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Not part of Riordanverse
The following article/section is from the Tristan Strong continuity under Rick Riordan Presents and not the Riordanverse canon. |
“ | So remember that. A lot of times those facts get smudged out of history books. If you gon'tell the story, you better be sure you're telling the right one. | ” |
–Nana after telling Tristan the real story of John Henry in Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky. |
Nana Strong is the wife of Walter Strong, mother of Alvin Strong, and grandmother of Tristan Strong.
History[]
Nana was born to a woman from the Sea Islands, an archipelago off the coast of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. At one point she went to Alke and traded stories with the inhabitants. She traveled with Keelboat Annie, Lady Night, and Mami Wata and acted as the leader of the four of them.
In her adult life, she married and man and had at least one son with him, who gave the two a grandson.
Tristan Strong Trilogy[]
Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky[]

Tristan Strong, her grandson.
Nana goes to Chicago with her husband to watch their grandson's first boxing match. However Tristan loses the match.
The next day she and Walter take Tristan to the family farm in Alabama for a month to recover from his friend‘s death. Along the car ride she knits and sees the symbol on Eddie's Journal, but not that it is glowing, and explain that it is a symbol of Anansi. When Tristan starts to sweat she stares at him and possibly the journal. When they arrive at the farm she explain how the bottle trees were brought by slaves to the unit States to catch evil spirits. As Walter and Tristan fix a fence she makes dinner.
Tristan Strong Destroys the World[]
She watches a sparring match between her grandson and Reggie Janson. After the match Tristan helps her make dinner as she tells him a story about Anansi, however her grandson is distracted and she snaps him out of it. They talk about how trauma can affect the community for years to come before sending him to get his grandfather to set the table. After Tristan takes to long, she goes to the barn herself get get her husband, but stops mid-sentence. All of a sudden time freezes with everyone affected except for her and Tristan. They come face to face with a pair of translucent saber tooth tiger like creatures as she tells Tristan to throw a bucket of dirty towels at them. He obeys and she throws her quilt. Time starts moving again and she tells Tristan they need to talk before she passes out from exhaustion.
Tony and Reggie carry her inside while the ring doctor checks up on her. She comes to alone and asks for water. Tristan get her a glass and she reveals she has been to Alke. She also says he has strong blood and that the Plat-eyes, shapeshifting ghosts with unfinished business, will return. Before she can say more, Walter comes in and tells Tristan to let her rest. Later the Shamble Man comes to the farm and takes her to Alke. She mouths something to Tristan, who does not understand.
She is brought to Alke and temporarily guarded by DJ Kulture. When The rogue god is ready to execute his plan, he brings her to the Golden Crescent where she is placed in a small boat and starts talking to herself. When Tristan is about to rip off the mask controlling Brer Bear, he hesitates and she silently encourages her grandson to do it. He does, but the storm still rages on. As Alke is destroyed at the seems, Tristan tells her they have to leave, but she insists on helping the others just as the gods and residents of the Golden Crescent arrive on the beach and Tristan tells them to get on the boats. As they get on the keelboat, they see a rip in the sky leading to the farm. When Tristan tells her of his plan to take the Alkeans to their world, she looks at him in disbelief but supports his decision. They make it, but most of the Alkeans go missing and she injures her knee. She is confined to her room until further notice and two days later her husband brings her cantaloupe for breakfast.
Tristan Strong Keeps Punching[]
Two weeks after she was taken and returned, Walter takes her and Tristan to a family reunion in New Orleans. He orders bags of fried clams as she tells him he should not be eating them. She listens to Terence as he talks about a pizza eating challenge he wants to do.
The following day she and Walter comfort a traumatized Terrence aboard the River Queen as they, Mami Wata, John Henry, Nyame, and Anansi. After telling them King Cotton is back and they have to act immediately, they reveal to Tristan that they will handle it and he is being sent home to Chicago with Gum Baby. He tries to protest, but they say his anger demonstrates during the previous night makes him to much of a liability and take the SBP from him. They say their goodbyes and leave.
Appearance[]
Nana Strong is an elderly African American woman who wears glasses.
Personality[]
Nana is a caring woman who is knowledgeable of African American history and folklore.
Trivia[]
- Nana Strong is the second character to be called "Nana" by her grandchildren, the first being Nana Obispo in the Storm Runner Trilogy.
- Her favorite breakfast is cantaloupe.
Tristan Strong Trilogy | |
Books: | Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Tristan Strong Destroys the World | Tristan Strong Keeps Punching |
Main Characters: | Tristan Strong | Ayanna | Gum Baby | Anansi |
Secondary Characters: | Thandiwe | King Cotton | John Henry | Eddie Garvey | Maafa | Chestnutt | Nana Strong | Junior | Patty Roller | Granny Z |
Minor Characters: | Alvin Strong | Jessica Strong | Walter Strong | Fezile | Netta | Old Familiar | Mr. Richardson | Reggie Janson | DJ Kulture | Big Big | Terence Strong | Memphis Jones | Harold | Darla |
African American Gods: | Brer Rabbit | Brer Fox | Brer Bear | Sarah | Rose | High John | Tarrypin | Sis Crow | Keelboat Annie | Mami Wata | Lady Night |
West African Gods: | Anansi | Nyame |
Creatures: | Haint | Fetterling | Hullbeast | Brand Fly | Leopard Statue | Python Statue | Abiyoyo | Mmoatia | Plat-eye | River Spirit | Talking Skull | Boo Hag | Coffle | Twennymiles | Breakers |
Related Content: | Kwame Mbalia | Rick Riordan Presents | The Gum Baby Files |