Summary

In the Introduction to the book, Rick Riordan, author of the bestselling Greek-myth-inspired Percy Jackson series, introduces the Tristan Strong series to readers. Like Riordan's series, the Tristan Strong series also takes place in a world populated by gods and mythical heroes. The Tristan Strong books are about a boy having adventures in a magical land of African gods (West African deities like Nyame and Anansi, as well as African American folktale characters like High John, Henry John, and Brer Rabbit). Riordan celebrates the way in which Mbalia interweaves the freshly modern with traditional tales from West Africa as well as symbols of the African Diaspora. He concludes his introduction with an inspiring message to young readers, using Tristan's bold act of punching a hole in the sky as a reminder that when you trust in yourself, there is no limit.

Tristan...