Common Sense Media Review
By Michael Berry
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Teen returns to land of African myth in rousing fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
What's the Story?
As TRISTAN STRONG DESTROYS THE WORLD opens, Tristan is still recuperating from his last visit to Alke, the land of African American folklore and West African myth. When his grandmother is abducted by an entity known as the Shamble Man, Tristan sets off in pursuit, accompanied by the spider god Anansi (who's trapped inside a smartphone), strongman John Henry, the annoying know-it-all Gum Baby, and the resourceful Keelboat Annie. Gods and mortals alike will clash and call upon the power of story to save themselves.
Is It Any Good?
Middle books in a series are notoriously difficult to pull off, but this energetic fantasy extends the magic of the first volume and charts new territory. In Tristan Strong Destroys the World, author Kwame Mbalia choreographs fun scenes filled with action, suspense, and humor, and Tristan's first-person narration is lively, revealing, and sometimes touching. Old favorites return to the supporting cast of heroes and villains, and if the plot sometimes seems to be marking time, most readers will be too enthralled to notice.
The themes of the story -- family pride, community resilience, and personal responsibility -- are well integrated into the action-packed narrative. Readers will eagerly await the final volume, which promises an earthshaking conclusion.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Tristan Strong Destroys the World uses African and African American folklore to tell a modern-day story. Why is mythology so often used as inspiration for works of art?
Why is persistence important to young athletes? Why does the repetition of certain tasks play such a key role in sports?
Gum Baby and Anansi can be annoying, but they also display a helpful aspect of their personalities. What makes people behave differently according to their surroundings?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Superheroes , Book Characters , History
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Disney-Hyperion
- Publication date : October 6, 2020
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 400
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : September 29, 2025
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