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A review by aprildiamond
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
5.0
I was originally thinking this was more of a 4.5 stars but then a scene actually made me cry so here we are.
This book manages to be reminiscent of the best parts of the Percy Jackson series, while also carving out its own, unique identity. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love stories based on mythology and this one is no exception. It's here that this book sets itself apart - just like with Percy Jackson, the god/goddess characters all have distinct personalities that flesh them out, but they are different and completely their own. (High John is the best don't @ me).
Tristan was an incredibly complex protagonist. His emotions were so valid and real in regards to what he was going through and what he had already gone through. I didn't expect to relate to Tristan as much as I did, and my story is completely different from his. That's how well he was written. And his long journey towards becoming a hero is somehow more remarkable than if he had just accepted it and gone with the flow.
I already mentioned that this book made me cry, but it also cracked me up numerous times. So much of the dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny, which I wasn't expecting, and Tristan's inner monologue kept me well-entertained, even during serious parts.
The secondary cast of characters were also very cool, and I hope that in future books we get to see more of them/their backgrounds and stories (hopefully speaking it into existence here!)
Plotwise, the book isn't completely new (the characters are on a quest to save the world) but the world itself is, and that's what matters. For example, storytelling having so much power. That was incredible. The way that Tristan told stories was SO HYPE for no reason and became one of my favorite parts of the book.
Let's also take a moment to appreciate the twist at the end there. I had one realization, thought I had figured it out, and then had ANOTHER one after that. I was shook twice.
Final thoughts: this book is so important in terms of representation in middle-grade books and it's also a really strong story all around. Definitely recommend.
(Can't wait for the sequel/sequels!)
This book manages to be reminiscent of the best parts of the Percy Jackson series, while also carving out its own, unique identity. I've said it before and I'll say it again, I love stories based on mythology and this one is no exception. It's here that this book sets itself apart - just like with Percy Jackson, the god/goddess characters all have distinct personalities that flesh them out, but they are different and completely their own. (High John is the best don't @ me).
Tristan was an incredibly complex protagonist. His emotions were so valid and real in regards to what he was going through and what he had already gone through. I didn't expect to relate to Tristan as much as I did, and my story is completely different from his. That's how well he was written. And his long journey towards becoming a hero is somehow more remarkable than if he had just accepted it and gone with the flow.
I already mentioned that this book made me cry, but it also cracked me up numerous times. So much of the dialogue was laugh-out-loud funny, which I wasn't expecting, and Tristan's inner monologue kept me well-entertained, even during serious parts.
The secondary cast of characters were also very cool, and I hope that in future books we get to see more of them/their backgrounds and stories (hopefully speaking it into existence here!)
Plotwise, the book isn't completely new (the characters are on a quest to save the world) but the world itself is, and that's what matters. For example, storytelling having so much power. That was incredible. The way that Tristan told stories was SO HYPE for no reason and became one of my favorite parts of the book.
Let's also take a moment to appreciate the twist at the end there. I had one realization, thought I had figured it out, and then had ANOTHER one after that. I was shook twice.
Final thoughts: this book is so important in terms of representation in middle-grade books and it's also a really strong story all around. Definitely recommend.
(Can't wait for the sequel/sequels!)