Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky (Tristan Strong #1)

Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky is the debut novel of Kwame Mbalia. Published in 2019 by "Rick Riordan Presents", the middle grade novel is focused on African American folktales and West African mythology. The story follows teenager Tristan Strong, who is often urged to be a boxer by his family. After his friend Eddie's death, Tristan goes to live with his grandparents on their farm to deal with his anxiety, bringing only a small amount of luggage and Eddie's old journal. Like many of the other works in the "Rick Riordan Presents" imprint, the book, which is the first in Mbalia's Tristan Strong series, has been praised for its diverse representation of characters and mythological deities, as well as its plot and character development.