#Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky | Explore Tumblr Posts and Blogs

theboyatthebustop · 2 days

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Would you believe me if I said all of these graphic novel adaptations (except for the whatever after one) came out in 2022?

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oliveoilcorp · 1 year

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Some old character sheets from my art test for the Tristan Strong GN.

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anaja-theratbird · 1 year

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I never realized how hard it can be to find Black books that aren't about slavery or discrimination until I went looking for a birthday present for my friend.

I recommend Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. I didn't read all of Tristan and know there are enemies that are shackles, but the story overall is about a boy falling into a fantasy world of African folklore.

The Black character isn't the protagonist in Unicorn, but she's among the best.

#tristan strong punches a hole in the sky #kwame mbalia #skandar and the unicorn thief #a.f. steadman #books

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semper-legens · 1 year

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69. Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky, by Kwame Mbalia

Owned: No, library Page count: Unknown/not numbered My summary: Tristan Strong is going through it. He lost his friend, he lost his first boxing match, and he’s been sent to live with his strict grandparents in the middle of nowhere. So when a strange little creature sneaks into the window and steals the last thing he has to remember his friend by, he’s determined to get it back. Soon he finds himself drawn into a mystical world where myths are true and a deadly war is waging. But he can’t do anything to help...right? My rating: 3.5/5 My commentary:

This was another random impulse pull, albeit one that I totally would have picked up if it existed when I was a kid. It's published under Rick Riordan's label, and it lives up to the implicit promise of the Riordan name by being primarily based around folklore. In this case, African-American folklore - specifically stories about Anansi, John the Conqueror, the Flying Africans, the Gum Baby, and more. This is a graphic novel adaptation of the original book, which I have not read, so I'm going to judge it on its own merits rather than as an adaptation. And how does it fare? Pretty well, by my estimation!

Our hero, Tristan Strong, is eminently likeable. In the early pages, we learn that he's failing to live up to his family's expectations of becoming a boxer, and mourning the death of his friend Eddie, who was collecting folklore and mythology in a journal. Poor Tristan is hurting - he's full of survivor's guilt that makes him reluctant to engage with anything beyond finding the journal, which has been stolen by Gum Baby. (Who is, by the way, ridiculously likeable.) In trying to get it back, he releases a haint from a bottle tree, then falls into the world of Alke where these myths are true. Tristan's a very sympathetic hero. He's got that core of strength and resilience, but has realistic human flaws and failings. His reluctance to get involved and grief over his friends are very real emotions, and his arc from discouraged kid to hero is both engaging and satisfying. Tristan is an Ananseem, a storyteller who can affect reality with his words. Longtime readers of this blog will know that I just love stories about stories, and this one does not disappoint. It's particularly relevant given how African and African-American stories were forbidden by the white captors of enslaved people; Tristan is both connecting with his dead friend by telling the stories, and connecting with wider African-American culture.

Speaking of, the stories! The folklore used in this book will be familiar to anyone with a passing knowledge of African-American myth and legend - Brer Fox, Anansi, Gum Baby, haints - with some new additions to build the world of Alke. These include the Fetterlings, living chains that attempt to capture the heroes, brand flies, which burn those around them, and Uncle Cotton, who leads the Bone Ships. Yeah, this isn't exactly subtle, but I don't think it's to the story's detriment. After all, it's aimed at younger readers, and it still makes the point well enough. The horrors that enslaved people experienced are memorialised as much as the gods and heroes of their culture; both sides of the experience are represented here.

My only real criticism of this one is that the pacing felt a bit too fast in most places - the narrative didn't really have a lot of room to breathe. I wonder, though, if that's a result of the adaptation more than a fault of the original. Graphic novels have fewer pages to work with, after all. The art, however, was stunning, a realistic style that reminded me of modern superhero comics while still being able to carry the more fantastical or emotional beats. It's a good little read! I might see if I can track down the original at some point, just to compare.

Next up, back into history, and to my historical problematic fave Charles I.

#Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky #Kwame Mbalia #bookblr #book blog #book blogger #3.5

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the-wanderer · 1 year

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"You know, ifs are pretty powerful. You can collect them like a lazy man collects excuses. If this, if that. If I can't, if I could. Better watch it...or you'll build yourself a wall of ifs you can't get around.

- Tristan Strong Destroys the World

#quote #book quote #true quotes #quotes #life quote #tristan strong #tristan strong punches a hole in the sky #tristan strong destroys the world #kwame mbalia

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kingsbridgelibraryteens · 2 years

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Middle School Monday: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel by Kwame Mbalia, adapted by Robert Venditti, illustrated by Olivia Stephens

One bus accident completely changed Tristan’s life, because he survived while his best friend Eddie died. When Tristan goes to stay with his grandparents in Alabama, he brings Eddie’s journal, but he has no idea that the journal is going to put his life in danger. Tristan is filled with anger and guilt, but soon he is distracted by some of the strange things happening around him. When Tristan meets characters from African and African American folklore, like Anansi the spider and John Henry, this is just the beginning of a very dangerous adventure.

This book is part of the “Rick Riordan Presents” series, and it will definitely inspire Riordan fans to explore a different kind of “ordinary kids meet mythological characters” story. Give this book to older kids and younger teens who love imaginative adventures, and any readers who want to expand their understanding of mythology and folklore!

#Middle School Monday #Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky The Graphic Novel #Kwame Mbalia #Robert Venditti #Olivia Stephens #graphic novels #weneeddiversebooks #folklore #Kid Lit #Kingsbridge Library #NYPL

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black-is-beautiful18 · 4 months

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Fourth Wing never was and never will be a BIPOC book. Stop saying that cuz trying to insinuate that white books are BIPOC is honestly insulting. What part of Black, Indigenous, People of Color don’t y’all understand??? If the author falls under that category then then it is a BIPOC book. Percy Jackson isn’t BIPOC. If the author is white then it is not BIPOC!!!! Iron Widow, LegendBorn, The Blood Trials, So Let Them Burn, The Poppy War, Gods of Jade and Shadow, Looking For Smoke, A Blade So Black, Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky. Those are BIPOC books. Y’all need to get it together and quickly.

#bipoc authors #bipoc books #rebecca yarros is a zionist #we don’t want her over here #white readers #indigenous authors #latino authors #asian authors #black authors #unique writes

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bookaddict24-7 · 3 months

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BOOKS ON MY TBR SHELVES BY BLACK AUTHORS:

Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman

American Dreamer by Adriana Herrera

Black Girl Unlimited by Echo Brown

The Roommate Risk by Talia Hibbert

Honey Girl by Morgan Rogers

Rosewater by Tade Thompson

Cool. Awkward. Black. by Various

Ace of Spades by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

No Gods. No Monsters. by Cadwell Turnbull

Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

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Have you read any of these books? Are any on your TBR?

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Happy reading!

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mikeymagee · 2 years

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Black Panther PSA

To whomever it may concern...you guys know it’s possible to mourn and be upset about Chadwick/T’challa WITHOUT disparaging Black women...right?

Because I can’t go onto ANY T’challa thread without someone throwing shade at Black women or saying that little Black boys don’t have any heroes to look up to any longer and it’s making me avoid all the places I used to go to for nice T’challa discussions.

And for anyone who thinks little boys don’t have any positive Black superheroes to look up, here’s a list of future MCU films/shows that are starring Black men:

1. War Machine film

2. Nick Fury’s Secret Invasion

3. Sam Wilson’s Captain America: New World Order

4. Blade starring Mahershala Ali (and yes, this film is still happening)

5. Into The Spiderverse Sequel with Miles Morales

Not to mention plenty of the previous movies/Shows that star Black men such as Luke Cage, Cloak and Dagger, Black Lightning, Static Shock, Wesley Snipes’s Blade, Spawn and the films where Black men are still important parts of the narrative like Batwoman, Supergirl, Eternals etc...

AND we still have the various books/comics/graphic novels that star Black men. Anyone who wants more T’challa should consider reading Ronald L. Smith’s YA series Black Panther: The Young Prince. There are 3 books in total. And even outside of Marvel and DC there’s tons of YA books such as Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky or the Imaro series. There are PLENTY of outlets for young Black boys to see empowering images of themselves

I’m just kind of sick of this whole misogynoir that has reared its ugly head in the Black Panther/MCU fandom. Yes, I am heartbroken about Chadwick but that does not give ya’ll permission to shit on Shuri, Romanda, Nakia, Okoye and the entire Dora Milaje.

If your pro-Blackness does not include Black women, Black Queers, Black Neurodivergent people, Black people with disabilities, etc, then it’s not pro-Blackness.

ALSO: WTF IS WRONG WITH LITTLE BLACK BOYS LOOKING UP TO BLACK WOMEN AND BLACK GIRLS?

#black panther #shuri #wakanda forever #t'challa #Chadwick Boseman #mcu #misogynoir

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lnights · 4 months

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Thanks for tagging me @another-sun 🖤

Star Sign: Aquarius ♒

favourite holiday: Halloween, love an excuse to dress up!

last meal: chicken divan

current favourite musician: Sleep Token and St Aurora, I've been cycling between them.

Last music I listened to: Alkaline - Sleep Token

last movie i watched: Barbie finally lol

last tv show i watched: Percy Jackson and the Olympians

last book finished: Mistakes Were Made (thanks @punk-gremlin 💕)

last book abandoned: Tristan Strong punches a hole in the Sky, it's just on the stand by the couch mocking me

currently reading: fanfiction

last thing researched for writing/art: if book illustrators have agents

favourite fandom online memory: ummm idk probably just everyone laughing or being horny over photos of the blorbos, it's just fun reading everyone's comments.

temping project you're trying to reign in/don't have time for: I'm thinking of febwhump but I'm not feeling the prompts, otherwise there's marchinony that I think I'll do!

Tagging @punk-gremlin @i-love-the-smell-of-your-blood @kaunisbaby @mondscheinprinzessin @jupiter-balls @lonelyvomit @samyelbanette @askeataiho @arsonist-chicken @goth-automaton

#im an awkward 🦇#tag games

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oliveoilcorp · 2 years

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hello again

Given the current Twitter kerfuffle, I've remade my account here for sharing art and staying in touch with friends!

My Website

Patreon

Instagram

Twitter

Newsletter

My name is Olivia Stephens and I am a graphic novelist and comics writer. I am the creator of the middle-grade werewolf graphic novel ARTIE AND THE WOLF MOON.

I'm also the illustrator for TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY: THE GRAPHIC NOVEL, and I'm the writer for THE TIGER'S TONGUE, a limited fantasy series from Mad Cave Studios.

Currently, I'm at work on DARLIN’ AND HER OTHER NAMES, a werewolf-western-horror-romance comic split into several parts. The first part, Marta, is 80+ pages long and will be made available for purchase as a digital PDF download in early 2023:

That's about it for now! I'll be slowly reposting art from the past several years here, and sharing progress on my new stuff, too!

If you want to support my current project and get access to a bunch of behind-the-scenes work, you can subscribe to my Patreon for $1+/month!

#my art #artists on tumblr #graphic novel #webcomic #indie comics #artie and the wolf moon #tristan strong punches a hole in the sky #darlin' and her other names #original character #illustrator #writer #werewolf #werewolves #horror #cryptid #halloween

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brerrabbit-comics · 1 year

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Recommended reading.. 🦊🐰

#brer rabbit #brer fox #song of the south #disney #brer bear #splash mountain #comics #cartoon #brerfox #disney animation

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blackchildrensbooksandauthors · 2 years

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Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (The Graphic Novel)

Kwame Mbalia

Robert Venditti

Olivia Stephens

Rick Riordan Presents

#our stories matter #black books #black tumblr #black authors #black children's books

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sistahscifi · 1 year

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Check out our GROWING list of signed books that are in stock. 🤩

The City We Became & The World We Make

#nkjemisin

@orbitbooks_us

Speculation

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Delicious Monsters

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Black Candle Women

@diane_marie_brown

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Africa Risen: A New Era of Speculative Fiction

@shereereneethomas

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Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky Trilogy (Hardcover)

@mbalia1

The Union

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@amazonpublishing

We are the Scribes

@randi_pink

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To Boldly Go: How Nichelle Nichols And Star Trek Helped Advance Civil Rights

Author @angeladalton_author

@harpercollins

The Legendborn Cycle

@tracydeonn

@simonandschuster

The Broken Earth Trilogy

#nkjemisin

@orbitbooks_us

Black Hollywood: Reimagining Iconic Movie Moments

(ONLY 1 LEFT!)

@carellaugustus_

@sourcebooksfire

Dread Nation & Deathless Divide

@justina.ireland

@balzerandbray

If you have not already read any of these great titles OR if you see one of your favorite authors listed, you can purchase your signed copy from our @Shopify, @Instagram, @Facebook, @TikTok, @Twitter, @Librofm and @Pinterest stores. Link in bio: @SistahScifi.

#sistahscifi #signedbooks #OctaviaEButler #TheBrokenEarth #ParableoftheSower

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mo0124 · 1 year

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~february 2023 reading wrap-up~ hello loves!! this month i procrastinated so much on school and work, and instead i read sooo much. so here is a brief recap of what i read!

Total Books: 24 | Re-Reads: 2 | Average Rating: 4.06 ★ | Overall 2023 Reading Goal: 40/50

note: if you read further,, there will be some minor spoilers. also if you decide to pick any of them up make sure to check the trigger warnings. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

#1 - Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, Vol. 2 by Aidalro Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Physical this manga series is continuing in such a fun and interesting way. there is a development in the romance and found family,, and I LOVE the found family in this series. #2 - Fade by Tanya Saracho Rating: 3★ | Format Read: E-Book this play was okay, there is some interesting commentary on the characters LatinX identities and those parts were engaging. i felt like the ending was predictable. my rating might change if i saw this staged. #3 - Kaguya-Sama: Love Is War, Vol. 3 by Aka Akasaka Rating: 4.5★ | Format Read: Physical it's been sooo long since i continued this story, and i'm so glad i picked it back-up. great deepening of romance and friendships. definitely need to continue this series.

#4 - The Tradition by Jericho Brown Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Physical this poetry collection is absolutely beautiful. and exploration of race, love, queerness, rape, and so much more. my favorite poems were: Trojan, As a Human being, and Bullet Points

#5 - Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Rating: 4.5★ | Format Read: Physical wonderful non-fiction discussion of indigenous wisdom and scientific information. there were a few mentions of pretty traditional roles (that she believes in for herself) that i didn't love. but overall it was beautiful written and had a lot of wisdom.

#6 - Uncomfortable Conversations With A Black Man by Emmanuel Ocho Rating: 4.5★ | Format Read: Audio this is a very palatable non-fiction about racism that black people face in america. for white people who haven't done any anti-racism work, i highly recommend.

#7 - The Son Of Neptune by Rick Riordan Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Audio i love this book, i love the new camp and this trio. hazel and frank have my whole heart.

#8 - Gruesome Playground Injuries by Rajiv Joseph Rating: 1.5★ | Format Read: E-Book i did not like this play at all but i had to read it for class so i finished it. it is a glamorization of abusive relationships that are built on an idealization of self-harm. the only reason it wasn't a 1-star was because there is the use of a cool narrative tool of jumping around in time through traumatic events that connect the characters. but besides that it made me physically ill because it made me so upset.

#9 - Electric Arches by Eve L. Ewing Rating: 4★ | Format Read: Physical this is a beautiful collection of poetry, prose, and visual art that explores black womanhood. i wish it was longer. my favorite quote was: "i wanted a map not to know where things are but to know where i am." #10 - Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky by Kwame Mbalia Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Audio i have had this middle-grade on my tbr for sooo long and i kept procrastinating,, and why did i keep myself from this gem for so long?? love the characters, the world-building, and the important topics discussed.

#11 - I'm Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness by Austin Channing Brown Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Audio amazing non-fiction that focuses on the intersectionality of black womanhood. it is wonderful to hear her experiences and she needs to write more because it is so good.

#12 - Stage Management Theory As A Guide To Practice: Cultivating a Creative Approach by Lisa Porter and Narda E. Alcorn Rating: 3.5★ | Format Read: E-Book i had to read this for class, but it was interesting. full of a lot of great theory about stage management/organizing people. i wish there was more pracitcal advice.

#13 - The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches by Sangu Mandanna Rating: 4.5★ | Format Read: Audio this book was so wonderful. it is as if the book "Nothing To See Here" had a cozy baby. and the romance?? i was crushing on the love interest sooo much.

#14 - Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia Rating: 3.5★ | Format Read: Audio i didn't love the addition of the new technology in this book, and all the gods are the worst in this book. the antagonist in this book was cool though and the ending was interesting. opptimistic for the last book, but this was kind of a let down compared to the last one (for me).

#15 - Wash Day Dairies by Jamila Rowser Rating: 4★ | Format Read: E-Book this is such a cute graphic novel about love, friendship, family, and health.

#16 - The Mark of Athena by Rick Riordan Rating: 4.5★ | Format Read: Audio re-read for me, i love this book but it is probably my least favorite in the heroes of olympus... obviously, i love *and hate* the ending, percabeth, and the group dynamics... but they use the word "schizophrenic" to describe the gods in this novel and that feels icky.

#17 - Toilet-Bound Hanako-Kun, Vol. 3 by Aidarlo Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Physical and the series is still good... this volume has lots of great backstory and a good cliff-hanger.

#18- Don't Cry For Me: A Novel by Daniel Black Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Audio this is a retelling of a man's life through letters to his son, an exploration of black manhood, familial trauma, homophobia, and relationships. i have to re-read it physically so i can annotate it.

#19 - How The Word Is Passed by Clint Smith Rating: 5★ | Format Read: Physical a must-read non-fiction about different locations across the united states and their history of slavery and racial segregation and how that history is hidden and changed.

#20 - Off-Headset: Essay on Stage Management Work, Life, and Career by Christopher Sadler and Rafael Jaen Rating: 3★ | Format Read: E-Book another read for class, and it was okay. since it's by a bunch of different authors the quality varies and some parts are very repetitive.

#21 - Cinderella Is Dead by Kalynn Bayron Rating: 2.5★ | Format Read: Audio when i explained this plot to my roommate she said it sounded like shrek 2 fan-ficiton... anyways, even though it was published in 2020 it felt very early 2010's with the main characters "not like other girls" energy. i liked having a sapphic character, and i wanted to love her romances but it is so much of insta-love. cool villian, but the magic system is not at all what i was expecting.

#22 - What A Match by Mimi Grace Rating: 3★ | Format Read: E-Book i have the biggest crushes on characters in this book. the plot is a little all over the place, but if you just want a fun romance reed i recommend it.

#23 - Consumed: The Need For Collective Change: Colonialism, Climate Change, and Consumerism by Aja Barber Rating: 4★ | Format Read: E-Book overall lots of wonderful information about fashion consumption, it is a little disorganized but provides good intersectional discussion. i wish it would have discussed the use of prison labor and the problems with that, but that might need to be an entirely separate book.

#24 - Nick and Charlie by Alice Oseman Rating: 3★ | Format Read: E-Book sadly, this is my least favorite story in the osemanverse that I have read... nick and charlie felt extremely out of character, and i hate this miscommunication trope and that is what this is. i do still love the writing and the ending was cute.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ if you read this far thank you so much <3 share what you have read recently ~mo

#2023 reading list #books #book recommendations #wrap up #heroes of olympus #nonfiction #alice oseman #toilet bound hanako kun #kaguya sama love is war #theatre #scripts #poetry #manga

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magicandmayhem626 · 1 year

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BHM booklist

Hello my darlings. As Black History Month here in the US comes to a close I would like to give a list of thirteen middle grade and ya books for those wonderful book lovers! Please enjoy!

1. Raybearer by Jordan Ifueko

2. Tristan Strong Punches A Hole In The Sky by Kwame Mbalia

3. Cool. Awkward. Black edited by Karen Strong

4. Concrete Rose by Angie Thomas

5. Maya And The Rising Dark by Rena Barron

6. Amari And The Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

7. Wings Of Ebony by J. Elle

8. Reggie And Delilah’s Year Of Falling by Elise Bryant

9. Proud by Ibtihaj Muhammad

10. Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega

11. Stamped From The Beginning by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

12. Not All Boys Are Blue by George M. Johnson

13. Children Of Blood And Bone by Tomi Adeyemi

#bhm2023 #bhm fiction #book recommendations #black authors #black books #middle grade #young adult books

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