Status
Available
Call number
Series
Genres
Publication
Rick Riordan Presents (2020), Edition: Reprint, 528 pages
Description
Fantasy. Juvenile Fiction. Juvenile Literature. Mythology. HTML:Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Kwame Mbalia's epic fantasy, a middle grade American Gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods. Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he's going to spend on his grandparents' farm in Alabama, where he's being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie's notebook. Tristan chases after it�??is that a doll?�??and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature's hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he… (more)
User reviews
LibraryThing member LibrarianRyan
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. Rick Riordan Presents looks to tell mythology stories in #ownvoices and unlike some other famous author imprints, he has not had a dud yet. This
He is sent to spend some time with his Nana and grandfather after a lost boxing match. The hope is that he will heal from his grief and learn from hard work on the farm. But his first night is a doozy. He has his friend’s Eddie’s journal. It’s been glowing and that first night some slimy, sticky little thief broke into his room to steal it. That is where we first meet Gum Baby. Every time Gum Baby speaks I hear Cardi B. I can’t help it. A wild chase results in an accidental hole in the sky when Tristan breaks a bottle from the bottle tree and falls through a hole.
The world below is in turmoil and the hole in the sky is just making things worse. Fetterlings are capturing the people in the land below and taking over all the land. Only a story teller will be able to put the land back to rights, as it will take a story boxl to get Anasi out of hiding. Then with some help from legends John Henry, Brer Rox, Brer Rabbit, and even High John, it will really be up to Tristan to help fix the hole he created and bring stories back to the land.
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.
#LitsyAtoZYA
#MountTBR
#ReadHarder
#booked2020 #spring
#readwithMrBook
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book takes african american folklore and spins it into a story that is action packed, heart warming, and full of the “messages” so many authors aim for but can’t make seamless to the story. This one does it all. Tristan Strong is just any regular american POC boy. He has an exacting father, a legacy to live up to, and a tragic backstory after his best friend dies in a bus accident.He is sent to spend some time with his Nana and grandfather after a lost boxing match. The hope is that he will heal from his grief and learn from hard work on the farm. But his first night is a doozy. He has his friend’s Eddie’s journal. It’s been glowing and that first night some slimy, sticky little thief broke into his room to steal it. That is where we first meet Gum Baby. Every time Gum Baby speaks I hear Cardi B. I can’t help it. A wild chase results in an accidental hole in the sky when Tristan breaks a bottle from the bottle tree and falls through a hole.
The world below is in turmoil and the hole in the sky is just making things worse. Fetterlings are capturing the people in the land below and taking over all the land. Only a story teller will be able to put the land back to rights, as it will take a story boxl to get Anasi out of hiding. Then with some help from legends John Henry, Brer Rox, Brer Rabbit, and even High John, it will really be up to Tristan to help fix the hole he created and bring stories back to the land.
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.
#LitsyAtoZYA
#MountTBR
#ReadHarder
#booked2020 #spring
#readwithMrBook
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LibraryThing member sylliu
Tristan Strong is a seventh grader mourning the death of his best friend and resentful of being sent to his grandparents in the country when his friend's magical journal propels him into a land where African and African-American myths--Anansi, Brer Fox and Brer Rabbit, John Henry, gods and
This is a fast-paced, adventure- and heart-filled story that middle graders will enjoy greatly. It's the second book I've read in the Rick Riordan Presents series, and it's proven to be just as compelling. Highly recommend it!
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monsters, and more--come to life. But Tristan inadvertently punches a hole in the sky to this world, letting lose an evil haint that sets forth a destructive chain of events. Tristan discovers he is an Anansesem, a storyteller, and now must use his skills to repair the damage he's made, along with new allies, a hilarious, wisecracking Gum Baby and imposing gods and legends, This is a fast-paced, adventure- and heart-filled story that middle graders will enjoy greatly. It's the second book I've read in the Rick Riordan Presents series, and it's proven to be just as compelling. Highly recommend it!
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LibraryThing member Salsabrarian
Tristan grieves the death of best friend Eddie in a school bus accident, blaming himself for not coming to his rescue. His prized remembrance of Eddie is Eddie’s story journal, where they recorded stories of African and African-American folklore. But only Tristan seems to notice that the journal
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glows. One night he wakes up to see a doll-like figure trying to steal the journal. Tristan gives chase and in the process is sucked down into a fissure in the earth and lands in Midpass, a part of Alke. There he finds a world of creatures and humans living in fear of an odd evil that is tearing apart their world, and that chaos may be all Tristan’s fault. A fast-paced, action-packed incorporation of fantasy, superhero, and characters from African and African-American folklore. Gum Baby is the comic relief, the Tiffany Haddish of the book. Show Less
LibraryThing member oddandbookish
I received a copy of this book for free as part of an Instagram tour (Storygram Tours specifically) I did to promote the book.
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
Since this is the first book in a new series, it is a little slow. That is understandable since there is a lot of world building and set-up that needs to be done. The one thing it could have done better was developed some of the supporting characters more. Like I wanted to know more about Ayanna. I can tell there is more to her. However, I am sure this will be revealed in the coming books.
I really liked that there was a map included. Maps are always so helpful in reading fantasy books and makes it easy to follow the heroes on their journey.
I also liked how the author would slip in some important messages throughout the book. At one point John Henry is talking about the Jim Crow laws and states, “A lot of times those little facts get smudged cutoff the history books. If you gon’ tell a story, you better be sure you’re telling the right one” (pg 108). At another point the main character muses, “it was my job to carry the stories of the land to its people. All the stories. If we ignored the past, how would we learn from it” (pg 426). Both of these quotes are so important because they show the importance of learning history, both the good and the bad.
Overall, I thought this was a Strong start to a new Own Voices series. I am intrigued to see what happens next.
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
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mythology so it was fun to learn about it through reading this book. Since this is the first book in a new series, it is a little slow. That is understandable since there is a lot of world building and set-up that needs to be done. The one thing it could have done better was developed some of the supporting characters more. Like I wanted to know more about Ayanna. I can tell there is more to her. However, I am sure this will be revealed in the coming books.
I really liked that there was a map included. Maps are always so helpful in reading fantasy books and makes it easy to follow the heroes on their journey.
I also liked how the author would slip in some important messages throughout the book. At one point John Henry is talking about the Jim Crow laws and states, “A lot of times those little facts get smudged cutoff the history books. If you gon’ tell a story, you better be sure you’re telling the right one” (pg 108). At another point the main character muses, “it was my job to carry the stories of the land to its people. All the stories. If we ignored the past, how would we learn from it” (pg 426). Both of these quotes are so important because they show the importance of learning history, both the good and the bad.
Overall, I thought this was a Strong start to a new Own Voices series. I am intrigued to see what happens next.
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LibraryThing member ewyatt
Tristan loses his first boxing match. Still reeling from the death of his best friend, he is sent to spend time over the summer with his grandparents in Alabama. He has a gift in the form of his recently-deceased best friend's journal which reveals he has some powers. Soon Tristan finds himself
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embroiled in a war to save Gods, a whole population of people, and his self. African gods and African-American folk heroes are interwoven in this fantasy. One of my favorite characters was the sassy, irreverent Gum Baby. Show Less
LibraryThing member rgruberexcel
RGG: Exciting world-building, fun voice, cool stories but somehow the plot slogs along. Maybe Book 2 will be more engrossing. Reading Interest: 8-13.
LibraryThing member greeniezona
I bought this book on release day after following all the hype on twitter, and my kids picked it for bedtime story shortly thereafter.
This is one of those books that I think would have worked better reading at your own pace rather than as a read aloud book. I think reading it only one chapter at a
I remember reading about some of these stories and characters as a kid, and it was fun to see them again, all connected in one big story. I am very curious about some of these characters and how they will come back in the sequel — especially Tristan's family "in the real world." How will his adventures and heroics, mostly based in storytelling, affect his boxing bouts? his relationship to his family? It sounds like I am definitely here for book two. I suppose I should go ahead and pre-order!
It seems I am reading more and more Anansi stories, and I like it.
This is one of those books that I think would have worked better reading at your own pace rather than as a read aloud book. I think reading it only one chapter at a
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time broke up the momentum and undermined the urgency. Don't get me wrong, the kids enjoyed this story, I just think they might have gotten more excited if they'd been able to binge-read it. I remember reading about some of these stories and characters as a kid, and it was fun to see them again, all connected in one big story. I am very curious about some of these characters and how they will come back in the sequel — especially Tristan's family "in the real world." How will his adventures and heroics, mostly based in storytelling, affect his boxing bouts? his relationship to his family? It sounds like I am definitely here for book two. I suppose I should go ahead and pre-order!
It seems I am reading more and more Anansi stories, and I like it.
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LibraryThing member Jennifer_Long
Read it just for the experience of Gum Baby, but there is so much more. What a great start to a world built where new friendships, deception, and uncertainty come together in a compelling narrative.
LibraryThing member PagesandPieces
If you like Rick Riordan's books, you'll love this one. It's similar thematically to his books in the fact that a regular American teen gets thrust into the world of myth and Gods.
In this case, it's a mixture of African Gods and Black American folklore. We meet a sassy Gum Baby, an interesting
What really makes this book endearing is Tristan's fears and emotions and the inspiring way he overcomes challenges throughout the story. It is a longer book at 500ish pages, and some chapters and transitions are a bit choppy. My 13 year old, who is a reluctant reader, was assigned this book for his 8th grade Language Arts class. They read parts of it together and parts on their own. They tied it in with a folklore unit and read other versions of the Anansi tales and John Henry store along with the book. He struggled, but really encouraged me to read it. I think this choice was very culturally appropriate for the school district they are in compared to other folklore units. It's important for the stories children read to reflect the predominate demographic in the school. Students need to identify with the characters in their book. It's important to note that even though these stories are based on African myth, Tristan is a typical American child and his experiences are relatable to all young adults.
In this case, it's a mixture of African Gods and Black American folklore. We meet a sassy Gum Baby, an interesting
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version of Brer Rabbit, and a grumpy but lovable Brer Fox. We also meet John Henry with his epic hammer, Anansi the trickster/weaver, Nyame the Sky God and many others. Tristan and his crew are believable and deal with many feelings that young readers will identify with. The antagonist and creatures are wonderfully evil and creepy and the settings are unique and fantastical. What really makes this book endearing is Tristan's fears and emotions and the inspiring way he overcomes challenges throughout the story. It is a longer book at 500ish pages, and some chapters and transitions are a bit choppy. My 13 year old, who is a reluctant reader, was assigned this book for his 8th grade Language Arts class. They read parts of it together and parts on their own. They tied it in with a folklore unit and read other versions of the Anansi tales and John Henry store along with the book. He struggled, but really encouraged me to read it. I think this choice was very culturally appropriate for the school district they are in compared to other folklore units. It's important for the stories children read to reflect the predominate demographic in the school. Students need to identify with the characters in their book. It's important to note that even though these stories are based on African myth, Tristan is a typical American child and his experiences are relatable to all young adults.
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LibraryThing member AlbaArango
7th grader Tristan Strong is struggling with the recent death of his best friend Eddie, yet he can’t get himself to open Eddie’s journal, the only thing he has from his late friend. But after he arrives at his grandparents’ Alabama farm, strange things begin to happen. Eddie’s journal is
What I liked: loved reading and learning about African mythology and southern black folklore. Tristan was a great protagonist, wanting to be a hero, but struggling with fear. I also loved the underlying themes spread throughout, including dealing with grief, feelings of not living up to parents expectations, etc.
What I didn’t like: the book was way too long. There were many scenes that I thought could’ve been shorter, and that made reading the book drag on sometimes, but the story itself was definitely interesting enough to keep me going.
Definitely worth a read.
4 out of 5 stars
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stolen by a doll (yes, a doll), so Tristan chases the strange creature and ends up in a strange world, one in which the inhabitants are the characters from stories his Nana used to tell him. Except, this wasn’t a story. This was real. And so were the characters. And right now, they were in the middle of a war.What I liked: loved reading and learning about African mythology and southern black folklore. Tristan was a great protagonist, wanting to be a hero, but struggling with fear. I also loved the underlying themes spread throughout, including dealing with grief, feelings of not living up to parents expectations, etc.
What I didn’t like: the book was way too long. There were many scenes that I thought could’ve been shorter, and that made reading the book drag on sometimes, but the story itself was definitely interesting enough to keep me going.
Definitely worth a read.
4 out of 5 stars
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LibraryThing member HeidiSV
I enjoyed this book and the Hero's arc and journal are extremely presented and well done. It is a conversation style which annoyed me at first, but I do believe if I was reading this a young adult or a older children's reader I would have enjoyed it. Tristan was little too angry in my opinion, I
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understood why he was getting so frustrated at everything but he was a little too angry and they didn't really give the reader a chance to understand how to come out of that state. I definitely would recommend this book to a reader who lost a friend. They portrayed that feeling really well in my opinion. Show Less
LibraryThing member jennybeast
What an absolute delight -- hilarious, full of heart, stuffed with adventures, and a beautiful and thoughtful centering on African-American folklore. I mean really, I honestly don't see how this book could be improved, and Gum Baby is possibly one of the all time funniest characters I've ever
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encountered. I highly recommend the audio book version, which is extremely well done, and I can't wait to see what kind of trouble Tristan and Anansi get into next. Show Less
Awards
Texas Bluebonnet Award (Nominee — 2022)
Wyoming Indian Paintbrush Award (Nominee — 2024)
Young Hoosier Book Award (Nominee — Middle Grade — 2022)
Georgia Children's Book Award (Finalist — 2022)
Kentucky Bluegrass Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2022)
Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Reader's Choice Award (Nominee — Intermediate — 2022)
William Allen White Children's Book Award (Nominee — Grades 6-8 — 2022)
South Dakota Children's Book Awards (Almost Made It! — 2022)
Nutmeg Book Award (Nominee — Middle School — 2022)
Vermont Golden Dome Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
Coretta Scott King Award (Honor — 2020)
Blue Hen Book Award (Nominee — Middle Readers — 2022)
Louisiana Young Readers' Choice Award (Nominee — 2022)
NCSLMA Battle of the Books (Middle School — 2021)
Children's Africana Book Award (Winner — Older Readers — 2020)
Chesley Award (Nominee — 2020)
Lectio Book Award (Nominee — 2021)
YouPer Award (Honor — 2020)
Excellence in Graphic Literature Award (Finalist — 2023)
Three Stars Book Award (Nominee — Middle School — 2021)
CYBILS Awards (Winner — 2019)
Ignyte Award (Shortlist — Middle Grade — 2020)
Rhode Island Middle School Book Award (Nominee — 2022)
Charlotte Huck Award (Recommended Book — 2020)
CCBC Choices (2020)
Children's Favorites Awards (Selection — 2023)
Notable Children's Book (Older Readers — 2020)
Nerdy Book Award (Middle Grade Fiction — 2019)
Teacher Favorites Award (2023)
Penn GSE's Best Books for Young Readers (Selection — 2019)
Idaho Battle of the Books (2021)
El día de los niños / El día de los libros (6-8 — 2020)
Evanston Public Library 101 Great Books for Kids (Fiction — 2019)
Project LIT Book Selection (Middle Grade — 2021)
OYAN Book Rave (2020)
Chicago Public Library Best of the Best: Kids (Fiction for Older Readers — 2019)
Language
Original language
English
Original publication date
2019
Physical description
528 p.; 7.55 inches
ISBN
1368042414 / 9781368042413