About the Author

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Kwame Mbalia is the New York Times best-selling author of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, for which he received a Coretta Scott King Author Honor award.The book was also named to best-of-the-year listscompiled by Publishers Weekly, the Chicago Public Library, and the New York Times.The second book in the trilogy is Tristan Strong Destroys the World, and the third is Tristan Strong Keeps Punching. Kwame lives with his wife and children near Raleigh, North Carolina, where he is currently working on many projects, including a new middle grade series. Follow him on Twitter @KSekouM.

Praise For…

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"Mbalia's universe continues to excite through sheer conceptual brilliance, nonstop action and adventure, and--let's be honest--the comical aggression of sidekick god Gum Baby."—Booklist

"The world building of this series is truly spectacular and easily comparable to the best titles in children's literature."—Nerds and Beyond

*"Mbalia returns with a sequel as impressive and even more compelling, offering all the power-packed goodness of the previous volume, with well-plotted pacing and a quick-witted narrative voice. A stunning conclusion will leave readers breathless and eager for the next installment."—Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (starred review)

*"Well-paced--just like the previous installment--this sequel focuses on themes such as the meaning of diaspora and the effects of trauma, making for a more nuanced and stronger story than the first. Packs a punch."—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

PRAISE FOR TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY

"A brilliant action adventure rooted in African American lore."—New York Times best-selling author Jason Reynolds