babyv's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
danyell919's review against another edition
4.0
This was another fantastic story about Tristan Strong - this time actually bringing Alke to the US. I loved all of the symbolism and of course, as always, Gum Baby!
antoinettepowb's review against another edition
5.0
What a finale!! Tristan finds himself traveling the Mississippi looking for King Cotton. He encounters new haints, new stories to tell and finds an inner strength to save himself and his friends. Gum Baby still remains my favorite character, coming through with a pep talk and saving Tristan from the living plantation, Old Angola. The tale comes to an end with an epic battle at Lake Michigan between the gods, Cotton and Tristan. This story is rich in history and lessons for the future.
esseastri's review against another edition
5.0
"I'm angry because the world keeps telling me I shouldn't be angry."
This book is Important. I really hope that everyone takes the time to read this series, but god, this book in particular, because WOW. Let's talk about shared grief and personal grief, let's talk about race and the erasure of history, let's talk about the power of stories, let's talk about rage--cultural rage, personal rage, the impossible frustration of being powerless--let's talk about how adults treat children they don't know how to handle, let's talk about the power of stories.
There is so much in this book. I hope you learn something from it. And I hope you have fun while learning.
Also, god, SOMEONE give Tristan a HUG, DAMN BOY.
This book is Important. I really hope that everyone takes the time to read this series, but god, this book in particular, because WOW. Let's talk about shared grief and personal grief, let's talk about race and the erasure of history, let's talk about the power of stories, let's talk about rage--cultural rage, personal rage, the impossible frustration of being powerless--let's talk about how adults treat children they don't know how to handle, let's talk about the power of stories.
There is so much in this book. I hope you learn something from it. And I hope you have fun while learning.
Also, god, SOMEONE give Tristan a HUG, DAMN BOY.
crushgoil's review
adventurous
challenging
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
locdbooktician's review
adventurous
challenging
medium-paced
5.0
Beautiful ending to a strong trilogy.
Check out this detail review of this book with Nicole from (@whopickedthisbook)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckDtVQ0YSMg&t=4s
Check out this detail review of this book with Nicole from (@whopickedthisbook)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ckDtVQ0YSMg&t=4s
vernip's review against another edition
4.0
MUCH better than the 2nd book, as the other world is now in the "real" world (leading to most interesting ways for the fantastic to integrate into the mundane) and our hero doesn't really have to hide his derring-do from his grandparents anymore.
Also, just like "Spider-man 2" a lot of crud gets thrown at him, and rather than crumble, he stands and continues to do what he knows is right.
Also, just like "Spider-man 2" a lot of crud gets thrown at him, and rather than crumble, he stands and continues to do what he knows is right.
the_fabric_of_words's review against another edition
5.0
In Tristan's final installment, Alke is destroyed, its inhabitants scattered throughout the real world. It's on Tristan to find them, using the cell phone with Anansi trapped in it. He's separated from Anaya, Gum Baby, John Henry, and pretty much everyone but his grandma and family. Anansi tries to get him on track, finding the Alkeans who need Tristan's help in our world, but Anansi's primary concern is his son, Junior. And Tristan is just mad, so angry at everything that's happened.
In New Orleans for a family reunion, Tristan sees King Cotton again, strolling down the street as if no big deal. The evil haint hasn't given up, he's just re-grouping, this time stronger than before because our prejudiced and bigoted world and history fuels him and his followers far better than Alke ever did.
As Tristan gathers his allies (he does find Gum Baby, thank heavens!), he must fight them all -- from a prison built over a plantation that threatens to swallow them, to the Redliners, angry, ignorant whites wearing white ski masks with red slashes over their faces (redlining is a racist practice used by mortgage companies and banks to determine who could get home loans for reasonable rates based on the predominant racial makeup of zip codes and Census tracts) who try to frame Tristan for all the murder and mayhem they cause. And to top it off, he learns Cotton's forces are stealing children, taking them from the streets, to fuel Cotton's latest scheme to take over the world.
But Tristan's anger fuels him, makes him stronger than ever, if a bit head-strong. He comes to understand his powers as Anansesem and just what he can do with a story by telling it, never allowing it to fade or be forgotten.
I won't reveal any of the story twists and turns in this one. It was a great conclusion to the series, ending the only way it could've -- with Tristan punching his way to victory.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
In New Orleans for a family reunion, Tristan sees King Cotton again, strolling down the street as if no big deal. The evil haint hasn't given up, he's just re-grouping, this time stronger than before because our prejudiced and bigoted world and history fuels him and his followers far better than Alke ever did.
As Tristan gathers his allies (he does find Gum Baby, thank heavens!), he must fight them all -- from a prison built over a plantation that threatens to swallow them, to the Redliners, angry, ignorant whites wearing white ski masks with red slashes over their faces (redlining is a racist practice used by mortgage companies and banks to determine who could get home loans for reasonable rates based on the predominant racial makeup of zip codes and Census tracts) who try to frame Tristan for all the murder and mayhem they cause. And to top it off, he learns Cotton's forces are stealing children, taking them from the streets, to fuel Cotton's latest scheme to take over the world.
But Tristan's anger fuels him, makes him stronger than ever, if a bit head-strong. He comes to understand his powers as Anansesem and just what he can do with a story by telling it, never allowing it to fade or be forgotten.
I won't reveal any of the story twists and turns in this one. It was a great conclusion to the series, ending the only way it could've -- with Tristan punching his way to victory.
Looking for more book suggestions for your 7th/8th grade classroom and students?
Visit my blog for more great middle grade book recommendations, free teaching materials and fiction writing tips: https://amb.mystrikingly.com/
nicolewhopickedthisbook's review against another edition
4.0
Watch the livestream discussion
https://youtu.be/ckDtVQ0YSMg
https://youtu.be/ckDtVQ0YSMg
blkgrlreading89's review
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0