(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.
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