Welcome to Litsy!

“Nah, you wouldn‘t. You got your own problems. You don‘t wanna hear about my struggles. Right? Oh, you do? Well, I gotta warn you, it‘s a wild ride, so buckle up, champ. Let me give you some truth, and I hope it returns back to me.”

This is such a good book! I would keep this in my classroom library for any child who loves Rick Riordan books, and to have more representation for people of color within modern Fantasy stories.

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia is an adventurous story that follows Tristan Strong, a boy with a family boxing legacy. After his best friend passes away, Tristan has his notebook and realizes it glows bright green, but only he can see it. He is then sent to live with his grandparents on their farm in Alabama where the adventure continues and he understands why he has this magic book.

“So what if it glowed? It was still a book, and reading it would be better than listening to any more of Granddad's insults disguised as life lessons. Or reliving that bus accident. I mean, really, what could go wrong?“

This piece of speculative fiction has many good uses in the classroom. It has a focus on guilt and recovery after losing a close friend/ loved one. This could be something that a student or even adult can connect to. The story also has a main character that is not White. This is important because classroom libraries should have an array of stories with characters of different cultures, ways of life, and other social roles that people identify with

This book is also speculative fiction. The story follows the main character, Tristan Strong, who is struggling with the guilt after he was unable to save his best friend in a bus accident. During this time of guilt he accidently creates a rift with his unknown powers to a parallel world where the myths are real. He must discover his abilities to save the people of this new world.

Loved this! A thoroughly enjoyable adventure weaving together African American and West African mythologies, from John Henry and Brer Rabbit to Anansi. It‘s spot on with its humor and adventure... and a likable main character working through grief and insecurities as he comes into his own as a hero. And the audio is just fantastic—so glad I waited for that Libby hold to come through! Another great #NewYearWhoDis pick from @MeganAnn 😊

Here is the final picture of my #BookSpinBingo for January. I read 12 books, both my #BookSpin and #DoubleSpin but alas no Bingo this month. I can‘t wait to see how February shapes out — I did some last minute tweaking on that list so the bingo card is ready to go!

I finished on a high note too. Tristan Strong was a super fun and delightful read that I am shocked to say I might enjoy MORE than PJO 🤯

Really enjoyed this portal fantasy of a kid sent to another realm to get his friend's journal back who discovers the folks in the stories he's been hearing are real, but also the tear that brought him there, means they are all under attack now.

1. My sister (who's a package deal with my niece).
2. Thankful that my family/household has the luxury of skipping all outside activities even though our local government lacks the will to cancel them, and that we're already accustomed to holidays on our own so it doesn't feel like a loss to be away from extended family and friends.

#ThankfulThursday @Cosmos_Moon

Getting a late start on #24b4monday #readathon @Andrew65

I probably only read about 3-4 hours yesterday but I plan to read literally all day today and tomorrow. Have my audio in for an hour already of Tristan Strong.

Based on African and African American myths and lore, I found this YA novel to be a quick and bracing read. Like Harry Potter, you don‘t need to fully know or understand the mythological background stories to enjoy this action/fantasy story. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's hard to believe this is a debut novel! I can't wait to read more from this author. Tristan's journey through Alke was one adventure after another and it was filled with memorable characters. I had some familiarity with several of these myths but some were new to me which prompted me to stop periodically and research. (I love that!) My only quibble is that I wish it was illustrated.

The endpapers/ #bookmap in this book are beautiful. So is the imagery. "Anansi's table was outlined by a snippet of a fable. A bed was covered in a spread made of lullabies. The cooking pots and the kettle were rimmed with opening prayers." ?

This was one of my favorite reads this summer. Not only is it funny and action packed, but Mbalia also skillfully weaves African American and African mythology together. I was impressed with the bold imagery. The first foes Tristan fights are “Fetterlings”- which are essentially slave shackles that move on their own like snakes. Other creatures are reminiscent of slave ships. The final villain at the end made my jaw drop. 👇

There's a way this type of middle-grade adventure is written that doesn't appeal to me. It's like the plot is broken up into blocks which are set one after the other; the seams are still visible. But for a story like this, it's sufficient, and I do very much enjoy the rivalry between the African gods and the New World gods Mbalia has set up. My 11-year-old likes the book, and his is the review that counts anyway.
#bookspinbingo

My teen is putting her climate values where her mouth is (or vice versa?) by preparing our family a three-course, nearly-vegan dinner while I try to strike a balance between micromanaging and being available for help (if needed) by alternately reading the tagged book and photographing her progress.

"There was a rhythm in my fists."

#FirstLineFridays @ShyBookOwl

So first off I just want to say that it is incredibly refreshing to read a book about mythology that isn‘t Greek. I know very little about African/African American mythology so it was fun to learn about it through reading this book.

Full review: https://oddandbookish.wordpress.com/2020/07/24/review-tristan-strong-punches-a-h...

@WanderingBookaneer has challenged me to post my top 6 books of the year so far. This was a bit hard as I have not read as much as I normally do. My #CovidVaycay was a complete bomb when it came to reading.

These are my top reviewed or ones that stuck with me long after. 3 middle grades, 2 YA, and 1 adult.

Hey @MrBook, @trashcanman @sarahreadstoomuch are you willing to show me your #Top6reads?

Did some #audiopuzzling. This VW vans collage puzzle is super fun.

Likewise, this book. 10-year-old Me would‘ve been totally obsessed with it. Unfortunately, while Adult Me‘s enjoying the story, the narration‘s frustrating. Amir Abdullah does great character work but belongs to the, “SHOUT the dialogue; deliver the narration in an undertone” school of performance. Y‘all know how much poor volume modulation bothers me.

Covering my dad's antique shop today, and it hasn't been very busy which means I get to sit on the porch and read!
I forgot to post my goals for the #JoysofJune readathon yesterday, but I'm going to try to finish 6 books @Andrew65

Awesome read!

This was such a fun book to read full of incredible characters and lots of action. I'm a sucker for retellings and I love books based on folktales or mythology, and this book is an excellent example of why I love retellings. 💚 I can't wait to read the next one.

So. Much. Fun! This book was an absolute joy to read. Tristan Strong is mourning the loss of his best friend and gets sent to his grandparents‘ farm in Alabama. One night, Gum Baby steals his friend‘s journal, Tristan gives chase, tears a hole between worlds and adventure ensues. Full of gods, folk heroes, and other wonderful characters, this book is all the heart, hope , and healing that stories and storytellers bring us.

Oh, how I relate to this. I‘ve always been a city girl and I had trouble sleeping when I moved to Blowing Rock, NC because the darkness surrounding the house I rented was like a thick blanket. When I finally moved to Charlotte, I got the best night‘s sleep I‘d had in 2 years, with street lamps illuminating my bedroom. 😴

A thoroughly enjoyable middle grade adventure inspired by West African and African American legend that is all about courage, believing in yourself and, above all, the power of stories—to unite, to divide, to inspire, to inform, to harm, & to record our histories. Filled with fantastic characters—Gum Baby in particular not to mention ruthless villains, tricksters & heroes coming into their own—adventure & danger, this is a fun, engaging book.

“Stories are powerful magic.”

Truth

I started this book in the fall when we added it to the library. I read the first 5 chapters, loved it and knew I had to preview it for students. Well, once I did the book flew off the shelves and I wasn‘t able to finish it—#goodproblem! To solve the problem I picked up my own copy. Up next...and I‘m anticipating a fantastic middle grade adventure if the first 5 chapters are anything to go by!

Reading vicariously through Maya. She‘s keeping me company on the couch while I work. Aaron also went in to the hospital today to check in on some patients. Yay vacation. It certainly isn‘t Yosemite and San Fran, but we‘re making do.

One year ago this week I spent spring break vacation having a hysterectomy and endometriosis excision from my bladder and other areas. This was supposed to be the year we made up for that one. 😢 ⬇️⬇️

Maya‘s school is now closed for at least 2 weeks, and any gatherings of 100 or more now under a mandatory ban in NC. I‘m glad we stocked up on books for Maya at the library this morning. #priorities ☺️ #sendmewine 🤣

Had to start reading a middle grade novel after the intensity of Ta-Nehisi Coates, but very excited for this! Love the Rick Riordan Presents imprint.

Over here trying to be all artistic and heck with pictures, but really what I'm trying to say is that this book is A+ adventure. I'm having a ball 💃Kiwi's just sleeping. The usual. #febs2dayathon

Tristan punches a hole in the sky and ends up in a whole new world, meets new friends, saves the day, and I need the sequel now! I hope the next novel has more of the side characters and more of his Nanas stories. This mythology is completely new to me and I‘m so glad it‘s available to kids who grew up with these stories and gods. I got so immersed and attached and the grief storyline running through it was so heartwarming. Just so good!

Gosh, I loved this book so much! Kwame Mbalia mixed African mythology and African American folklore in one charming adventure. (Even the frankly excessive amount of ableist metaphors hasn‘t dimmed my love of Tristan and his friends [too much].) Amir Abdullah did a great job with the voice acting (I still hear Gum Baby‘s voice in my head! 😂)

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟5 🌟
Kwame has hit this book out of the park. He has a solid book that kids today will love, and kids of tomorrow will still be reading far into the future.

This book was amazing and I can not wait for the sequel. And as has been my tradition, I will await the next tale from RRP because I know adventure awaits.

Full review on LT nad GR.

Listening to this amazing book while processing books on this work day. #LibrariansofLitsy

I had no plans to go to Barnes & Noble today, let alone buy ANOTHER book ... self-control is non-existent 🙈

But in my defense, I‘ve been wanting to jump into this one since release and it WAS on sale

I can't remember the last middle grade book I read but I have the sense that I don't like them. I'm not at all sure why I think that though. 🤔 This one sounds fantastic so I grabbed it on impulse. I hope I love it as much as I think I will!

I‘m not the target age, but I‘m calling it a pick anyway. I felt like the action overwhelmed characters for awhile in the middle, but I reconnected by the end, and I am intrigued by the world Mbalia sets up. I would love to read more about Tristan and Midpass/Alke in a future adventure.

Reading as a grownup, I think I found the monsters even creepier, since I recognized the history they echo.

Gah, I loved this. A lot of the RE Presents have been misses for me, even the one from a favorite author, but this one was a solid win. Kwame Mbalia does a wonderful and clever job showing old and new myths plus tackling the topic of grief. I did not expect to get teary eyed half way through!
#youngadult #tristanstrong #fantasy

I'm only 3% in, and I'm already loving it.
#book2 #tristanstrong

This was so much damn fun! I don't know a ton of West African folklore but I know I've interacted with it in very brief capacities through films and TV and some books. I loved Tristan Strong as a character. His life hasn't been easy but he has pieces that...honestly most people can see a connection to. I am super curious to see how we will fix the fantasy world/setting which was ripped open.

I'm so damn excited to FINALLLLLLLLLY get to this! Rick Riordan out here being an ally with his imprint

@indoordame @wonderwoman89

Have either of you sent your LMPBC book yet? I have not. I won't lie I'm a bit behind on it since It's too big to read while I'm on the desk.

Wow. This story held no punches (pun intended). Tristan felt so relatable, alongside his travel team, in how they all had something to prove. All the self doubt, and getting past their pasts holding them back. The plot felt off through the middle, but it all made sense by the end. I really felt how Tristan grew. Same goes with that end twist. Also, didn‘t like Gum Baby at first but now I love her “sap attacks”. #RiordanPresents