Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

Where to Read

Amazon

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Screenwise Verdict

This is what diverse middle grade fantasy should look like: culturally rich, emotionally intelligent, and genuinely exciting to read. Kwame Mbalia doesn't just drop folklore references and call it a day—he builds an entire mythology that feels alive and earned.

The grief storyline is the real deal. Tristan's guilt over surviving the bus accident that killed his best friend Eddie is woven throughout, and it's handled with real sensitivity. This isn't trauma as plot device; it's the actual story. Some kids will find that cathartic, others might find it heavy. Know your kid.

The fantasy elements deliver: the MidPass is weird and wonderful, the folk heroes feel like real characters (not museum pieces), and Anansi as trickster god brings genuine wit and danger. The Coretta Scott King Honor wasn't a diversity checkbox—this book earned it.

At 4.8 stars on Amazon and strong reviews from both parents and librarians, this is one of those books that works on multiple levels: entertaining enough that kids actually read it, meaningful enough that it sticks with them. If your middle schooler devoured Percy Jackson and is ready for something with a bit more emotional weight, this is an excellent next step.

Age Fit

Solidly middle grade (8-13), though the grief themes and emotional maturity might work better for 9+. Kids who loved Percy Jackson and are ready for slightly heavier emotional content will eat this up. The fast pacing and action keep it accessible even when dealing with serious themes.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

82

Models resilience through grief and trauma in age-appropriate ways. Tristan's journey processing his best friend's death and his guilt is emotionally mature without being overwhelming. Strong themes of family, community, and friendship. References to slavery are present but handled thoughtfully for middle grade. Some violence (fighting, battles with monsters) but within fantasy adventure context. The pacing is described as 'fast-paced' and 'breezy' which works well for the target age.

Imaginative

94

Exceptional world-building that weaves African American folk heroes (John Henry, Brer Rabbit) with West African gods (Anansi) into an original mythology. The MidPass is a richly realized fantasy realm with burning seas, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters. The concept of punching a hole between worlds is visceral and memorable. Publishers Weekly praised it as 'expertly weaving folklore, myth, and history' into something fresh. This is Percy Jackson-level imaginative world-building but with underrepresented cultural traditions.

Safe

88

Books are inherently safe from a platform perspective. Content-wise: references to slavery are 'oblique' per parent reviews, grief and loss are central but age-appropriate, fantasy violence includes battles and monsters but nothing graphic. No inappropriate language, sexual content, or graphic gore. The emotional weight of processing a friend's death might be intense for some kids but is handled with care. Common Sense Media and parent reviews indicate no major safety red flags for the middle grade audience.

Enriching

91

Winner of Coretta Scott King Author Honor for good reason. Introduces kids to African American folklore and West African mythology in an engaging way. Explores complex themes: processing grief, survivor's guilt, the legacy of slavery, cultural heritage, and the power of stories. Tristan's character growth from feeling weak to finding strength is meaningful. The trickster bargains with Anansi teach critical thinking about consequences. Rick Riordan's endorsement and the 4.8 Amazon rating suggest strong reader engagement. This is enriching without being preachy.

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Introduces kids to African American folk heroes and West African mythology through genuinely exciting adventure—not a history lesson disguised as a story
Tackles grief, survivor's guilt, and processing trauma in ways that feel real for middle schoolers without being after-school-special preachy
The world-building is legitimately cool: burning seas, haunted bone ships, trickster gods, and a hole punched between realities
Rick Riordan's stamp of approval means something—his imprint has a track record of finding diverse voices that can actually write page-turners
4.8 stars on Amazon with strong parent reviews suggests kids are actually finishing it, not just teachers assigning it

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What to Watch For

The book opens with the aftermath of a bus accident that killed Tristan's best friend—this is the emotional core and might be heavy for sensitive kids or those who've experienced loss
References to slavery and its legacy are woven throughout, handled age-appropriately but present enough that you might want to be available for questions
Fantasy violence includes battles with monsters and iron creatures—nothing graphic but more intense than, say, early Harry Potter
The grief themes are real—this isn't light reading, though it's balanced with adventure and humor

Conversation Starters

"Have you heard of any of these folk heroes before—John Henry, Brer Rabbit, Anansi? What stories do they tell?"
"Tristan feels guilty about not saving his friend. Have you ever felt responsible for something that wasn't really your fault?"
"The trickster god Anansi always makes deals that have a catch. If you could make a deal with a trickster, what would you ask for? What do you think the catch would be?"
"The book mixes African American and West African stories together. Why do you think those traditions got combined in America?"
"Tristan finds strength through his connection to these old stories. Are there any family stories or cultural traditions that feel important to you?"

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Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky