New Release Books by Kwame Mbalia

The best-selling and awarding-winning novel about a Black boy who helps folk heroes and gods through storytelling is now a dynamic graphic novel! The talented team of Robert Venditti and Olivia Stephens brings to glorious full color the novel that best-selling author Jason Reynolds called "A brilliant action adventure rooted in African American lore." Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he''s going to spend on his grandparents'' farm in Alabama, where he''s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie''s notebook. Tristan chases after it--is that a doll?--and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature''s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left Black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves? Find out by diving into this stunning graphic novel adaptation of the original book. Complete your graphic novel collection with these fan favorites: Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan, adapted by Robert Venditti The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan, adapted by Orpheus Collar The Heroes of Olympus: The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, adapted by Robert Venditti Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer, adapted by Michael Moreci, illustrated by Stephen Gilpin Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi, adapted by Joe Caramanga, illustrated by Anu Chouhan

From Kwame Mbalia and Prince Joel David Makonnen comes an Afrofuturist adventure about a mythical Ethiopian empire. Sci-fi and fantasy combine in this epic journey to the stars. Yared has traveled a long way to find his place in the universe. Light years, even. Though the battle of Addis Prime is over, the spacefaring Axum Empire is still fractured. The kingdom once gave their technology away free of charge, to better humankind. Now, having been missing for over a decade, they’re returning to the planet where their galaxy-spanning civilization began—Earth. But they find the planet in disarray. Old Earth’s atmosphere is a mess of junked shuttles and satellites. This is especially true of Debris Town, an orbital flotilla where poor spacefarers—left to rot by the Intergalactic Union that rose up in Axum’s place—have taken to piracy to survive. Yared is set to speak at the opening of the Royal Trials, a competition of the best exo pilots in the Sol System. But on the day of his speech, the pirates launch an attack! The siege sets off a chain of events that will lead Yared into the depths of Old Earth—and the jaws of a cruel betrayal. There’s more to the pirates—and Debris Town—than anyone saw coming.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents the finale of Kwame Mbalia''s trilogy, in which Tristan Strong faces off with his archenemy, King Cotton, once and for all. "Imagine if you combined Anansi the Spider, John Henry, and Marvel into, like, one book."--New York Times best-selling author and Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander After reuniting with Ayanna, who is now in his world, Tristan travels up the Mississippi in pursuit of his archenemy, King Cotton. Along the way they encounter new haints who are dead set on preventing their progress north to Tristan''s hometown of Chicago. It''s going to take many Alkean friends, including the gods themselves, the black flames of the afokena gloves, and all of Tristan''s inner strength to deliver justice once and for all. Shocking twists, glorious triumphs, and a cast of unforgettable characters make this series conclusion as satisfying as it is entertaining. Complete your middle grade fantasy collection with these best-selling fan favorites: Rick Riordan Presents: Race to the Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse Rick Riordan Presents: City of the Plague God by Sarwat Chadda Rick Riordan Presents: Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee Rick Riordan Presents: Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez The Percy Jackson and the Olympians series by Rick Riordan

Bestselling author Rick Riordan presents the second book in the New York Times best-selling and award-winning Tristan Strong trilogy by Kwame Mbalia. Tristan Strong, just back from a victorious but exhausting adventure in Alke, the land of African American folk heroes and African gods, is suffering from PTSD. But there''s no rest for the weary when his grandmother is abducted by a mysterious villain out for revenge. Tristan must return to Alke--and reunite with his loud-mouthed sidekick, Gum Baby--in order to rescue Nana and stop the culprit from creating further devastation. Anansi, now a ""web developer"" in Tristan''s phone, is close at hand to offer advice, and several new folk heroes will aid Tristan in his quest, but he will only succeed if he can figure out a way to sew broken souls back together.

Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents Kwame Mbalia''s epic fantasy, a middle grade American Gods set in a richly-imagined world populated with African American folk heroes and West African gods. Seventh grader Tristan Strong feels anything but strong ever since he failed to save his best friend when they were in a bus accident together. All he has left of Eddie is the journal his friend wrote stories in. Tristan is dreading the month he''s going to spend on his grandparents'' farm in Alabama, where he''s being sent to heal from the tragedy. But on his first night there, a sticky creature shows up in his bedroom and steals Eddie''s notebook. Tristan chases after it--is that a doll?--and a tug-of-war ensues between them underneath a Bottle Tree. In a last attempt to wrestle the journal out of the creature''s hands, Tristan punches the tree, accidentally ripping open a chasm into the MidPass, a volatile place with a burning sea, haunted bone ships, and iron monsters that are hunting the inhabitants of this world. Tristan finds himself in the middle of a battle that has left black American folk heroes John Henry and Brer Rabbit exhausted. In order to get back home, Tristan and these new allies will need to entice the god Anansi, the Weaver, to come out of hiding and seal the hole in the sky. But bartering with the trickster Anansi always comes at a price. Can Tristan save this world before he loses more of the things he loves?

Rick Riordan Presents, a new imprint headed by the author of Percy Jackson and four other New York Times #1 best-selling series, is dedicated to publishing highly entertaining middle grade fiction based on world cultures and mythologies. Authors from underrepresented backgrounds tell their own stories inspired by the mythology and folklore of their heritage, transporting readers to realms they may not have visited before. In this sampler readers will discover these six exciting novels from Rick Riordan Presents: ARU SHAH AND THE END OF TIME by Roshani Chokshi (Hindu stories), THE STORM RUNNER by J. C. Cervantes (Maya mythology), DRAGON PEARL by Yoon Ha Lee (Korean mythology), SAL AND GABI BREAK THE UNIVERSE by Carlos Hernandez (Cuban culture), TRISTAN STRONG PUNCHES A HOLE IN THE SKY by Kwame Mbalia (African-American and West African folktales), and RACE TO THE SUN by Rebecca Roanhorse (Navajo stories).