5 Reasons Why Tristan Strong Should Be Your Next Read-Aloud Choice

Anybody that has spent time with upper elementary or middle school students has heard of Percy Jackson. If you haven’t personally read the books yet, you at least know the basics - a young boy finds out he has deep connections with Ancient Greek and Roman demigods and mythology. It’s a very popular series, one that has made millions for Rick Riordan. But a new young teen hero has come on the scene to give Percy a run for his money. Meet Tristan Strong.

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The novel Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia has a similar feel to the Percy Jackson books, but takes things up a notch or two. It should definitely be your next read-aloud choice for your class or maybe even a selection for lit circle groups. Here are my top five reasons.

Photo by NeONBRAND on Unsplash

1 - Tristan is going through some really traumatic things that students can identify with. He has recently lost his bestie Eddie in a horrible bus accident and keeps having the recurring memory of his friend reaching out to him from beneath the rubble pleading to be saved. It’s truly heart wrenching (but not too graphic) and kids will be drawn to a character that seems so broken. Tristan’s dad and grandfather have also pushed him into the family sport of boxing but when he loses his first match, he fears he will not be carrying on this legacy. To top it all off, he is being sent away to spend the summer living with his grandparents. Is there a worse fate for any 7th grader? Kids will enjoy rolling their eyes with this main character during his car ride to Alabama.

Adinkra symbol from 
African mythology 
from kissclipart.com

2 - The characters in this book are extremely colorful and teach readers about African mythology and African -American folklore. Books about Zeus and Poseidon are a dime a dozen, but when was the last time your students read about people like John Henry, Anansi the spider god, or Brer Rabbit? Maybe they have heard short versions of stories with these characters, but this novel really brings them to life. And I suspect for many students, this will open their eyes to stories from a culture very different than their own. I for one had not even heard of many of these African deities and was fascinated to see them in a story full of so much action. It’s time to put Athena aside!

3. Practically each chapter ends on a cliffhanger so it makes a great read-aloud option to keep your students engaged. Don’t you just love to hear kids scream, “One more chapter!”? You might even find yourself continuing to the next part of the saga because you don’t want to put it down. These cliffhangers don’t leave you hanging for too long either. Many are resolved or answered as soon as you flip the page, but by then you are committed to reading just one more.

4 Kwame Mbalia is an excellent writer from a literary standpoint. This is not full of high-drama fluff to pull in the kids. Readers will see great examples of figurative language and literary elements that can be used for teachable moments throughout the book. Pause and have a debate about the imagery. Talk through the allusion and explain who it is and what it refers to. Who doesn’t love a good discussion on Onomatopoeia? Chapter after chapter offers examples that can truly be used as models for young budding writers.

5. And finally, the book ends with closure but also sets things up for a possible sequel. Loose ends are tied up, bad guys are revealed and punished, and our hero is heroic. No spoilers here, but just know that Mbalia is already working on a #2 so that could set up your classroom for another book to read down the road.

You should totally read Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky with your class. It is a heartwarming novel that teaches about another culture so different from the Greco-Romans many students are already so familiar with. You won’t want to put it down unless it is just for a moment to help the class discuss.

I really think you and your students will love this book. And to help you with those classroom chats, try out these FREE chapter discussion questions.

Click here for FREE Tristan Strong Discussion Questions