Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Graphic Novel

This graphic novel adaptation brings Kwame Mbalia's award-winning fantasy-adventure to life, following seventh-grader Tristan Strong. Grieving the loss of his best friend, Tristan is sent to his grandparents' farm where he accidentally punches a hole into Alke, a world populated by African American folk heroes and West African gods. He must overcome his guilt and self-doubt to help these mythical figures fight iron monsters and save their world, all while discovering his own powerful storytelling abilities. It's a rich narrative exploring grief, identity, and the power of cultural heritage, perfect for readers aged 8-12.

The best-selling and awarding-winning novel about a Black boy who helps folk heroes and gods through storytelling is now a dynamic graphic novel! The talented team of Robert Venditti and Olivia Stephens brings to glorious full color the novel that best-selling author Jason Reynolds called "A brilliant action adventure rooted in African American lore." 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 loves? Find out by diving into this stunning graphic novel adaptation of the original book. Complete your graphic novel collection with these fan favorites: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, adapted by Robert Venditti The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, adapted by Orpheus Collar The Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, adapted by Robert Venditti Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, adapted by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi, adapted by Joe Caramanga, illustrated by Anu Chouhan