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.

Middle Grade Monday and Audiobook Review: Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

Image: Disney Books

Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. Tristan Strong #2. Unabridged e-audiobook, ~9 hours. Read by Amir Abdullah. Listening Library, October, 2020. 9780593149614. (Review of e-audiobook borrowed from public library.)

Middle Grade Monday features Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. This sequel to Mr. Mbalia's debut blockbuster, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is even better. That's saying something because I loved the first book. If you've read it, you will definitely want to read the sequel and if you haven't, what are you waiting for?

Tristan Strong has been back from Alke for a month, still staying on his grandparents' farm and still training with his grandfather. He's still filled with self-doubt and acknowledges that he's probably suffering from PTSD. After a "friendly" sparring match gets a bit rough, Tristan's grandmother is kidnapped and taken to Alke. Reluctant as he is to return to Alke, he has to rescue his grandmother! He hopes to get advice from John Henry, but he is a shell of the man Tristan came to admire. So, it's up to Tristan, Ayanna and the irrepressible Gum Baby to get things done. 

Mr. Mbalia seamlessly weaves African mythology and African American folklore into a seat-of-your-pants adventure. While often humorous, there is real trauma here both cultural and personal. Perceptive readers will appreciate the power of storytelling and remembering. The mind-blowing ending of this installment will leave readers panting for the next!

Amir Abdullah's performance does not disappoint! It's perfectly paced and emotionally engaging.