Thanks to @netgalley and @disneybooks for the advance Kindle copy of this book. All opinions are my own.
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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5. If you haven’t started this series yet, get it together! It’s amazing. Book two of Tristan’s journey starts with a boxing match, with Mama’s kidnapping following. Tristan has to enlist the help of Anansi (stuck in his SBP) and the rest of the gang to find his grandmother and stop her captor from creating more devastation in Alke. Gum Baby is back with more zingers, and the story development is phenomenal. The ending leaves it open for book three. I can’t wait! #mglit #librarian #librariansofinstagram #middleschoollibrarian #weneediversebooks

This summer, I got the pleasure of reading the second in the Tristan Strong series, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, by Kwame Mbalia! When I tell you that this series is one of the most brilliantly written novels I've read...believe it! This book follows Tristan after the first book. He's trying to appease his grandfather by trying to follow in his footsteps and being the best boxer in the area. However, Tristan soon realizes he has more in common with his grandma. We again are taken to the land of Alke, but the world is in danger of being completely destroyed, and it's all Tristan's fault. Can he save both Alke and the "real" world? He'll need the help of some of our favorite characters: Gum Baby, John Henry, Anansi, and others!

Kwame Mbalia is the most brilliant writer I've come across in a while. The way in which he weaves his Tristan Strong character in with West African and African American folklore is magical. I really, truly believe this is a series that students would find fun because it's HILARIOUS and has all of the fantasy characteristics kids love, BUT adults can read it and really appreciate the nuances in the story that shed light on real world issues.

This book comes out on October 6, and I'm going to need all of you to read it, so we can fangirl out together!

#NetGalley #TristanStrongDestroystheWorldATristanStrongNovelBook2

Tristan Strong Destroys the World (A Tristan Strong Novel, Book 2)
by Kwame Mbalia
Disney Publishing Worldwide
You Like Them
Rick Riordan Presents
Children's Fiction
Pub Date 06 Oct 2020 | Archive Date 06 Oct 2020

We have a lot of young readers who will enjoy this book a lot. This is the 2nd in the series and was very well written. Thanks to Disney Publishing Worldwide and Net Galley for the ARC. I listened to webinar on this Author and series. It was very good.

5 star

If you read the reviews for the previous Tristan Strong, you will see it was right up my alley for middle grade fantasy literature that I cultivate for my fifth grade students. Especially those students that enjoy Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. Teachers if recommending the series, do so for those Rick Riordan fans of mythology, but even those students without a background in the stories reimagined by the author, will thoroughly enjoy this second installment.
On the part of author Kwame Mbalia once again, he shows mastery in exploring new ways for Tristan and other characters we love to change over the course of the novel. For example, in this time of pandemic, how much do school-aged children need to hear the message of perseverance? Nana's simple, but strong words to Tristan ring in my mind even after finishing the book. "Get up."
Many times this book had me laughing out loud with it's short and page-turning chapters. I really enjoyed the strong female representation that was amped up in this book with characters like Mami Wata, Keelboat Annie and Lady Night. I do hope another of these books is in the works as middle grade readers need a voice like Mbalia.

Honestly, I really enjoyed this book, and I think I liked it a lot more than the first one.  I already had an idea of all the characters we were re-encountering so seeing them again was really fun.  The stakes of this story were a lot higher, which was really interesting to explore.  You saw the direct effects of the previous story on the world of Alke, and you see Tristan struggle with his legacy and how things maybe weren't as simple when one is a hero as one might think.

I liked that we got a greater depth to Tristan's family and learned more about his Nana as a character.  The family legacy was a nice aspect to explore and I just really enjoyed the dynamics between Tristan and his grandmother.

The tension throughout the story was good, and there was enough action to keep you interested as a reader and keep you guessing about what hijinx Tristan is going to get into next.

Overall, I had a super fun time reading this and I highly recommend it and the first book in the series.  Be sure to check it out when it comes out on the 6th of October.

I received this e-ARC from Rick Riordan Presents and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
The events in the second Tristan Strong book occur a couple of weeks after Tristan’s return from Alke. He is still on his grandparents’ farm in Alabama, working and training, and trying to recover from the events in Alke. His grandfather volunteers him to a sparring match with another youth boxer who happens to be nearly twice Tristan’s size! It’s during this time that Tristan sees ghosts and spirits from Alke. Impossible, because the hole was supposedly sealed when he returned. One of the frightened water spirits, Ninah, warns him the Shamble Man is coming. And come he does, smashing his way into the Strong farmhouse and kidnapping Tristan’s grandmother. Tristan and Anansi (still locked in the Story Box Phone) travel back to Alke to rescue Nana. Tristan is reunited with old friends and we meet some new characters. Will Tristan, Ayanna, Anansi, Gum Baby, and the others be able to stop the Shamble Man before it’s too late?
I am thrilled Tristan is back in this second installment. Kwame Mbalia takes African and African American storytelling to a whole new level. Tristan, a reluctant hero, is still learning about his role as Anansesem. He is headstrong and vulnerable, doing everything he can to rescue his nana and stop the Shamble Man. This book is exciting, emotional, and will have you on the edge of your seat. I would definitely recommend book 2 for anyone who has read the first one.
#TristanStrongDestroysTheWorld #NetGalley

I received an electronic ARC from Disney Publishing Worldwide through NetGalley.
The second book in this series opens with time at Tristan's grandparents' farm. Readers see him adjusting to his new title, Anansesem (story teller), and beginning to come out of his grief for his friend. Visitors from Alke spill over into the farm and ask for help. During a confrontation, his grandmother is taken. Together with Anansi, who is still trapped in the phone/story box, they set out to rescue his grandmother and find out what is happening in Alke. Along with friend from the first book and new ones found on this journey, Tristan "save" Alke but in an unusual way.
Mbalia captures the adventure and challenges involved when dealing with myths and legends. This book is stronger than the first as readers are more familiar with the gods and goddesses and know Tristan's back story. Tristan continues to grow, learn and heal from the trauma he's been through. Readers may learn about myths they have not heard before. New characters are introduced and play key roles in confronting the evil unleashed in the country.
I wish Mbalia had included a glossary or brief paragraph descriptions of the various gods and goddesses at the end so readers had a quick reference to learn more.

Oh this second book did not fail as the second book in the trilogy. It was awesome. The world descriptions were beautiful. I loved how this book tackled the after mass of the first book dealing with trauma and how you can heal from it. I'm super excited for the next book. If they made a movie or a T.V. series I would so watch it. It'll be neat to have a companion "Story Box" so the people who aren't familiar with the stories can read more about the different gods and a goddesses of the different cultures. Also I think Tristan might have a small crush. Just saying.

Tristan and his friends are back, along with some new ones. This time trying to save both his world and theirs from collapsing, but is this a race Tristan can win.
This the second book in the Tristan Strong series is just as good if not better than the first, if that is possible. The fast paced, non stop action and suspense, will leave you on overload and up way past your bed time. These books bring back the old songs of the south stories along with many tall tales for a new generation to explore and enjoy. This book will even keep the attention of most reluctant readers. This is a series not to be missed.

This review will appear on my blog on 6 October.

Ok, so I might have yelped a little and startled my husband when I got approval for this one!!

Tristan Strong's adventures continue in this amazing second book in the series. I must admit that I was a little hesitant to dive in because even though it is a long book it moves so quickly, and I am often wary of book 2 in a series, however; this book did not disappoint. I am so excited that the characters of African folklore have found their place in the middle-grade literary community, it is so important for kids to be able to see themselves in the books that they are reading and this title perfectly fills that need.

I don't want to give anything away because it's just too good, but if you enjoyed the first one, this is a MUST READ. I will definitely be handselling and recommending this title for all bookfair, classrooms, and school libraries.

An action packed sequel, this book introduces new characters to the reader, including Keelboat Annie (my favorite), and a Boo Hag. Favorite characters from the first story, like Tar Baby and Ayanna, return for more adventure. When Tristan notices voices at his grandparents' farm, he's worried that nobody else can hear them except Anansi in the Story Book Phone (SBP). However, when two plat-eyes come to track him down, Tristan sees them and so does his grandmother! His grandmother helps him and promises to talk with him and tell him more about Alke. Before she gets the chance, the Shamble Man breaks through the barrier from Alke and kidnaps her. Tristan has to find a way back to Alke and needs to save his grandmother as well as Alke itself. Alke is still suffering from the last battle and has not had time to rebuild. John Henry is ill and not venturing out, he is not as powerful as he once was, since the Shamble Man took his hammer. It's up to Tristan and his friends to set the balance right and sometimes rebuilding just isn't possible until everything comes down. I did not see the end of this story coming, but I look forward to reading the next installment to see where it leads.

This book picks up soon after the events of the last book (spoilers ahead), so Tristan is still on the farm with his grandparents. When a mysterious, deadly figure called the Shamble Man kidnaps Tristan's Nana, Tristan heads to Alke to get her back.

These books are amazing! I think they are now officially my favorite Rick Riordan presents series - they are so clever in the presentation of the mythology and they touch on really difficult concepts and topics in a way that's approachable to middle school students. For example, in this book, Tristan and his friends are experiencing the fallout from the last book and they all have PTSD, which is addressed in a compassionate way. It's also addressed in such a way so that folks can understand generational PTSD along with other generational effects of racism which is tied into the Diaspora, a main plot point in this book. It's just so well done! I also love how the author ties together Black American mythology with West African mythology (and obviously the two are inextricably linked anyway) - if you have any level of familiarity with the tales, you will be delighted in how creatively they are used. If you're not familiar, you get to learn complete new stories! The books also have a "who lives, who dies, who tells your story" sort of theme running through them - they are additionally focused on the importance of stories to a group of people.

If you have a middle school student who is into fantasy, Percy Jackson, or is looking to learn more about the effects of systemic racism, give them this series. It manages to walk that narrow bridge of entertaining and educational without feeling preachy, and I cannot recommend this series highly enough! If you haven't yet, check out the first book, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, and then get ready to put Tristan Strong Destroys the World on hold for it's October 6th release!

Thanks to Disney Hyperion and Netgalley for the eARC which I received in exchange for an unbiased review.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this ARC! My son loved the first Tristan Strong book, which he owns, so I read that first before diving into this sequel. The story follows Tristan, a rising 8th grader, who discovered he is a magical Anansesem story teller in a parallel world filled with Black and African folktales and mythology. He returns to Alke, this amazing world, when his beloved Nana is abducted and taken there.

Stars: This story moves fast! Definitely difficult to put down. I loved how the author created such a descriptive, beautiful, haunting world in Alke. I also loved though how he breaks up the serious tone with Tristan's witty observations and commentary. I knew next to nothing about the gods and monsters Mbalia writes of, so I spent a lot of time researching those as well as I read the novel. I laughed and cried by the end.

Wishes: I'm not sure if this would work as a stand-alone, but I believe sequels rarely do. I wish the author gave us a little more background on Tristan and his life in Chicago, and developed his character a bit more. Sometimes it was difficult for me to picture what Mbalia was describing but I just hung on for the ride and enjoyed it overall.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

You know how sequels are rarely as good as the first? Totally untrue in this case, Tristan Strong Destroys the World is even better than Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. There are so many good lessons and takeaways in this on top of the great plot, plus of course the familiar characters we all enjoyed from the first book. I really liked Nana's greater role in this, as well as seeing Tristan growing and learning. I don't know if there is a book #3 in the works (I hope so!), but either way, I can't wait to read more from Kwame Mbalia and Rick Riordan Presents!

Thank you NetGalley and Rick Riordan Presents for an advanced eARC of this book. Wow, Kwame Mbalia does it again! I thought the first Tristan Strong book was great and was hoping the sequel would be just as good....it is even better! Tristan is such a great relatable hero to all kids. He's experienced loss and trauma and is struggling to deal with it. I love how Mr. Mbalia addresses this through Tristan's eyes. It's not preachy, it's matter of fact and it talks about it in a way that kids can understand. I loved the twists and turns that the story took as well as how we get a little taste of his family history along the way, too. Such a great read that hooked me from page 1. Can't wait for the next Tristan Strong adventure!

As an African American woman, I am ashamed to say I have not read all of our folktales. I enjoyed reading Kwame's first Tristen book and would recommend that you read it if you haven't already. However, to write a series you have to continue to pull in your audience old and new and I'm happy to say I love the way the author has done this within the story. First, as a mother of boys, my boys were hooked after the first few paragraphs; the action, the emotions, they could envision themselves in Tristen's shoes. This is the key to getting reluctant readers to get invested in reading. I loved seeing Tristen further grow and develop, especially in the area of confidence. Many of my students can relate to his lack of confidence in his abilities and can learn as he learns. I will definitely be creating thought-provoking questions for students to go with this read. Although I'm sure you have many books on your fall reads list, this is a MUST read and a great addition to any classroom library.

Thank you to the publishers for providing this book to me for free on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

While Tristan is making progress dealing with his friend Eddie's death and is enjoying being with his grandparents on their farm in Alabama, he is still reeling from his experiences traveling into the world of Alke and dealing with the forces of evil there. Being an Anansesem, he used the power of stories to get many things done, and now has a cell phone with the trickster god Anansi trapped in it that is a modern version of the Story Box. Being careful, however, he has buried the other artifacts that he brought back. After his grandfather arranges for him to spar with an up and coming boxer, Tristen starts to hear worried voices, and sees spirits in his grandparents' barn. He's even more worried when he finds out that John Henry's powers seem to be fading. He is just starting to get information from his grandmother, who appears to have some powers of her own when she tries to make a quilt to stop a horrible creature known as the Shambleman. The Shambleman is angry that Tristan destroyed Midpass, and kidnaps the grandmother to hurt Tristan. In order to go in search of the grandmother, Anansi has Tristan use an app on the Story Box Phone (SBP) to record a story and harness its power. This story summons not only Keelboat Annie but his friend Ayanna, who is doing a work study program with her. Some of Ayanna's colleagues got paired with a god or goddess in order to help with repairs to Alke. Gum Baby also reappears to help. Keelboat Annie thinks it best to head off to the Golden Crescent to try to find out more about the Shambleman and where he might have hidden Tristan's grandmother. Along the way, they realize that Mami Wata is also missing, and this is causing very big problems. Chestnutt the rabbit is investigating that, but Tristan adds it to his quest. When the Story Box Phone is damaged, Tristan also has to find someone to help him fix that. Their adventures put them in contact with boo hags, Ayanna's brother Junior, and other figures from both African and African American folktales. When they finally locate the Shambleman, they find that he is a figure from their past who is angry about Tristan's previous actions and is trying to further his own agenda. Even if Tristan manages to save Alke and make it back to his world in Alabama, will he be able to stop the Shambleman's plans for the future? (We'll need to read book three, which does not yet have a title, to find out!)

Strengths: Once again, Tristan's time with his grandparents in the real world is a great way to start the story, and finding out that his grandmother has some powers was fantastic. Having a relic of his trip, the SBP with Anansi in it, helps transition into Alke and the world of myths and legends. It's good to run into characters from the first book, but also meet new ones. The identity of the Shambleman was an interesting twist, and I tried not to ruin that. He ends up being a character that has suffered trauma that has informed his actions, which is something with which Tristan is able to sympathize. It's helpful that this has a similar format to a lot of the myth and folk tale based fantasies that have come out in the last ten years-- there is a quest, and a variety of figures are met. Some help, and some hinder the hero's progress. One of my favorite parts was the Diasporapp which Anasi has on the SBP and can offer information about stories that are similar because they originated in the same place. The inclusion of some information about slave history is good to see as well.

Weaknesses: It would be very helpful for my readers if there were notes of the various folk tale and mythological characters at the end of this book. It occurred to me that so many middle grade fantasy books are based on Anglo-Saxon or Greek mythology because they've been part of school curriculum for so long. Fifteen years ago, readers could easily slip into these stories because they were familiar with things like the Arthurian cycle. What we really need in the schools now is a more pancultural approach to folktales, myths and legends, and we need books like the National Geographic Mythology books on underrepresented cultures. We have plenty of Norse, Egyptian, Greek/Roman and Arabian books, but relatively few on various Native American, African, Indian, and other tales. While the 1999 Julius Lester Uncle Remus: The Complete Tales might help understand many of the tales alluded to in Tristan Strong, we could probably use another updated account of those as well.

What I really think: This series is definitely for heavy duty fantasy fans who can read Tolkien or Christopher Paolini without breaking a sweat. There is so much good information about various aspects of Black history and culture in these books that I selfishly wish they were a bit shorter so it would be easier to get more students to check them out.

I am a big fan of the Rick Riordan Presents books. Aru Shah and Tristan Strong are my personal favorite series from this so far.

This is a great follow up to Tristan Dtrong number 1. I appreciate how it shows that even though Tristan did some heroic things in book 1, he also did some harm. I like how his grandmother is tied in and am hoping for more back story on her in book 3. Gun Baby and Tristan’s bickering continues to provide comic relief. Appreciated how the villain of this one is shown as complex. Will be recommending and purchasing for sure.

I would love to see a graphic adaptation of this book. I could visualize as I was reading it that it would also make a great film, but only if they kept Tristan as the young, preteen hero that he is in the story, unsure, vulnerable and not always sure of what he is doing.
Tristan’s Nana has been kidnapped by the Shamble Man who has traveled from Alke into his world. Tristan must travel to Alke and with the help of his friends and a few American Folktale heroes rescue Nana before the Shamble Man destroys Alke and his world.
#TristanStrongDestroystheWorldATristanStrongNovelBook2 #NetGalley #ARC

Great follow-up to book 1. I honestly thought this book was stronger than book one because the reader was familiar with the characters, which was my struggle with the first book. Since I had not been familiar with the myths and folklore, it took me a while to begin to relate and empathize with the characters, by book two, I was invested and I jumped right in. The pacing was good and it ended with my wanting more.