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A review by queer_bookwyrm
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
4 ⭐ CW: bullying
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston is book one in the Supernatural Investigations series. This was such a good middle grade book! Another book I wish had been around when I was a kid, cause it definitely would have taken the place of HP. This was sort of like Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black.
We follow Amari Peters, a black girl from a not great neighborhood, who constantly feels less than for things she can't control. Her brother has also been missing and can't be found. Then one day she gets a mysterious invitation for an interview for a supernatural summer camp where she discovers she's a magician. The one problem is that magicians are illegal, and she faces the same kinds of stigma in the supernatural world as she does in the real world.
This was such a fun story! There are lots of themes on believing in yourself despite what everyone around you thinks, including the adults, and living up to your potential. I absolutely loved Amari's genius inventor roommate and best friend, Elsie, who is a weredragon. Amari is whip smart, but struggles to believe in herself, because she feels like she pales in comparison to her brother's awesome achievements, until she realizes being second to the number one supernatural agent isn't a bad thing.
I want so badly to learn about all the supernatural beings and all the cool abilities everyone gets. I will definitely be reading the next book. Middle grade books are so underrated!
Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston is book one in the Supernatural Investigations series. This was such a good middle grade book! Another book I wish had been around when I was a kid, cause it definitely would have taken the place of HP. This was sort of like Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black.
We follow Amari Peters, a black girl from a not great neighborhood, who constantly feels less than for things she can't control. Her brother has also been missing and can't be found. Then one day she gets a mysterious invitation for an interview for a supernatural summer camp where she discovers she's a magician. The one problem is that magicians are illegal, and she faces the same kinds of stigma in the supernatural world as she does in the real world.
This was such a fun story! There are lots of themes on believing in yourself despite what everyone around you thinks, including the adults, and living up to your potential. I absolutely loved Amari's genius inventor roommate and best friend, Elsie, who is a weredragon. Amari is whip smart, but struggles to believe in herself, because she feels like she pales in comparison to her brother's awesome achievements, until she realizes being second to the number one supernatural agent isn't a bad thing.
I want so badly to learn about all the supernatural beings and all the cool abilities everyone gets. I will definitely be reading the next book. Middle grade books are so underrated!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying