Mother of the Sea

When her village is raided, a teenage girl finds herself on a brutal journey to the coast of Africa and across the Atlantic. Her only comfort is a small child who clings to her for protection. But once they board the slave ship, the child reveals her rebellious nature and warns that her mother—a fierce warrior—is coming to claim them all.

6″ x 9″ | 60 pages
Rosetta Press
$7.00

ISBN-13: 978-1544263854

E-book available in the Kindle store. Watch the review by Onyx Pages.

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Cover art by Christina Myrvold. Buy your poster here.

Gr 8 Up—A timeless work weaving the fantastical with the brutality of the slave trade. This novelette blends Yoruba folklore with the horrors of the Middle Passage. A nameless girl finds herself aboard a ship to an unknown destination. As she carries a small child aboard the ship, she realizes that the harsh conditions she encounters make it difficult for her to care for herself, let alone her mysterious charge. Readers will find this story empowering as it is heartbreaking. The nuanced portrayal of Eja-keke, the wise young girl, and Olu, the accomplice of the captors, add depth to this short work. Lovers of Copper Sun by Sharon Draper or Good Fortune by Noni Carter will likely enjoy this book. This is a quick read that will leave readers wanting more. VERDICT Purchase where Elliott’s previous works and books by Nalo Hopkinson and Nnedi Okorafor are popular.

~ School Library Journal

Told through the perspective of a largely nameless teenage girl, Elliott’s tightly crafted novella of the Middle Passage accurately portrays or gestures toward many of the complexities of power, gender, and race in the Atlantic slave trade. Elliott depicts these realities while instilling a deeper layer to the text, which presents the realities through the faith and understanding of a young West African woman who is loved and guided by her Spirit, the Ifá orisha Yemoja. The result is a thought-provoking, evocative tale worthy of many a rereading.

~ Zara Rix, Booklist