This is a very satisfying ending to the Tristan Strong universe, weaving from hopelessness in the face of the legacies of racism to rage to community to defiance. Gum Baby continues to be a joy, and getting to read her sass out loud makes this one of my favorite series for family story time.

Highly recommended. ( )

This is a great conclusion to the Tristan Strong series. I love that it wraps up all the plot points, without making it feel like the characters themselves are finished—just the story.

There's a little bit of everything in this story: adventure, introspection, found family, daring rescues, sad moments, and even a touch of budding romance. I appreciate how the kids handle most of the action (it is, after all, a middle grade book) but the adults do provide real, tangible help. The adults are actually present in the book, which is nice to see.

There are definite mentions of and reference to slavery, but it is a MG book and everything is tailored to its audience. I think any age group could read this and learn something from it. ( )

The Tristan Strong series continues to be a stand out in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint. This entry brings the mythological people and creatures of Alke, the magical world of the myths and legends of the African diaspora, into the real world. Tristan and his allies must chase the haint King Cotton over the U.S. and defeat his new plan to use a monstrous construct, made from Angola prison, and fed on the spirits of both prisoners and the enslaved people forced to work there when it was Angola plantation, to capture and use children for continued nefarious purposes. It's an exciting adventure with deep thoughts on trauma, interesting perspectives on history, and lots of humor. Long time readers will be interested to see how and where the people of Alke fit into our world. ( )