Gr 4--7--Tristan Strong is living with grief and guilt because he survived a bus accident that killed his best friend, Eddie. When he is sent down to stay at his grandparents' farm in Alabama, he brings Eddie's journal along, but he doesn't realize until it's too late that this journal makes him a target. Soon Tristan meets many of the characters from his grandmother's folktales, such as Brer Rabbit, John Henry, and Anansi the spider, and he finds himself in the middle of a battle that could destroy the world. This graphic adaptation of the children's novel that began the "Tristan Strong" trilogy will have plenty of appeal for readers who are interested in African and African American characters and folklore. The illustrations pop with energy and color, and the off-kilter panels will pull readers into the surreal story. The creative reimaginings of classic folktale characters will keep readers entertained, and may also inspire them to learn more about the originals. VERDICT For fans of Rick Riordan--style mythology stories, these feature plenty of action and diverse characters.--Andrea Lipinski

This graphic adaptation of Kwame Mbalia's groundbreaking adventure fantasy hits all the major plot points: Following the death of his best friend, Tristan visits his grandparents' Alabama farm, where his pursuit of a mysterious burglar leads him to accidentally punch a bottle tree, releasing an evil haint and tearing a hole into the world of Alke, home to the pantheon of African and African American myths, gods, and folk heroes. In Alke, Tristan must come into his own as an Anansesem, a magically powerful storyteller, if he's to save the people from an uprising of fetterlings and other evil, oppressive monsters. While Venditti's adaptation is an impressive feat of storytelling efficiency and artist Stephens visualizes so many memorable characters, the meager page count and sparse background art give little room for the original 496-page epic or its characters to breathe, giving the feeling of a rushed product. Nonetheless, the original's popularity will have readers queuing up for their turn with this version, and the graphic-novel space remains in desperate need of more Black representation. Stock up.