Middle Grade Monday: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: the Graphic Novel

Image: DisneyBooks

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: the Graphic Novel. Kwame Mbalia's novel adapted by Robert Venditti. Illustrated by Olivia Stephens. 128 p. Disney, April, 2022. 9781368075008. (Review of finished purchased copy.)

Happy Monday! Middle Grade Monday features Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: the Graphic Novel. Robert Venditti adapted Kwame Mbwila's debut novel and Olivia Stephens illustrated. Seventh grader Tristan Strong is still grieving the loss of his best friend in a bus accident. He also feels guilty for being unable to save him. All he has left is Eddie's journal and that has been stolen by, a doll? He chases the sticky little thing and the two end up in a tug-of-war under the bottle tree. Tristan punches the tree and rips a hole where the two fall into MidPass, where its inhabitants, heroes from African American folklore and West African mythology are battling monsters. Tristan must help John Henry and Brer Rabbit find the trickster Anansi to help seal the hole.

The art in this graphic novel adaptation is absolutely glorious.