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mofuller77's review against another edition
5.0
This book was everything!! I can’t wait for it to become a very successful series in print and on screen.
thedeena63's review against another edition
5.0
If Harry Potter joined Men in Black, you would have Amari and the Night Brothers! I almost passed up this middle grade debut, but my grandson and a very enthusiastic cashier at the bookstore convinced me to take a chance.
I’m so glad I listened! I’m in love with these characters (even the Van Helsings!) and cannot recommend it enough. I loved it so much I’ve preordered the next two books!
I’m so glad I listened! I’m in love with these characters (even the Van Helsings!) and cannot recommend it enough. I loved it so much I’ve preordered the next two books!
eugene_tea's review against another edition
5.0
4.3 ⭐️!! This had me hooked from beginning to end. I highly recommend for those who love magic adventure stories. As someone who grew up on Harry Potter, this definitely made my inner child smile. The only thing was although there were twists and turns, I kind of predicted part of the plot. However, I didn’t expect for it to go down like that, so kudos. Amari was such an easy character to love and so was Elsie. I wanted to throw hands with her bullies my damn self. But do keep in mind that this is technically a children’s book, so there’s a certain level of innocence that remained. Therefore, Amari responded how a lot of kind hearted kids would.
This book was such a joy to read I even bought them for my partner and their daughter. Can’t wait to start book 2.
This book was such a joy to read I even bought them for my partner and their daughter. Can’t wait to start book 2.
ewhaverkamp's review against another edition
5.0
Not usually my genre, but WOW. I was blown away with the world that the author created. It was a fast, suspenseful, twisting, and creative book. I don't want to say too much. I don't want to spoil this book. I didn't know anything about it really except that it was well liked and a Volunteer State book award nomination. I loved that it was such a surprise to read.
Magic
Supernatural
Hidden world
Siblings
Underdog
Friends
loyalty
Strength of character
Magic
Supernatural
Hidden world
Siblings
Underdog
Friends
loyalty
Strength of character
katie_is_dreaming's review against another edition
9/10
I thought this was excellent, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel later in the year.
There are several things that Alston does amazingly well here. One is the way he sets up Quinton as this incredibly gifted young black leader, who helps his community. We see the effect his disappearances has on both his sister and young black men that he was helping. Alston acknowledges the power of black role models for other black children, and I think he's suggesting that black children particularly need those role models. There are lots of arguments to be made against the idea of black exceptionalism, but Alston does show how important it is to have someone to look up to.
With Quinton, he's also working against the stereotyping of young black men. We see the reactions to his disappearance from the police: that he's not worth their time or attention because he's clearly a drug dealer or gang member who got what he deserved. From Amari and her mother's perspectives, we see the damaging effect such stereotypes have.
I also really liked the world building. Some of it was quite funny - the neighbour who's really a witch, for example - and some of it was whimsical, much like other fantasy stories aimed at children. There was much that was serious here, though. Like other magical protagonists, Amari finds herself the object of negative attention for her abilities, but what Alston is also doing here is using her abilities to talk about class and race. Because Amari is black, reactions to what she can potentially do are to be read as reactions to her blackness as well. I thought it was incredibly clever how Alston used Amari's powers to comment on the wider issue of 'passing'. Amari, by virtue of the fairly public display of her powers, can't pass the way other people with the same ability as her can. And the fact that Amari's powers are read negatively also offers a commentary on her blackness. Other (white) people with the same abilities as her can hide behind their esteemed families (read: whiteness), but Amari doesn't have that luxury.
I'm in two minds about the way Alston has the recruits' potential determined by different kinds of badges. On one hand, Amari tests high for potential, which I think is appropriate. It's a commentary on how black children can be seen as having less potential because of their colour. Alston is saying that no doors should be closed to Amari just because she's black. I do admire that idea, and agree with it. On the other hand, I'm not really comfortable with telling children as they start out in life that they have a starting potential level at all. It feels limiting and unfair. Alston does soften this by suggesting that the children can work to improve their badges, but it still feels like he wanted to make Amari extra special in a kind of artificial way. I just think it's not a great message to send to determine potential in children, even if you can work to improve it.
I also thought the ending, where the villain is revealed, needed way more focus. It didn't feel like that was well paced at all, but I do sense there will be more to develop that in future stories. It just did feel like it came out of nowhere in that moment.
I did like this a lot, though. I liked all the secondary characters too, and I hope we're going to see them all again, and see them develop further, in the next book. I also hope that link between Amari and the villain from this story is going to be developed further too. There's a lot Alston can do with Amari's powers and the expanding world going forward that I'm excited to see.
I thought this was excellent, and I'm really looking forward to the sequel later in the year.
There are several things that Alston does amazingly well here. One is the way he sets up Quinton as this incredibly gifted young black leader, who helps his community. We see the effect his disappearances has on both his sister and young black men that he was helping. Alston acknowledges the power of black role models for other black children, and I think he's suggesting that black children particularly need those role models. There are lots of arguments to be made against the idea of black exceptionalism, but Alston does show how important it is to have someone to look up to.
With Quinton, he's also working against the stereotyping of young black men. We see the reactions to his disappearance from the police: that he's not worth their time or attention because he's clearly a drug dealer or gang member who got what he deserved. From Amari and her mother's perspectives, we see the damaging effect such stereotypes have.
I also really liked the world building. Some of it was quite funny - the neighbour who's really a witch, for example - and some of it was whimsical, much like other fantasy stories aimed at children. There was much that was serious here, though. Like other magical protagonists, Amari finds herself the object of negative attention for her abilities, but what Alston is also doing here is using her abilities to talk about class and race. Because Amari is black, reactions to what she can potentially do are to be read as reactions to her blackness as well. I thought it was incredibly clever how Alston used Amari's powers to comment on the wider issue of 'passing'. Amari, by virtue of the fairly public display of her powers, can't pass the way other people with the same ability as her can. And the fact that Amari's powers are read negatively also offers a commentary on her blackness. Other (white) people with the same abilities as her can hide behind their esteemed families (read: whiteness), but Amari doesn't have that luxury.
I'm in two minds about the way Alston has the recruits' potential determined by different kinds of badges. On one hand, Amari tests high for potential, which I think is appropriate. It's a commentary on how black children can be seen as having less potential because of their colour. Alston is saying that no doors should be closed to Amari just because she's black. I do admire that idea, and agree with it. On the other hand, I'm not really comfortable with telling children as they start out in life that they have a starting potential level at all. It feels limiting and unfair. Alston does soften this by suggesting that the children can work to improve their badges, but it still feels like he wanted to make Amari extra special in a kind of artificial way. I just think it's not a great message to send to determine potential in children, even if you can work to improve it.
I also thought the ending, where the villain is revealed, needed way more focus. It didn't feel like that was well paced at all, but I do sense there will be more to develop that in future stories. It just did feel like it came out of nowhere in that moment.
I did like this a lot, though. I liked all the secondary characters too, and I hope we're going to see them all again, and see them develop further, in the next book. I also hope that link between Amari and the villain from this story is going to be developed further too. There's a lot Alston can do with Amari's powers and the expanding world going forward that I'm excited to see.
gigglesbarbie's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
tarygl's review against another edition
5.0
Me and The Boy just loved this one. A touch overstuffed, but absolutely "just one more chapter before bed" material.
orionidrose's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
medium-paced
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
raeknightly's review against another edition
5.0
A charming, fun middle-grade fantasy story about a young girl who goes on a quest to find her missing brother. She's witty, brave and clever, and nothing will stand in her way of saving her loved ones, even when all odds are stacked against her. I wish the climax at the end had gone on for a bit longer because there was so much to unravel! Great read for 9 to 14 year old's (and young-at-heart adults!).