Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

By Kwame Mbalia
New York: Disney/Hyperion, 2019. Fiction.

After Tristan loses his best friend in an accident, his parents decide Tristan needs time to heal. He's sent off to live with his grandparent's in Alabama, and he knows it'll be an uneventful month. Then strange things start happening: his best friend's journal starts glowing, he sees visions, and an interaction with a thief causes him to punch a hole in the universe. He falls through the hole and finds himself in a world of stories where legends from African and African American folklore exist. Can he save their world and return to his before it's too late?

Fans of Percy Jackson will like this fun read. Not only does Tristan interact with people of legends and folklore, but his adventure leads him to strange lands and facing interesting foes. The symbolic messages sprinkled throughout the book create a good base to discuss the history of the slave trade without being preachy. Those interested in symbolism or action and adventure are sure to enjoy this story.

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