It’s time to play “guess that book” and also watch our TBRs weep.
Book Beginnings is hosted by Rose City Reader and is all about the first line of a current/upcoming read. Friday 56 is a meme hosted by Freda’s Voice, where you turn to page 56 (or 56%) in what you’re reading a find a snippet that jumps out at you.
First Lines
Pop pop
It told a story.
Pop pop
Everybody thought they knew the story. They’d seen it before. He’ll get over it. It’s a phase. Give him space. But they only knew fragments. They didn’t want to hear the rest …
56% Snippet
“Who are you?” the staff’s owner demanded.
I stared at the tip, which moved side to side hypnotically, like a cobra getting ready to strike. “Uhh…”
Book Reveal
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 journal. 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 gods 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?
Reasons to Read
✿ Young, black, male protagonist gets to save the day.
✿ Heartwarming story about a kid coping with grief.
✿ Black pantheon of Gods!
✿ Non-Western/diverse mythology.
✿ Packed with action and adventure.
✿ Funny scenes guaranteed to make you giggle.
✿ The chance to learn about some African American beliefs and culture.
Chat With Me
What’s your first line (or a favorite line) from what you’re reading this week?
Follow Me
This sounds like fun! I’ve seen this around but I’m not a middle grade reader so it hasn’t been on my radar. I just started a new book last night but don’t have any favorite lines-yet!
Oooh, what book is it that you’re reading?
Diverse mythology in books is awesome! We need more of those.
We for sure do! I’m really digging the Rick Riordan books. So far, his imprint has tackled African American, Indian, Mayan, and Korean. There’s several this year that I’m really interested in, too, including one about La Llorana. 😀
I saw the upcoming one about La Llorana, and I’m interested in that one, too! I just hope that I can handle the amount of middle grade in them. (I had issues with the first Aru Shah book, which is part of his imprint.)
I ended up DNFing Aru Shah, too. Tristan Strong didn’t feel “too” middle grade, I didn’t think. The character’s struggles are mostly about grief, dealing with loss, and feeling overlooked by adults, which is pretty relatable, and the major focus of the book was on the adventure. This will probably be one of my favorite reads of the year. :3
Awesome, that’s great to know! I was interested in Tristan Strong, but didn’t want to get my hopes up too high after Aru Shah.
Very intriguing snippets, especially that 56!! Happy weekend!
What a fantastic concept! I think that this is one MG that I would love to try. Thanks for sharing it. 🙂
I hope you do! I’m really enjoying it. I feel like it’s something young readers can connect with, but something that makes for a fun, adventurous read for adults, too.
Cute cover. It will be attractive to middle grade readers. My Friday quotes from NORMAL PEOPLE
The cover most definitely caught my attention!
One great thing about not having much information about the book until the reveal is that you can evaluate the quotes without the preconceptions even a cover can give you. I thought the main character sounded older. Looking back, now I can see the clues that he’s young.
Putting this one on a list to recommend to middle grader readers.
Sounds like something fun and diverse, and the opening is catchy.
It’s definitely been a ton of fun so far!
Fascinating excerpts! Thanks for sharing, and for visiting my blog.
Happy Friday!
On my blog I’m sharing the first line from Lone Star Ranger by Renae Brumbaugh Green: https://christianfictiongirl.blog/2020/01/17/first-line-friday-119/. I’m currently on chapter 6, so I’ll share the first line from there.
“Easy, now,” Elizabeth whispered, working to keep fear from her voice.
Hope you have an excellent weekend filled with awesome reading time. 🙂❤📖
I was hooked with those snippets, but then, reading about the book and seeing that awesome cover, I’m even more excited about it. Thanks for sharing! Hope you have a great weekend! 🙂
I hope you pick it up! I finished it, and it was phenomenal. 😀
Ooh, I really want to read this! Happy reading!
Lauren @ Always Me
I hope you do! It was fabulous. 😀
Awesome first lines and that blurb just adds to the intrigue for sure.
That’s a great opening scene. Thank’s for sharing it on Book Beginnings.
I am adding this one to my wish list. I really like the sound of it. Love that opening scene. Thank you for sharing! Have a great week!
I finished this, and it’ll probably end up being one of my favorite books of this year! I’m already calling it. So I hope you’re able to read it. 😀
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