Loved the concept of the book and fills a niche I believe is missing. However, the writing felt a little disjointed and like it was trying too hard.

"My name is Tristan Strong, and I’ve got a story to tell."

This. Was. Amazing.

I have always loved the stories of Brer Rabbit and Anansi, and this book brings them all to life. The use of a lead character who is NOT a demigod appealed to me because he had to develop his abilities and not just have them instantly. Also, Tristan learns to find strength in friendships and in himself. He goes from moments of self-doubt to self-confidence because he knows that he possesses the ability to help others, despite his guilt about the death of his best friend, Eddie. Additionally, I was really impressed with the villain and what he represented. The author tied in a lot of mythology and American history, both of which built off of each other in this story.

All in all, this series rocketed way up on my favorites list.

I wanted to read this one from the moment I knew it existed. I"m so grateful to have had the privilege. I have yet to read a bad title from the RIck Riordan Presents line, and Tristan Strong stood out even among the already fantastic middle grade novels. I was engaged from the beginning to the very last page. Kids and adults alike will love this one. I'm telling everyone I know to get their hands on it immediately.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is one of the best books I've read this year. It's a shining example of what middle grade novels can be. The storytelling is gorgeous. The characters envoke such deep feelings, both positive and negative. And, most importantly, the characters are believable. This must have been especially difficult to pull off considering the cast, but Kwame Mbalia truly brings the characters and world to life. Reading this book felt lush, decadent, and fulfilling. What. A. Debut!! I can not wait to read any and everything this author puts out in the future.

Tristan Strong is a young man who has been knocked down… literally in his first bout in the ring and most seriously, when an accident takes his closest friend from him. His parents think that the best thing for him is to get away, and Tristan is sent to stay with his grandparents on their farm in Alabama. Two things will attempt to help him through this time: his grandfather says that work is the cure, yet his grandmother believes tales of African-American folklore will give him the grounding he needs.

Tristan’s friend Eddie believed in the stories… and wrote them down in the journal that is given to Tristan after the funeral, but he is too scared to read it. Tristan’s therapist thinks there’s some value in opening the book and completing the stories. The stories of John Henry, Brer Rabbit, and Brer Fox. The lessons and the morals.

After a hard afternoon of fixing a fence at the farm, Tristan goes to bed and is woken up to find a doll stealing the journal. Gum Baby is there to take the book to land of Alke… to save the people and creatures and gods of the Midpass from an evil creeping over the land. And it only gets worse when Tristan races after the animated doll… he mistakenly disrupts the balance between the two worlds even more. What follows is a weaving of folklore come to life and a young man’s complex internal conflicts with grief and manhood.

Mbalia’s protagonist has a great and strong voice. Authentic and transparent. Like any teen, he wants to navigate the larger world on his own, and has been given advice that may be counter to what could really help him. He father says, “Strongs keep punching…” His grandfather tells to stay away from that writing, that all he needs is work…. He feels he has failed in so many ways in his life, as a son and a friend. This magical journey will make him face that internal struggle. Learning that he is an anansesem, a storyteller with great power that will provide him with the strength to endure.

Another winner for Rick Riordan’s imprint, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is a satisfying blend of action, storytelling, folk lore, and coming of age. Haints, folk heroes, gods, and an enemy made up of a disease of fear and iron. Mbalia’s worldbuilding is amazing. The most important lesson I got from this story is that stories and narratives control the power. He does a great job of providing the examples to fully flesh out this important theme. There’s also several twists that I did not see coming. I was kept on my toes!

I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves the fantasy YA genre. It’s a tightly written action-fantasy with so much to offer.

5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Rick Riordan Presents, and the author for an advanced copy for review.

I have become a huge fan of all things mythology and seeing a Rick Riordan Presents that is based off of African/African American mythology I couldn’t sign up fast enough. I have come to expect fun, humor, action, and a great lesson learned. In the end, I got all of this and more.
Tristan Strong was a great main character for this series as he is strong (ha ha), yet has his weaknesses. He was a very easy character to relate to and, even though boxing isn’t my thing, had great interests and personality that made him exciting to readers (especially those troublesome young boys). The entire cast that surrounded Tristan was very solid as well. Gum Baby was great humor, Ayanna’s determination moved the story along (and posed a possible love interest), and the Gods imparted wisdom. It was great learning about these different mythological figures. I only wish that there was a pronunciation given for many of these as they were hard to wrap my tongue around.
The storyline moved quite well, but did sag a bit here and there. There was a clear cut journey to complete a quest and it was followed for the most part. Each of the group’s new setting was described pretty well, but I could have done with a little more detail to try and wrap my head around these magical places.
At the end of the novel, I felt that Tristan had grown quite a lot and that I had grown fond of his adventures. Everything wrapped up pretty well and there was a sense of closer while leaving plenty of interest into what will happen next. I look forward to following Tristan through the next installment and seeing what troubles he and this friends will get into.

This book is absolutely packed with rich storytelling—both African and African American folklore that many middle graders have probably never encountered before. It’s difficult to even unpack how many different stories are rolled into this adventure and brought to life in a new way. (I’d actually love it if Rick Riordan Presents would do a companion that goes deeper into each individual tale, sort of like the Greek Gods companions that were done for the Percy Jackson Series). This book would be perfect to use in a classroom setting because I believe it will inspire kids to want to learn more about the folklore and mythology behind characters like Nyami, Brer Rabbit, John Henry, High John and Gum Baby.

Tristan Strong is just getting over the sting of his first boxing match—and his first defeat. He feels like he’s let the adults in his life (who all have high expectations of him—especially his grandfather) down. But, more than that, he’s trying to pull himself out of the depression and guilt that has surrounded him since his best friend’s death. When he goes to visit his grandparents farm in rural Alabama, the Chicago city-boy feels like a fish out of water. When his best friend’s journal is stolen by Gum Baby and Tristan ends up in a magical land filled with folk heroes, he feels like a fish in the desert!!

This book is beautifully-written, and it’s filled with a fabulous mixture of adventure and heart. Not only does Tristan have to defeat the monsters he’s unleashed on the folkloric world, but he also has to come to terms with his sadness and guilt over the loss of his friend—no small task. The story weaves the folk characters and gods in seamlessly and also brings in themes of slavery without being overly bleak or obvious about it (the symbolism of the villain in the story is beautiful as is the theme of stories that must be told, even when they’re difficult and we’d rather forget them). Once again, I feel like these themes could be explored even more in a classroom setting.

The book is long for a middle grade novel (especially a first book in a series—it seems like often those first books are shorter and then they get thicker as the series progresses), but there’s a lot to pack into this story. And while there is a very slight lull in the book when Tristan first gets to the mysterious folklore land, everything is tied together handily and it all becomes apparent why certain things happened early on in the end!

Magical and filled to the brim with folklore, this first book in the Tristan Strong Series certainly packs a punch!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley and FFBC blog tours in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***

Following the loss of a friend, Tristan Strong isn’t looking forward to a summer on his grandparents’ farm. But when he accidentally sets free an evil spirit and starts a war between the gods of African mythology and the heroes of African American folklore, his problems get a lot bigger. But as he learns about the power of story and the importance of building bridges, he may become the only one capable of setting the world right. This book will enthrall readers regardless of whether they love the stories it draws on or are encountering them for the first time.

Engaging story of a young man who suddenly finds himself in the African American folktales so often told by his Grandmother. He finds the hero and bravery in himself.

I have started and restarted this review so many times. I even had to stop one night so I could sleep on it. But I just didn't think I could get this review right. There's so much in this book tto hhat I didn't think I'd ever see in a book, let alone one for kids.
Tristan Strong hasn't felt like his self since he lost his best friend Eddie. He goes to his grandparent's house to heal. While there, strange things begin to happen. A sticky doll comes out of nowhere and steals Eddie's journal and he chases her. She almost gets away until he punches a Bottle Tree... which sends them to MidPass where there's African American gods. To get back home Tristan has to make sure the sky is fixed and that he won't lose anything else he won't love.
I can't express how much this story meant to me. Seeing so many strong Black characters fighting against the very things that haunted them; chains and "Uncle C"... it was more than amazing. And this story was also filled with so much Blackness that I never thought I'd see in a book. For instance, the Bottle Tree. The fact that I had one of those in my front yard, thanks to my own mother, made me realize just how imoprtant it was to me. Before I even finished it I called my mom and said she needed to read it too.
As for the characters, I loved every one of them. (But no one can top Gum Baby lol) I loved seeing some of the characters I've heard from stories back when I was younger from my mom. John Henry and all of them were straight from the tales. But there were still some tales I hadn't heard and went back and did some research on those that I didn't. Not only was this entertaining, but it was also educational.
As for the plot, I did feel that it was too close to the chosen one troupe. It ticked every box for it, but, with all the fighting and the storytelling, I thought that was more than ok. And for this to be the first in the series, I can't imagine a better origin story. It's definitely only rivaled by the other origin stories from the Rick Riordan imprint.
This book was everything I needed and more. I remember hearing about this story and being extremely excited to see the cover reveal. And now I'm super excited that I've read and loved this book. I can't wait to read more Tristan Strong.

This book was amazing! Marketed as middle grade, I can easily see readers of all ages enjoying this book. filled with folklore and America history this book will be a great addition to your library or classroom. This was an easy fun must read book. I'll read anything Mbalia writes in the future. Overall this was a 5/5 star for me.

Many thanks to Rick Riordan Presents and Netgally for gifting me and DARC in exchange for an honest review.

Thanks to Partner NetGalley for the digital ARC of Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky in exchange for an honest review. The book releases Tuesday, October 15.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky begins with Rick Riordan’s introduction asking “Can you imagine what it would be like if you could find a book that wove the whole brilliant, beautiful tapestry of West African and African American legend into one magical world?” (loc. 48). This, of course, is that novel. Kwame Mbalia’s middle-grade book is a gorgeous, exciting, moving account of Tristan Strong’s discovery of another world, one where John Henry, Brer Fox, and Gum Baby join together to fight the Fetterlings, manacle-like creatures that threaten the people of MidPass. Mbalia threads allusions to African-American history throughout the novel, providing threats that have haunted black history into the present.

Tristan is the third generation of his family to pursue boxing, so when his first bout ends in failure, he faces both his own disappointment as well as the disapproval of his father and grandfather. Almost immediately, Tristan’s parents decide that he should spend the summer with his grandparents. Though he has conflicted feelings about his granddad, who is tough on him, but he is quite fond of Nana, who has built a strong relationship with Tristan infused with storytelling.Tristan also shared a love for stories with his friend Eddie, whose death he is still mourning and blames himself for. Tristan holds tight to Eddie’s journal, which contains the West African and African-American stories that mean so much to both of them. It’s here that the magic of the novel begins: Tristan has known since he received the journal that there’s something odd about it (for starters, it glows!).

Tristant Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky centers on stories, and it establishes that focus early as Tristan tells his tale directly to the reader:

“They didn’t want to hear the rest . . .
“Oh, you do?
“Hmm.
“Well, what if I told you that I went to war over my best friend’s glowing journal? . . . Would you believe me?” (loc. 72).

Naming is also important. Tristan constantly bemoans the inappropriateness of having “Strong” as a last name when he considers himself to be a coward, weak, a failure. He knows that being a Strong means he’s expected to be brave and to work hard, but he’s not sure he can live up to those expectations. Tristan and the other characters in the book constantly remind each other to be careful with names and with stories because “stories are powerful magic” (loc. 656).They avoid saying their enemies’ names whenever possible so as not to evoke them, and Tristan comes to use stories as a weapon in his arsenal that is stronger even than his fists.

Tristan’s journey to mythological MidPass begins when Gum Baby, “a doll Anansi used to trap an African fairy while he was on a quest” (loc. 293), steals Eddie’s journal, and Tristan pursues her. Their battle ultimately ends in the midst of the Bottle Trees on his grandparents’ farm when Tristan, in an attempt to retrieve the journal, punches one of the bottles and unleashes Uncle C, a demon, though a hole that joins the ground under his feet and the sky of MidPass. Tristan and Gum Baby fall through the hole Tristan has made into a mythological world, and they immediately have to escape bone ships and the threat of the Maafa preying upon the Midfolk. He meets a brave young woman named Ayanna and legendary gods like Brer Fox and John Henry who help him understand the seriousness of the situation.

There’s so much to love here. Of course the mythology, and particularly stories that we (or at least I) aren’t as familiar with, is a big draw. But watching Tristan’s very real personal journey—his consideration of what bravery means, of when violence is appropriate, of what it means to know one’s story—is as compelling as the focus on the gods. Tristan is still trying to reconcile what has happened in the reality of his life back home, where he’s seeing a counselor who talks to him about not “hid[ing] from [his] fears.” Mr. Richardson says, “we have to be able to talk about them, or else they’ll fester like poison, eating us from the inside” (loc. 873). We see similar wisdom from the legendary figures Tristan meets: “Brer Fox told me we can’t harp on past mistakes” (loc. 884). As Tristan begins to reconcile the lessons of these two worlds, his confidence and agency grow.

Watching Tristan contend with symbols of slavery—the Fetterlings, Brand Flies, and bone ships, among others—is a powerful thread through the novel. For Tristan, considering that past has been a part of life, instilled by Nana, who reminds him that “A lot of times . . . little facts get smudged out of the history books. If you gon’ tell a story, you better be sure you’re telling the right one” (loc. 959). It’s in MidPass that Tristan learns to apply so many of the lessons his Nana and Eddie taught him, where the ideas that seemed abstract take on a concrete and immediate urgency. Kwame Mbalia here unites intention and execution in the fabulous Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky.

African American and West African folklore join mythology in this new "unsuspecting kid becomes a demi-god and saves the world" story. Brer Rabbit and John Henry are well-loved stories but this ingenious mix also combines West African folklore like Anansi the spider and elegant warriors to create a frantic race to ask for help from Anansi to weave the hole that Tristan created in the sky and stop the evil forces from disrupting the world. Tristan is very likable as a kid who is visiting his grandparents and trying to deal with the death of his best friend. His time at the farm turns out to be anything but boring as Tristan falls down the rabbit hole into a world he is unprepared for and with his new friends/allies must seek help from some powerful gods. A snarky doll named Gum Baby provides readers with almost constant laughter and although the slang can be a challenge the language feels real. Another very strong debut in this category of middle-grade fantasy novels that we can't seem to get enough of. My thanks to the publisher for the advance copy.

Kwame Mbalia is a true heir to the Rick Riordan action-mythology-humor style of middle grade writing. The book was fun and fresh. I will recommend this book to readers who are ready to move on from the “I Survived” series, or who are looking for the next thing after Percy Jackson.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia is a Rick Riordan Presents novel. Mbalia has created a world full of magic, African American folk heroes, and West African gods. Tristan is a likable character and connects with readers through the personal challenges he faces early in the book. Readers are then drawn in by magic, mythology, and humor as Tristan enters a new world and discovers that he is responsible for their pending demise. Tristan joins with a group of famous folk heroes, including Gum Baby, Brer Fox, Brer Rabbit, and John Henry in an attempt to save the inhabitants of this world.

Tristan is a character that is not afraid to acknowledge his weaknesses and fears, which is part of what makes him such a strong character. There are times where he demonstrates great strength and bravery, but at the same time he admits his fear. The ongoing feud between Tristan and Gum Baby helps to lighten the mood following some intense moments in the story. Tristan and his crew face challenges throughout the book, which add drama and suspense that will keep readers turning the page. This book is a must-read for upper elementary and middle grade!

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is an action packed story that tackles grief, guilt, and the power of stories. The story feels like it's talking to you. What better way to handle a book where the telling of stories is a magic in and of itself. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky takes oral storytelling and creating a world based on the stories we hear at nighttime. The stories that make the shadows seem scary and gives you hope in the darkness.

Tristan struggles with not only the grief over the loss of his best friend, but also the guilt that comes with it. Not only that, but Tristan also struggles with the expectations of his family to be a successful boxer, especially growing up in the footsteps of his family. In many ways, Tristan feels direction-less. He feels torn between what people want and what he wants. Who is Tristan Strong?

As submitted to Brain Mills Press on October 1st:

African mythology and folklore aren't exactly common knowledge. When you think of gods and goddesses, it's usually Greek and Norse gods like Zeus and Thor that come to mind. Now, characters and stories such as High John The Conqueror and Anansi are being introduced to a new generation through Kwame Mbalia's dynamic middle grade fantasy Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky. The book will be released on October 15th.

Tristan Strong is a 12 year old boy grieving the loss of his best friend Eddie and smarting from the loss of his first boxing match. While visiting his grandparents' farm in Alabama, he accidentally unleashes an evil haint and creates a hole between the real world and a magical world of African American folk heroes and West African gods. Now, he must work together with them and undergo an epic quest to retrieve Anansi's story box to save the world.

One of the best aspects of this book is how accessible the folktale and mythology characters are. These characters are modernized without losing their roots and inspire awe with their strength, humor, and sprinkles of humanity. One of my personal favorites is the character Gum Baby, who was originally a doll that the trickster Anansi made to capture a fairy. Although she is commonly known as the sometimes derogatory term Tar Baby, the author makes her a fully fleshed out character who is spunky, hilarious, and a clever fighter.

Another notable aspect of the book is Tristan Strong, the book's main protagonist. Due to my exposure to images of Black boys and men who were pressured to be hyper-masculine at all times, I was pleasantly surprised to see Tristan Strong be a bit insecure and emotionally vulnerable. It was heartwarming to see him grow as a character and come into his own as a hero as a person. One of my favorite parts of his character arc is Tristan slowly facing his fear of heights. Initially, he screams really loud at being in the air, but eventually he comes to realize there are things more important than his fear.

Besides Tristan himself, his friendship with Eddie, another Black boy, was wonderful. Even though he has passed away, Eddie lives on in a journal of stories and memories that become increasingly precious to Tristan. Tristan's flashbacks to good and bad times with Eddie are a key part of Tristan coming to terms with his grief and his journey as a hero.

In fact, Eddie, Tristan, and Gum Baby are a few of the amazing cast of characters in this book. There is also Ayanna, a Black girl that has the makings of a strong leader and fighter. Another Black girl, Thandiwe, is a fierce warrior that reminded me a lot of the Dora Miljae from the Black Panther comic books. Although I would've liked to see more Black female folklore and mythical characters besides Gum Baby, I did enjoy seeing two of them embody Virginia Hamilton's The People Could Fly.

In addition to the characters, the world building was also very well done. Despite being a lot to keep up with without a map or index of places, the world of the African folk heroes and gods being a parallel of the real world was compelling, especially given how that world has allegorical references to post colonialism and slavery. Some parts of it were dark, but it is subtle enough that middle grade readers wouldn't be terrified. Also, the world building as it applies to the book's main antagonist was brilliant.

All in all, Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky was a dazzling adventure that will sweep you away. Reluctant middle grade readers will tear through the book's 400 pages for the action and magic, while older readers will appreciate the book's in depth world building. It is a grand start to a new series and a perfect introduction to African myth and folklore.

Wow! Loved this book! This book will be recommended to every one I know. African American myths and legends, heroes and tricksters, this book has it all. Tristan is having a bad year and is sent to live on the farm with his grandparents to "fix his problems." On his first night there he manages to open a portal to a parallel world and allowed an evil force to enter. I loved that this book didn't shy away from tough issues such as slavery and grief. The storytelling is amazing and it really shows that a hero is not always the sword fighting knight on a white horse.

I love the exploration of different versions of black masculinity and of tensions between West Africans and African Americans--both of which are done with a light touch. Tristan is a very believable kid voice struggling with his best friend's death and disappointing his grandfather, who finds himself forced into being a hero to help rectify his own error. I struggled, though, with keeping track of characters and settings. The two girls were poorly differentiated, for instance. At first, I found Gum Baby's quips annoying, but I soon settled into their rhythm and enjoyed the levity they brought to the story. And while I was confused by many of the earlier conflicts (possibly because I'm not a strong fantasy reader), the final showdown was compelling and satisfying. It is a long, complex book for strong readers or those with a strong interest in the folktales or mythology, and ultimately rewarding.

"Nana used to tell me stories about how, over in Africa, before the horrors of slavery, people used to fly all the time. They'd whisper the powerful words, the phrases dripping in old magic, and shoot off into the sky ... Then came the chains and ships, and pain and whips, and the people's wings fell or were torn off. But the words of power were never forgotten."

While still reeling from grief and guilt over the death of his best friend Eddie and suffering the humiliation of having lost his first boxing match (disappointing both his father and grandfather), Tristan Strong is being sent to Alabama to his grandparents' farm, where his grandfather firmly believes that hard work will fix everything wrong with Tristan. In the middle of his first night on the farm, Tristan wakes up to find a small creature in his room, rifling through his things with one object in mind: Eddie's beloved journal, full of African-American folklore tales.

Desperate to retrieve the journal, Tristan follows the creature--who happens to be a sticky, sentient doll named Gum Baby--and, while fighting over the journal, punches his grandmother's bottle tree, shattering one of the bottles. This causes a hole to appear in the sky, sending Tristan into a parallel world called Midpass that is under attack from sentient shackles called fetterlings, poisionous insects that brand the skin, and other horrors that steal and hurt the people who live in this world. Worse, it appears that Tristan let in an evil haint when he broke the bottle and punched a hole in the sky.

As Tristan navigates this new land and meets legends such as John Henry, Brer Rabbit, and more, he also learns more about himself. Namely, he is an Anansesem: he has the storytelling power of the spider Anansi. These powers of his could change the game entirely, and save the world. But is he the right hero for the job?

Another phenomenal title from the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, focusing on African-American folklore, mythology, and essentially the development of African-American culture itself. I'm rather enjoying the rise of Afro-Fantasy novels, and am especially pleased with this middle-grade novel and the handling of hard subject matter such as slavery, but also grief, survivor's guilt, and the weight of adults expectations while still being a kid. And Tristan's power? It's amazing. Like nothing I've ever seen before. Tristan's strong, and a good fighter, but also knows how to wield words to make a difference, showing that there are different ways to be strong and be a hero.

I also am extremely pleased with how Tristan's interactions with the men in his family and the men in Midpass (particularly John Henry) differ, and by doing so subtly address toxic masculinity and the power of positive male influences in the lives of young men (a concept that is important in all cultures).

So. Read this book. You'll laugh. You'll cry. You'll wish that you had a doll that attacks people with sap as a sidekick. But, please, leave all punching holes in the sky to Tristan.