Tristan Strong – BookBunnies

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia

Caramel has already reviewed the first two books of Kwame Mbalia’s Tristan Strong series: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky and Tristan Strong Destroys the World. (In case you are curious, he also reviewed the graphic novel adaptation of the first book.) Today he talks to Sprinkles about the third and last book in this trilogy: Tristan Strong Keeps Punching, published first in 2021.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, this is the third book about Tristan Strong.

Caramel: Well, actually it is the fourth one I read. I did read the graphic novel version of the first book, too, remember?

S: True. Anyways, this is the last book in the trilogy, right?

C: Yes.

S: So tell us a bit about it then.

C: It starts off with him burning. Spontaneously combusting!

S: Wait, those are big words! And who is burning? Tristan?

C: Yep.

S: Wait, how? Why?

C: Magic? I think it is magic.

S: Hmm, so you are not quite sure.

C: Okay, now that I think a bit more about it, I am pretty sure it is magic.

S: Okay…

C: Well, so I am exaggerating a bit. But anyways there is some flames coming from his knuckles.

S: Alright. So is the whole story about his inflamed knuckles?

C: No. It is again about him versus some baddies from the other world. There is a particular villain, named King Cotton, and we met him in the first book already.

S: You did not mention him back then.

C: Well, I probably should have. Anyways the guy is just evil, and he is the main villain in this book. Where is New Orleans?

S: It is in Louisiana. Why do you ask?

C: Because in this book, Tristan is not in Alabama but visiting New Orleans with his family.

S: New Orleans has a very unique history. So what happens in New Orleans?

C: Tristan figures out that King Cotton is back in the real world and causing mischief. And both Tristan and his friends are in danger.

S: I see. That means more excitement and adventure, I suppose.

C: Yes.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia. — Caramel is reading *Tristan Strong Keeps Punching* by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, so I think you read this book rather fast too.

C: I am a fast reader Sprinkles.

S: That is true. But this is again a big book. How many pages is it?

C: Let me see. 406 pages.

S: That is not bad! And I think you finished in a day or two at most.

C: I think it was one day.

S: School had not started yet then.

C: Yes. That is true.

S: Anyways, that is pretty impressive Caramel.

C: Well it is a good book, and it is very easy to read. You want to read it to know what’s going to happen next. And it is fast paced, and just fun to read.

S: I think that it is a good book for you then!

C: Yes, for me and for any other bunnies who like books about adventures in mythological lands!

S: That sounds almost like a book blurb, Caramel!

C: What’s a book blurb?

S: You know those sentences they have at the back cover of a book advertising it?

C: I see. Blurb is a funny word! Blurb! Blurb!

S: You are right, it is a funny word. Especially if you keep saying it like that.

C: Blurb.

S: Okay, I think you said it enough times.

C: Okay I will stop. Right after this: Blurb blurb blurb! Blurb.

S: Okay. Maybe this means we have come to the end of this review.

C: Maybe. And … blurb!

S: Alright. So let us wrap things up then. If you were to describe this whole series to someone, how would you do it?

C: Blurb!

S: Seriously!

C: Okay, seriously, here goes: magical adventures in and out of this world.

S: I like that!

C: Really? Do you think it would make a good-

S: Don’t say it!

C: -blurb?

S: Okay, I think I deserved that. Okay, let us wrap it up then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews! And that would make a good blurb!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Keeps Punching by Kwame Mbalia and recommends the trilogy to other young bunnies who love to read mythological adventures. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tristan Strong Keeps Punching* by Kwame Mbalia and recommends the trilogy to other young bunnies who love to read mythological adventures.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

Earlier this year Caramel reviewed the graphic novel version of Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. A few weeks later he sat down and read the original book and reviewed it for the book bunnies blog. Today he is talking about the second book in the series, Tristan Strong Destroys the World, first published in 2020. As usual Sprinkles is taking notes and asking followup questions.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, I remember you read and really enjoyed Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. This is a sequel of sorts, right? Can you tell us the main story?

Caramel: I can, yes; the question is: will I?

S: Okay, I can see you are going to be a bit cheeky today.

C: Yes.

S: Alright, cheeky is fine but we do have a review to post. So please tell me a bit about the book.

C: Okay. This book is about Tristan Strong, who was the main character in the first book. He is still in Alabama, living with his grandparents. In the first book he punched a hole in the sky and traveled into a world of magic and myth called Alke. In this book his grandma gets kidnapped in the real world. So Tristan goes to this other world to get help.

S: Is the kidnapping related to Tristan’s actions in this other world?

C: Yes. A bad creature from that other world is the one who kidnaps the grandma. So Tristan Strong asks for help from Gum Baby.

S: I remember you said Gum Baby was really annoying.

C: She is a little, yeah, but she is now a good friend to Tristan. So there is that.

S: I see. So do we meet any new mythological characters?

C: Yes, one particular one, but I can’t tell you.

S: Why? Because he is the villain?

C: I can neither confirm nor deny. I retain the right to remain silent.

S: Hmm, that sounds suspicious, but I will not push you further in this direction.

C: Don’t.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia. — Caramel is reading *Tristan Strong Destroys the World* by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, then. What else will you tell us about the book?

C: It is again a very long book. It has 390 pages!

S: That is a long book, especially for a little bunny like you!

C: But it is very exciting so I read it very fast.

S: Oh that sounds good!

C: Yes. I think the book is very good. I especially like Tristan Strong. He is funny. And he likes his grandma a lot. I like my grandmas a lot too. I have two!

S: Yes, you are lucky that way! So do we get to meet the grandma before or after she is kidnapped?

C: Both. But I won’t say too much more so I do not spoil things.

S: Well, I imagine Tristan Strong and Gum Baby will save the grandma, but maybe it is okay if you do not say it explicitly.

C: Thank you.

S: Alright. What else do you want to tell us?

C: I really liked the book. But it ends with a cliffhanger again! So now I have to read the third book.

S: I see. But is the main story of the book tied up well enough at least?

C: Yes.

S: So if you were to describe the book in three to five words, what would you say?

C: Fun, fast-paced read about an adventure full of myth and legend.

S: Hmm, I think that is quite a few words more than I asked for, but that is alright. So let us wrap up this review. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia and is curious about what Tristan will do next. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tristan Strong Destroys the World* by Kwame Mbalia and is curious about what Tristan will do next.

Caramel reviews Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

A couple weeks ago Caramel reviewed Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky: The Graphic Novel by Kwame Mbalia. Then he decided he would check out the original book. Today he talks to Sprinkles about the book that started it all: Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, first published in 2019.

Sprinkles: So Caramel, you ended up reading the whole book!

Caramel: Yes.

S: It is a very long book!

C: Yep. It is 482 pages!

S: Wow! This might be the longest book you have ever read!

C: I don’t know. It might be. Wait, maybe some of the Harry Potter books were actually longer.

S: You might be right. Still, I’m guessing you must have liked this book a lot to be able to read such a long book.

C: Yep, I did.

S: Okay, so tell us a bit about the book then. Maybe assume we have not read the graphic novel version or your review of it.

C: Okay. Tristan Strong is a boy going to seventh grade. His best friend Eddie dies in a traffic accident, and he is sent to live with his grandparents in Alabama for a month. There, a creature named Gum Baby steals Eddie’s journal and runs to a tree called a Bottle Tree. The journal is the only thing Tristan has left from his friend so he is really attached to it. So he punches the tree, releasing an evil spirit named a haint, and tearing a hole to a world in which all the African folk tales and gods and heroes are real.

S: That sounds very scary but also very exciting!

C: Actually it is not very scary, but yes, it is very exciting.

Caramel is reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia. — Caramel is reading *Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky* by Kwame Mbalia.

S: Okay, so who are the main characters?

C: Well, Tristan Strong, obviously. Then there is the Gum Baby, who is very annoying. Then there is Ayanna, who lives in this other world and becomes a friend of Tristan. And then there is Chestnutt, who is a rabbit from this other world, and so of course she is very important. Because, you know, we are rabbits, too, so it is good to find another fellow bunny in a book.

S: I see. So the characters are not all humans or ghosts or gods.

C: No, there are all sorts of beings in the book. A lot of fun!

S: Are there any differences you noticed between this book and the graphic novel version? Other than length and that this one does not have pictures of course.

C: The graphic novel version removed some of the scenes from the real book.

S: Of course, that makes sense. They would need to have much less content in a graphic novel.

C: Yes. And the characters act a little bit different in the two versions.

S: How so?

C: They seemed a bit more serious to me in the original book somehow.

S: I see. What did you like most about this book?

C: There are a lot of descriptions.

S: But sometimes the descriptions in some books get a bit too boring, and many people will skip them…

C: No, these are good. You won’t want to skip them. Because they provide a lot of pennies for the mind.

S: What do you mean?

C: I mean they give you a lot to think about.

S: I see. Can you describe the book using three to five words?

C: Yes, I can: captivating, adventurous page turner.

S: That will work! So does this book make you want to continue to read the rest of the series?

C: Yes, absolutely.

S: Great! Let us wrap up this review then. What would you like to tell our readers?

C: Stay tuned for more book bunny reviews!

Caramel enjoyed reading Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia and is keen to read the second book soon. — Caramel enjoyed reading *Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky* by Kwame Mbalia and is keen to read the second book soon.