Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky 

• Genre: Fiction; middle grade fantasy 
• Originally Published: 2019 
• Reading Level/Interest: Lexile HL680L; grades 4-7 
• Structure/Length: 51 chapters; approximately 528 pages; approximately 10 hours, 57 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The protagonist, Tristan Strong, is a seventh grader who accidentally creates a rift into a world where African American folk heroes and West African gods are real. The central conflict revolves around Tristan’s quest to retrieve an important stolen story and his journey of self-discovery, bravery, and healing after the loss of his best friend. 
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Grief and loss; fantasy violence; elements of African and African American folklore; references to slavery

Kwame Mbalia, Author 

• Bio: American author known for blending African American folklore and African mythology with contemporary fantasy storytelling; employs creativity, humor, and the representation of an African American protagonist in the Tristan Strong series 
• Other Works: Tristan Strong Destroys the World (2020); Tristan Strong Keeps Punching (2021)
• Awards: Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book (2020); Children’s Africana Book Award for Best Book for Older Readers (2020)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Cultural Context of Black Folklore
• The Power of Storytelling
• The Black Hero’s Journey

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the cultural contexts regarding folktales and heroes that connect to Tristan’s conflicts.