We received this book via NetGalley.
Title: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
Author: Kwame Mbalia
Published: Oct. 15, 2019
Publisher: Disney Book Group
Pages: 496
Review: ARC from NetGalley
Genre: Folklore/Teens/Middle Grade
Buy Link: Amazon
Seventh-grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he’s going to spend on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, where he’s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie’s journal. Tristan chases after it — is that a doll? — and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature’s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American gods John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?
I receive this book to give an honest review.
K and I did not read this book together only because we were in the middle of book two in The Hero's of Olympus series by Rick Riordan. So I jumped on in and read it.
I loved this book and this is one that I want to own in my school library. I really enjoyed the African Folklore that was woven within the pages. We are introduced to Tristan who is going to stay with his grandparents to be able to heal and be okay after losing his best friend. The only thing he has left of him is a journal of stories that he cherishes until that is stolen.
When Tristan is thrown into a magical world all he knows about folklore is a bit different. He will find himself deep in a battle to save not only his world but this magical world to keep others safe.
He will learn who he is, he will learn to solve problems, he will learn to forgive himself. Each character within this book was unique and different. I found myself stopping at multiple times and researching where the author pulled that character from. My favorite character was Gum Baby....her snarkiness, her humor, the way she was not just going to let anyone push her around. She was perfect for me to like!
This book is perfect! One that I highly recommend. I hope there is possibly a second book for us to read and enjoy!
Kwame Mbalia is a part-time pharmaceutical calibration tech, part-time writer, and full-time dad. Follow him on Twitter @KSekouM.
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