in Brooklyn.

Elliot's strength is her characterizations of D (for Dmitri), his new friends, Keem and Nyla, and the people he comes in contact as he experiences a strange phenomenon in a park in Brooklyn and his brush with souls who want to move on.

The strength is very much in how D and his friends defy stereotype and come off as very real teenagers who are not of the cardboard media invented type.

Tha...more

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Mar 27, 2012 Caitlin rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more

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Feb 15, 2012 Laurel-Rain rated it 4 of 5 stars

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...more

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Feb 07, 2013 Kate McCartney added it

Shelves: teen-fiction, books-for-boys, 2013, jfiction

This is a beautiful and moving book about loss, death, grieving and surviving that pain. D. only had his mother growing up but cancer took him. He was graced to be quickly taken into a caring faster home. He excels at math which leads him to tutoring a popular boy and making his first friends. He also finds and injured bird that leads him on a journey to set free the souls of slaves long trapped by their deaths from returning home. It becomes D.'s mission to guide them to the ship that will set...more

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Mar 19, 2012 Julia rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-new-to-me-author-a-z-challenge, magical-realism, ya, ya-quarterly-challenge-5

D, Keem and Nyla, all Brooklyn African- American teens, D is eleven, who end up going on a magical journey in lower Manhattan to help the ghosts who died on slave ships get to where they belong. I would like to read more about D, Keem and Nyla, I hope I get the opportunity.

118 page novel, D, Keem and Nyla are unusual characters in urban fantasy: young, smart, from Brooklyn, none of them sidekicks, all of them heros. D is an orphan whose mother has just died of cancer. Keem is a handsome basketb...more

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Apr 24, 2013 Phoenixfalls rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: from-my-2012-tbr, american, author-of-color, contemporary, fantasy, female-author, young-adult

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 offh...more 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.(less)

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Jun 29, 2012 Cecelia rated it 2 of 5 stars

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 ne...more 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.(less)

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May 01, 2012 Literary rated it 1 of 5 stars

Let's start with the positives ...

First, I love the cover; the coloring and title font draws the reader to it with it's slightly creepy aura. It and the description are what made me agree to review this book.

The concept of the book is sound and could be expanded into a full-length novel. Since the description states it's geared for teen readers, the length it is now is sufficient.

Now for the negatives ...

My biggest problem I have with this book is the use of the 'N' word ... we all know what tha...more

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Apr 02, 2012 Love YA Lit rated it 4 of 5 stars

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 s...more 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.(less)

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Mar 07, 2012 Doret rated it 3 of 5 stars

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...more 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.

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Dec 10, 2012 Chris rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, not-graphic, ya, life

While this had a good premise and overall story arc, it felt too underdeveloped--neither the characters nor the plot really took the time to develop the way they needed for reactions and events to feel real and engaging to me. It all felt sketchy and rushed, more like an outline than a novel, and emotionally I was a bit too much, "Meh."

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Apr 08, 2012 Sarah rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: adventure, fantasy, middlegrade, multicultural, urban-fantasy, supernatural, ya

I tend to think there needs to be more contemporary-setting fantasy for the middle grade/younger YA set—without vampires or werewolves, thank you very much—and I particularly like to see fantasy novels with multicultural characters in them. So I was excited to get the opportunity to read Zetta Elliott's Ship of Souls, which takes place in Brooklyn and includes a realistically diverse cast of characters. Full review on Finding Wonderland: http://writingya.blogspot.com/2012/03...

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Oct 05, 2012 Becky rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, new-york, birds

I didn't think this book was developed enough. If I didn't know what it was about - based on the jacket copy and the author intro - I don't think I would have really gotten it from reading the book. I had so many questions at the end about parts of the book, parts of the world that Elliot started to create...

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Jan 02, 2013 louisa added it

Shelves: metrolibrarianchallenge, ya

Given the unusual setting for YA fantasy (African Burial Grounds) and diverse group of heroes- a change of pace from privileged white kids that may or may not have magical powers at a fancy boarding school- I was excited for this slender work, but it never quite caught wing.

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May 10, 2012 Kathyred rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya, urbanfantasy

This slight story about a math-genius African-American could have been good, but the clunky writing and plot full of holes were too annoying. Read Sarah Smith's "The other side of dark" instead for similar themes better addressed.

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Sep 07, 2012 Coco Pacheco rated it 2 of 5 stars

this was a pretty good book with a weird storyline. it wasnt the best book out there and dont want to give that much away, but if your looking for a quivk book to read while taking a trip or vacation this is a great book.

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Jul 26, 2012 Neile rated it 4 of 5 stars

An intriguing story of a young boy with a good heart in difficult circumstances making friends and making a difference. I enjoyed this novel but the small caveat that the characters felt older than than grades six and eight.

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Jan 16, 2013 Jamila rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: african-descent, men-boys, supernatural-paranormal-uf, tweens, ghosts, historical-fiction, slavery, new-york

I recommend this book for tween boys. It is a quick, history-based supernatural adventure about friendship, grief, family, war, slavery and the spirit. There are even a few scary scenes with evil ghosts, rock creatures, and powerful mist. D, Hakeem and Nyla are a clever group of friends whose love and courage guide them to discover the Ship of Souls.

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Mar 26, 2012 Amy rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: action-adventure, contemporary, paranormal, young-adult

Interesting take on 'otherworldly beings' in this book. A good story that's a very easy read. I read it in one afternoon and enjoyed it quite a bit.

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About Zetta Elliott

Zetta Elliott’s poetry has been published in 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. Her novella, Plastique, was excerpted in T Dot Griots: an Anthology of Toronto’s Black Storytellers, and her essays have appeared in The Blac...more

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