Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

Mbalia, K. (2019). Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. Disney Hyperion. 

       Inspired by West African gods and African American folk tales, this book takes a stab at the tried and true formula of integrating old myths and tales with a modern world to give new life to the stories that have already inspired many. Right away, we see that this book will be magical even though it begins with very human troubles. The magic is hinted at by the glow that seems to come from the journal Tristan’s late best friend wanted him to have which only he seems to be able to see. The introduction of magic early on allows the reader to understand what kind of book this is and not be surprised when it jumps into a magical world a few chapters later. Also introduced early on so the readers are aware that it will become a major component of the story are the tales shared by Tristan’s grandmother and best friend. Based on Tristan’s emotional connection to them, the reader starts off simply understanding that the tales are important for understanding his character. Once the magic kicks into full gear however, the reader can see that the tales play an even bigger role in the understanding of the story as a whole.

     The themes in this book can be heavy but are handled with care. For one, we start with the knowledge that Tristan’s best friend has recently passed. Death may be shown in some middle-grade novels but for it to be so close to the character and such a young age is rarer. This is something that some children do have to deal with and are probably unsure of how to handle the situation. Seeing Tristan navigate his emotions surrounding the event and learning how to grieve will be very relatable to any reader that has dealt with death in the past. Because of the nature of the tales, another theme that shows up is the theme of slavery and Black life in America. A lot of the tales referenced and included come from slaves and express the themes they were focused on when dreaming of freedom. This book has a full Black cast and explores Black history and culture. The main focus isn’t slavery, but it is discussed in a way that will enlighten a reader that may have only known as much as their school taught them about those times. Black readers will form a connection by learning parts of their history that school doesn’t delve into while readers of other races will get to learn about a culture or history that is often left out of the spotlight.

      This book is written in a style that will keep readers engaged, using action, comedy, and heart. Told in a first-person point of view, the author uses the diction of a young teen and the accents of a Black boy from Chicago which helps prove the authority behind sharing this story. Those that share characteristics with Tristan are sure to enjoy seeing themselves in a magic filled adventure. 



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