Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is the debut novel of Kwame Mbalia. Published in 2019 by Rick Riordan Presents, the middle grade novel is focused on African American folktales and West African mythology.[2] The story follows teenager Tristan Strong, who is often urged to be a boxer by his family. After his friend Eddie's death, Tristan goes to live with his grandparents on their farm to deal with his anxiety, bringing only a small amount of luggage and Eddie's old journal.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky
AuthorKwame Mbalia
Cover artistErik Wilkerson[1]
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
SeriesTristan Strong series
Release number
1
GenreFantasy, mythology
PublisherDisney-Hyperion, Rick Riordan Presents
Publication date
October 15, 2019
Awards
Followed byTristan Strong Destroys the World 

Synopsis

Tristan Strong is a seventh grade boy, forced into boxing by his parents, mourning the death of his best friend Eddie, who died in a terrible bus crash. Eddie has left Tristan his journal, but survivor's guilt stops Tristan from reading it. Tristan is sent south, to Alabama, to heal from the tragedy and live with his grandparents, one of which is very strict and makes him work on the farm. On his first night there, Eddie's journal is stolen by a strange doll-like creature, revealed to be a magic creature covered in sap named Gum Baby. A chase ensues, and in an effort get the journal back, Tristan opens a portal to a parallel world, Alke, in the Midpass, where his grandmother's stories about mythology and folktales suddenly become very real.[3][4]

Tristan finds himself in the Bottle Tree Forest, a haunted forest Tristan's nana forbid him to go in, and soon falls into the sea below, where he escapes, meeting Ayanna, and learning that he caused a rip to open up in MidPass, and that he must save it with the help of Anansi, an African deity, but looses Eddie's journal once more and demands that he find it with the help of his new friends.

Themes

Tristan Strong includes portrayals of African American folktales, West African mythology, the legacy of the Atlantic slave trade.[5] Tristan Strong meets African American folktale characters like Brer Fox, High John the Conquerer, and John Henry.[3] Strong also meets West African deities like Nyame, Mmoatia, and Anansi the Weaver. Most of the book is set in Alke, in the MidPass.[6] Mbalia was introduced to Anansi tales, a major aspect of the novel, by his late father.[2] Tristan's personality was largely inspired by Mbalia's oldest daughter.[7] On Twitter, Mbalia has noted that Tristan experiences "grief and loss, both personal and cultural."[8]

Characters
  • Tristan Strong: a young African American teenager who goes to live with his grandparents, a trip he comes to dread, after the sudden death of his friend Eddie. Armed with only Eddie's journal, filled with the stories he used to write and listen to, Tristan discovers a world of mythology and folktales right in his backyard, and learns that it is up to him to save the magical world of Alke.
  • Nana and Granddad: Tristan's grandparents. Nana is kind and loving to Tristan, and often told him and Eddie stories about the myths of their cultures, and Granddad is stricter, making Tristan work on their farm and demanding he calls him "sir." Granddad is also supportive of Tristan's boxing career.
  • High John: a West African deity who helps Tristan.
  • John Henry: an African-American folktale character who wields a hammer.
  • Gum Baby: a small doll-like creature with a short temper covered in sap who tends to shoot the sticky substance at any who annoy her. She is a friend of Ayanna and part of her crew.
  • Ayanna: a girl who Tristan encounters early in the book while escape the Burning Sea.
  • Br'er Rabbit, Br'er Fox, and Br'er Bear: deities from an Uncle Remus myth long ago. In the story, the fox and the bear (referred to as BF and BB in the story) try to chase the rabbit (referred to as BR) but the rabbit outsmarts them every time. In the book, Br'er Bear is gone.

Reception

Kirkus Reviews, in a starred review, called Tristan Strong "a worthy addition to the diverse array of offerings from Rick Riordan Presents."[9] School Library Journal, also in a starred review, said "this debut novel offers a richly realized world, a conversational, breezy style, and a satisfying conclusion that leaves room for sequels."[3] Publisher's Weekly, in another starred review, called it a "triumphant middle grade debut."[5] In a review for The New York Times, John Steves praised Mbalia's plot developments as "powerful and surprising," saying that the author "has a good ear for dialogue."[6] The novel was a New York Times best-seller, debuting at No. 8 on the list,[2][10] and The New York Times named Tristan Strong as one of The 25 Best Children's Books of 2019.[11] In addition, the novel was a 2020 Coretta Scott King Award honor book.[12] The book received a Children's Africana Book Award (CABA) in 2020, for Best Book for Older Readers.[13]

Sequels

The sequel to Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, was published in October 2020, and continues Tristan's adventure.[14] An untitled third installation in the series has been announced, and will likely be released in fall 2021 or early 2022.[15]

References
  1. https://ericwilkersonart.com/art-prints/tristan-strong-punches-a-hole-in-the-sky-limited-edition-print-
  2. Lacy, Bridgette A. (October 11, 2019). "Writer reimagines science-fiction and fantasy, bringing lesser-known characters to life". The News & Observer.
  3. Del Negro, Janice M. (November 1, 2019). "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky". School Library Journal. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  4. "Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky by Kwame Mbalia: 9780593149560 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books". PenguinRandomhouse.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  5. "Children's Book Review: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1) by Kwame Mbalia. Disney-Hyperion/Riordan, $17.99 (496p) ISBN 978-1-368-03993-2". PublishersWeekly.com. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  6. Stephens, John (2019-10-23). "A Debut Fantasy Novel Summons the Power of African Myths (Published 2019)". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  7. Martin, Dawn Jacobs. "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky Educator's Guide" (PDF).
  8. "Kwame Mbalia on Tristan Strong on Twitter".
  9. TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY | Kirkus Reviews.
  10. Blue, Tiara (2020-01-06). "Kwame Mbalia gives folk heroes his own twist in bestseller". NonDoc. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  11. "The 25 Best Children's Books of 2019 (Published 2019)". The New York Times. 2019-12-02. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  12. JAMUNDSEN (2012-04-05). "Coretta Scott King Book Awards - All Recipients, 1970-Present". Round Tables. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  13. "2020 Children's Africana Book Awards". Africa Access. 2014-02-16. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  14. "Tristan Strong Destroys the World". Read Riordan. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  15. "Untitled (Tristan Strong #3)". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2020-12-21.
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