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    The Children's Book Review

    Tristan Strong, by Kwame Mbalia | Book Series Review

    Dr. Jen HarrisonBy Dr. Jen Harrison3 Mins Read Ages 9-12 Best Kids Stories Books with Boy Characters Mythology Novels for Kids and Teens
    The Tristan Strong Series
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    Book Series Review of The Tristan Strong Series
    The Children’s Book Review

    Tristan Strong Series

    Tristan Strong Series

    Written by Kwame Mbalia

    Ages 9+

    Publisher: Disney Hyperion

    What to Expect: African mythology, grief, boxing, magic, family

    Tristan Strong does not feel like he can live up to his name. Strongs are supposed to be determined, resourceful, unstoppable fighters – in the ring and in life. After failing to save his best friend in a bus accident, however, Tristan feels none of these things. When he’s sent to his grandparents’ farm to recover from his grief, however, an accidental journey into the mythical world of Alke, where African American and West African folklore comes to life, put him to the test of his life – a test he does not feel even remotely ready for.

    Over the summer, he’ll be challenged to save the inhabitants of Alke, rescue his grandmother from the terrifying Shamble Man, and save the world from the greatest enemy of all, King Cotton. To help him, he has the gift of Anansesem – storytelling – and the help of the Trickster God Anansi. However, he also has more rage, grief, and self-doubt than it seems possible for one person to hold. Will they stop him from fulfilling his destiny – or are they just what he needs to fulfill his potential? Only the Gods know for sure…

    In this riveting trilogy by Kwame Mbalia, African-American and West African mythology, legends, and stories come to life in a contemporary fantasy that blends magic and real-world explorations of racism, injustice, and loss. Like the other books published by Rick Riordan Presents, the Tristan Strong trilogy does not hold back from exploring issues of personal struggle and cultural trauma, but the conversational first-person narration offers humor and warmth to balance the darker elements of the story. The adventure is fast-paced, holding you gripped until the very last page of the trilogy, and—without giving anything away—the ending is extremely satisfying. Strong characters, strong plot, and strong messaging—the Tristan Strong series is aptly titled.

    Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky (2019): book cover

    Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky

    Written by Kwame Mbalia

    Ages 9+ | 496 Pages

    Publisher: Disney Hyperion (2019) | ISBN-13: 9781368039932

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    Tristan Strong Destroys the World (2020): book cover

    Tristan Strong Destroys the World (2020)

    Ages 9+ | 400 Pages

    Publisher: Disney Hyperion (2020) | ISBN-13: 9781368042383

    Buy the Book
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    barnes and noble
    bookshop.org
    Tristan Strong Keeps Punching(2021): book cover

    Tristan Strong Keeps Punching

    Ages 9+ | 416 Pages

    Publisher: Disney Hyperion (2021) | ISBN-13: 9781368054874

    Buy the Book
    amazon
    barnes and noble
    bookshop.org

    About the Author

    Kwame Mbalia is the New York Times best-selling author of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor award.The book was also named to best-of-the-year listscompiled by Publishers Weekly, the Chicago Public Library, and the New York Times.The second book in the trilogy is Tristan Strong Destroys the World. Kwame lives with his wife and children in Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is currently working on the third book about Tristan.

    Follow him on Twitter @KSekouM.

    Kwame Mbalia: author head-shot

    The Tristan Strong Series was reviewed by Dr. Jen Harrison. Discover more books like these titles by following along with our reviews and articles tagged with Mythology, Magic, Grief, and Family.

    What to Read Next:

    1. City of the Plague God, by Sarwat Chadda | Book Review
    2. My Writing And Reading Life: J.C. Cervantes, Author of The Storm Runner
    3. The Garden Bone, by Maria Magliano | Dedicated Review
    4. Playing the Cards You’re Dealt, by Varian Johnson | Book Review

    *Disclosure: Please note that this post may contain affiliate links that share some commission. Rest assured that these will not affect the cost of any products and services promoted here. Our team always provides their authentic opinion in all content published on this site.

    African American Authors Disney Hyperion Family Folklore Grief Kwame Mbalia Magic Mythology
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    Dr. Jen Harrison
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    Dr. Jen Harrison provides writing and research services as the CEO of Read.Write.Perfect. She completed her Ph.D. in Children’s and Victorian Literature at Aberystwyth University in Wales, in the UK. After a brief spell in administration, Jen then trained as a secondary school English teacher and worked for several years teaching Secondary School English, working independently as a private tutor of English, and working in nursery and primary schools. She has been an editor for the peer-reviewed journal of children’s literature, Jeunesse, and has published academic work on children’s non-fiction, YA speculative fiction, and the posthuman.

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