Middle Grade Monday: Tristan Strong Destroys the World by Kwame Mbalia

E-Audio, 09:27:48
Narrated by: Amir Abdullah
Release Date: October 7, 2020
Published by: Rick Riordan Presents/ Penguin Random House Audio Publishing Group
Read from: October 12-22, 2020
Tristan Strong, #2
Source: Library (Overdrive)
TW: N/A
For fans of: Mythology, Adventure, Fantasy, Diverse Authors, Own, Own Voices, POC, POC MC, Series, Middle Grade

     Bestselling author Rick Riordan presents the second book in the New York Times best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy by Kwame Mbalia. Tristan Strong, just back from a victorious but exhausting adventure in Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, is suffering from PTSD. But there’s no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain out for revenge. Tristan must return to Alke–and reunite with his loud-mouthed sidekick, Gum Baby–in order to rescue Nana and stop the culprit from creating further devastation. Anansi, now a “web developer” in Tristan’s phone, is close at hand to offer advice, and several new folk heroes will aid Tristan in his quest, but he will only succeed if he can figure out a way to sew broken souls back together.

*MY THOUGHTS*

This series is amazing. I wish I had a Gum Baby. Please someone give me a Gum Baby. She’s annoying, but she’s super also super amazing and funny. I love her. She’s also the reason this series is one of my favorites.

Just when he thought it was finally over, Tristan was spending time with his grandparents. (Or rather his grandpa was signing him up for fights he didn’t want to do…) And then out of nowhere, his grandmother is abducted from some monster from Alke. He’s now with Anansi the web developer, big mouth Gum Baby, and the heroes from folk tales. Can they figure out a way to survive this new quest?

The very best thing about this book was of course the characters. From Grandad, Gum Baby, Tristan, and all he folk heroes. My favorite by far was the Kulture Vulture lmao You won’t get it unless you read it. They all are so cute and impossible to love. I dare someone to read this series and say they don’t like a character like Gum Baby.

The plot itself was also amazing. There was something crazy in every chapter. This quest wasn’t as wild as the last one, but it was definitely just as fun. I can’t say this was as good as the first one, but that’s because that one changed my life. There was so much going on in that one that I wasn’t expecting it. This one had me expecting more of the same, so I was ready for the crazy goodness. I loved it.

The only reason I didn’t give this 5 stars this time was the end. I don’t know, it just seemed kind of rushed? Maybe it’s just me, but I felt like if the rest of the book was so descriptive, the ending should be also? But it seemed like it was just there, and then it was quickly over. I did like the tree house situation, but that’s really all. It kinda made this feel like a sophomore filler book.

I’m so excited to see what else is going to happen to Tristan. This series is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I can’t wait to see where his story takes him in this last story!

Overall, I give this