Skip to main content

Amari and the Night Brothers

Image
By

(Supernatural Investigations #1)
By B.B. Alston
New York: Balzer + Bray, 2021. Fantasy.

13-year-old Amari Peters is sure that her beloved older brother Quinton is still alive, no matter what anyone says. But as his mysterious disappearance drags on and Amari is bullied at her fancy private school for being poor and Black, she loses her cool and is expelled. Then, by complete surprise, a man appears at her door with an invitation to attend summer camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs - the organization tasked with maintaining balance between our world and the supernatural creatures who inhabit it -- the same organization to which Quinton belonged before his disappearance. Amari is certain this is the chance she has been hoping for to find answers and bring her brother home. Once she gets to camp, Amari discovers that she is a magician with powers that are banned by the Bureau. Still, Amari is not ready to give up just yet and is determined to become a Junior Agent and save Quinton from an evil magician who is dead-set on destroying the balance between the worlds.

This series-opener is a fantasy-fueled adventure full of #BlackGirlMagic for fans of Percy Jackson or Harry Potter. Amari is a winning character to lead this new series - she is full of grit, determination, and kindness and is unafraid to call out the prejudice she experiences as a Black girl from the projects and as a magician with illegal powers. The supporting cast of characters including Elsie, Amari's roommate and a were-dragon, and Dylan van Helsing, Amari's training partner descended from that van Helsing, are rounded and compelling. The exciting plot and well-developed characters are balanced by the creation of a well-crafted, magical world.


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Review: The Mixed-Up Owl

By
The Mixed-Up Owl  Written by Marzena Sowa Illustrated by Joanna Lorno New York : Hippo Park, 2025. Picture Book. When Owl can't sleep at night, he heads off to see if any forest animals can help him understand why, and even more so, how to fix it!  Unfortunately, all the animals Owl runs into at night are asleep and all the animals he meets during the day are too rude or too busy to answer him.  Will Owl give up or will a chance meeting with a grumpy hedgehog provide all the solutions Owl was looking for? The premise of an owl trying to stay awake during the day because all the other animals around him do is very fun. Kids who know that owls are nocturnal will get a kick out of Owl's confusion and be quick to try to tell him what's going on.  Readers who don't know many facts about owls (or nocturnal animals in general) will get a brief introduction to the different ways animals sleep. The illustrations are charming, especially cute Owl and his expressive body langua...
Post a Comment
Read more

Five Fives: Friendship

By
Friendship is such an important part of life! I love to have my friends to celebrate life's victories with. When I am having a rough time, I also rely on the strength of my friends. Picture books are a great way to talk to kids about friendships. With a new school year just around the corner, I think talking with kids about friendship and how to be a good friend is so important. These five books have friendships in them that might help facilitate discussions with your people! Love Grows Here By Amy Adele New York : Magic Cat Publishing, 2025. Picture Book. In this sweet story, there is a lovely garden that an elderly couple tends to with joy in their heart. When the woman is sent to the hospital for an extended stay, the animals that love the garden worry it won't be the same. But through grit and determination and teamwork, they work together and do what friends do best: take care of each other! The illustrations are absolutely amazing and will have kids enthralled with all of...
Post a Comment
Read more

Review: Bug on the Bus

By
Bug on the Bus By David Catrow New York: Holiday House, 2026. Easy Reader.  Bug and many other creatures big and small hop onto the bus. A silly little bus driver witnesses the arrivals, and all is fine and well until Skunk joins the crew! Hilarity and fun ensue. This story is simple, but exciting. Early readers will be sure to love it! This book was a uniquely well done easy reader, as it is truly fully accessible for the most beginning reader! It is filled with simple words, many only three letters long. While it is filled with simple words, the story is fast paced and sure to please everyone listening. As an added bonus, the illustrations are charming and silly, which adds a lot to the book as a whole. Make sure to check this out for any budding readers in your life!
Post a Comment
Read more