Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what middle-grade fantasy should be doing: taking kids seriously, giving them real emotional stakes, and building worlds that reflect their own cultural heritage instead of recycling the same European mythology over and over.

Mbalia doesn't pull punches with Tristan's grief—the book opens with the death of his best friend, and that loss echoes through every page. But it's handled with care, and the fantasy adventure (punching a hole into a world of gods and folk heroes) gives kids a way to process heavy emotions through epic storytelling.

The mythology mashup is genuinely fresh. Instead of another Greek gods retread, we get John Henry swinging his hammer, Brer Rabbit scheming, and Anansi weaving his webs. Black kids finally get to see themselves in the hero's journey with their own cultural stories front and center.

It's a Coretta Scott King Honor winner, part of the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, has a 4.8 on Amazon, and actually delivers on the promise of representation + quality storytelling. If your kid loved Percy Jackson and is ready for something with more emotional depth and cultural richness, this is it.

Age Fit

Best for kids 8-13 who can handle emotionally complex stories about grief alongside fantasy adventure. The mythology and action appeal to middle schoolers, while the emotional journey resonates with kids processing their own losses or big feelings. Strong readers in 3rd grade can tackle it; 8th graders won't find it babyish.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

88

Centers on grief, healing, and processing trauma after losing a best friend in a bus accident. Tristan's emotional journey is handled with care and authenticity. Models courage, loyalty, and working through survivor's guilt. The family farm setting and grandparent relationships provide grounding warmth. No cynicism or cheap humor—just a kid working through real pain while discovering his strength.

Imaginative

94

Absolutely bursting with creativity. Mbalia weaves African American folk heroes (John Henry, Brer Rabbit, High John the Conqueror) with West African gods (Anansi the trickster) into a middle-grade fantasy world called the MidPass—complete with burning seas, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters. The mythology mashup is fresh and original, giving Black kids heroes from their own cultural heritage in an epic fantasy context. The world-building is vivid and specific, not derivative.

Safe

82

Books are generally safe, and this one handles heavy themes (death of a best friend, survivor's guilt, legacy of slavery) with age-appropriate sensitivity for middle-grade readers. The action sequences involve fantasy violence (battles, monsters) but nothing graphic or gratuitous. The emotional weight is real—kids will feel Tristan's grief—but that's intentional and handled thoughtfully. No inappropriate content, though the opening trauma and ongoing grief processing means this isn't light reading.

Enriching

92

Winner of a Coretta Scott King Author Honor for good reason. Kids get immersed in African American folklore and West African mythology while following a protagonist processing real grief and guilt. The book tackles the legacy of the slave trade, celebrates Black cultural heritage, and explores what it means to be strong when you feel broken. Fast-paced enough to keep reluctant readers engaged while delivering genuine emotional and cultural education. Representation matters, and this delivers.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Finally, a middle-grade fantasy that centers Black folklore and mythology—John Henry, Brer Rabbit, Anansi, and more get the epic treatment they deserve
Tackles grief and survivor's guilt with real emotional depth while keeping the adventure moving
Part of Rick Riordan Presents, so you know the quality bar is high—won a Coretta Scott King Author Honor
Fast-paced world-building (burning seas! bone ships! trickster gods!) that hooks reluctant readers
Representation that actually matters: Black kids get to see themselves as the hero in a mythology-based fantasy

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What to Watch For

Opens with the death of Tristan's best friend in a bus accident—the grief is real and ongoing throughout the book
Fantasy violence and scary creatures (iron monsters, battles) appropriate for middle grade but present
Touches on the legacy of slavery as part of the mythology and history woven into the story
Emotionally heavy at times—this isn't a light romp, though the adventure balances the weight

Conversation Starters

"Tristan feels guilty about not saving his friend Eddie. Have you ever felt responsible for something that wasn't really your fault?"
"The book mixes stories from African American folklore with West African gods. Did you recognize any of the characters? Want to learn more about them?"
"Anansi is a trickster god—he helps but always wants something in return. Would you make a deal with someone like that?"
"Tristan finds strength by going through his grief, not avoiding it. What does being 'strong' really mean to you?"

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