User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
I hope you all like it!
Rating: really liked it
THIS FREAKING BOOK! OH MY GOSH! Hands down it's going to be in the top books of 2021 for me and we're only in January. This is the type of book I wish I had growing up!Amari and the Night Brothers is a fantastical breathtakingly beautiful book. I wasn't sure what to expect going in. I knew that the book focused on a young girl by the name of Amari who was responsible for trying to find her missing brother. I knew that in her search she came across a magical world that fostered some sort of competition. Don't get me wrong, I was excited because there appeared to be an emphasis on Black girl magic. What ended up following those thoughts was an unbelievable experience.
This book is definitely more than a young girl looking for her brother. It's a book that places an emphasis on things such as friendship/companionship, perseverance, self-confidence, the Black experience, how fear is so easily related to hate. It’s been a very long time since I’ve read a middle grade book that truly captures my attention and pulls me in for an unforgettable ride. Amari is who I wish I had as a fictional character when I was growing up. Sure, there were plenty of fantasy series, but none where the main character looked like me and experienced the same types of things I experienced at that age. Amari is truly unforgettable and an ode to the Black girl magic of resilience. Even with her back against the wall, she never gave up the fight in looking of her brother. When her peers told her she wasn’t good enough because she was different she took their words and used them as a way to become even stronger. She learned that every battle she faced wasn’t a battle that needed to be fought alone and sometimes friends are there to remind us of the strength and courage that we have when we least expect it. I admired her character is so many different ways and I can’t wait for my daughter to get older and read this series.
Outside of the amazing character development, Alston created this AMAZING fantasy world with an ode to some myths and legends we’re familiar with. It’s complex in some ways, yet reminiscent of other fantasy books in other ways. Both the plot and the overall pacing of the book were fantastic. Every page was a joy to read and while I thought I had the entirety of the book figured out, Alston threw twist after twist at me that I didn’t see coming. It was a true testament to the way in which Alston was able to capture his reader’s attention and take them on a true adventure. This is going to be a middle grade series for the ages. Mark my words. I’m still finding it hard to believe that this is a debut book. While I’m sure people will reference HP because of feelings of nostalgia, this book doesn’t need it. It stands on its own and will make such a wide impact on its readers. I’m sad to have finished the book so quickly. I’m not sure how long I’ll have to wait until the next book, but I’ll be patiently and anxiously awaiting.
Rating: really liked it
Check out my spoiler-free interview with author B. B. Alston on YouTube: https://youtu.be/_oF5Ma0vRZs
A truly imaginative and explosive start to what promises to be an exciting new middle grade series to watch out for!
Amari has felt rather lost since the disappearance of her brother, but when she discovers a strange suitcase in his room, she has no idea how much bigger his disappearance - and the world around her - actually are. Enter the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where Amari begins to train as a junior agent in a world where aliens, witches, dragons and way, way more exist.
This book has all the makings of a beloved adventure, perfect for kids and adults who want a fresh dose of action in their life. I loved the opening up of this incredible new world that feels rather real, and there are so many possibilities with this world that I am extremely excited for what's to come. Amari is a hugely likeable protagonist who has faced oppression all her life, so she jumps at the opportunity to discover new things, but even more so to discover what happened to her brother. Amari ends up making some close friends whom I love, and other characters are rather complex too. There are some brilliant twists and turns by the end of the book, setting us up for a brilliant sequel to come.
Plot-driven, action-packed, character-focused and just absolutely-brilliant.
Rating: really liked it
Amari and the Night Brothers is
Middle Grade Fantasy at its finest. This book was so great, it should be celebrated!
Amari, the world, its dangers and the magic system were all fantastically imagined. I humbly request at least ten volumes for this series.
Is that too much to ask? I think if you pick this one up, you'd soon agree.
13-year old, Amari Peters, lives with her Mom in the
Rosewood housing project. She has an older brother, Quinton, who is smart, fun and brave. He means a lot to Amari. He's her best friend, but Quinton has gone missing.
Amari doesn't understand why it isn't a bigger deal. Why it only seems to matter to her and her Mom? Why isn't it on the news? Why do the police act like if something happened to him, it was probably because he was up to no good?
Amari knows better. She doesn't care what they insinuate about him, Quinton is the best person she knows and she is going to find out what happened to him, whether others believe her, or not.
Upon arriving home after an especially trying day, Amari is surprised by a visitor who gives her a clue that may help; the answer to which lies in a briefcase hidden in Quinton's closet.
She can't believe what she finds.
The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs? Is this for real? And Quinton has nominated her for a try-out?
While the prospect is scary, Amari knows this may be her best, perhaps her only chance, of getting to the bottom of her brother's disappearance. She has to give it a shot.
Thus begins Amari's introduction to the hidden supernatural world around her. She also discovers the hidden power within herself.
Under the guise of attending a 'leadership camp', Amari is able to stay at the Vanderbilt Hotel with the other Bureau trainees. There she is fully immersed in learning, training and competing. Did you hear that?
Learning, training and competing.
It's a MAGIC SCHOOL trope! I know, it's called 'camp', but it's a magic school; only one of the best tropes ever created.
The Reader learns along with Amari the ins-and-outs of the world and magic system. The good guys, the bad guys, the history. It's all beautifully constructed and paced out.
I was totally engrossed in this while reading it. As first books in a series go, this is top notch. It definitely left me wanting more and I can't wait to see how Amari grows in future books.
If you are looking for that good old-fashioned, kid discovering they are actually part of a magical world, then learns about it, competes within it, and fights evil forces, kind of book, you NEED to pick this up. There's not even an option.
You can thank me later.
Rating: really liked it
OwlCrate Jr's January 2021 Box : My Rep Code: MEL10 ❤️
✨ (& my ASMR unboxing) ✨
this was so absolutely perfect <3
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Rating: really liked it
This is a Middle Grade Fantasy, and this is the first book in the Supernatural Investigations series. This is the Middle Grade Monthly book for this March 2021, and I saw so many Book Tubes talking about this book. I just had to read this book, and I am so happy I did. This book give me, Men In Black vibes. I loved this book so much, and it was a cool and fun read. There was a big twist that I really did not see coming. I loved the characters in this book, and Amari was so much fun following. I also think the message in this book is so great for kids. The magic in this book was fun and easy to picture which is what I want for a middle grade book. This book was well written, and the pacing was perfect. I cannot wait for the second book in this series. I got the kindle edition of this book from my local library, but I have since ordered a copy of this book for my daughter.
Rating: really liked it
This book is so much more than a young girl looking for her missing brother. It is a book about friendship and companionship, about perseverance and self-confidence. It is about the Black experience and how fear can so easily escalate to hate.
I was immediately captured by this story. Amari is a character I desperately wish I had when I was younger and am so happy that young Black kids have this now. She is the true definition of Black girl magic! I loved her. She has such resilience and strong convictions and perseverance. When those around her told her she would never be good enough because of her differences, she took those words and used them to become even stronger. I also loved how Amari learned that not every battle is one you have to fight alone. Friends are a great reminder that we are not alone, that we have strength and courage and together we can do anything.
As amazing as the characters are, the world-building of this was just as good! This is a true fantasy story! There are myths and legends that we are familiar with as well as new and innovative takes on classic fantasy characters and tropes we know. The plot and overall pacing of the book were fantastic as well! Every page kindled joy and continued to move the story along. It was never boring! There were also more plot twists in this book than some of the adult mystery/thrillers I've read! This is a book I can see becoming the next big thing and I desperately want it to! I cannot wait for the next installment in this!
Rating: really liked it
9.14 on CAWPILE
Rating: really liked it
Reading Vlog: https://youtu.be/NQKqgu3NpIU
✨What a freaking DELIGHT!✨
Also, let's have a moment for the cover. S T U N N I N G.
🧙🏾♀️ Amari Peters is the future.👑
Let's talk about WHIMSY! This is a bucket of laughs with fantastical imagery, loveable characters and a magical setting that feels like home almost immediately.
Not only that but B.B. Alston weaves in parallels to racism, classism and prejudice that middle grade usually lacks.
I will definitely be rereading this in the future and can't wait for the sequel.
Rating: really liked it
5 stars
A magical, amazing start to a fantasy series.
I could not get enough of Amari and her adventures! A hidden magical society dedicated to keeping the magical beings of the world hidden from us? Yes. Perfect for us fans of
Nevermoor,
Keeper of the Lost Cities, and more.
Main character: ★★★★★
Magical world: ★★★★★
Plot/Pacing: ★★★★★
Setup for series: perfect, I am hooked!
Amari's older brother, Quinton Peters, has been missing for months. The police tell her and her mother that Quinton must have fallen in with "the bad crowd" and wasn't employed in any legal capacity. The color of his skin seems to be their only justification for their "solve." But Amari knows that can't be right—Quinton won all of his scholarships, attended a prestigious leadership summer camp, and shows up to her mother's low income apartment complex with money and presents all the time.
So when Quinton disappears, Amari vows to find out the truth. The real truth.
A ticking briefcase in Quinton's closet changes the game. All the sudden, Amari is faced with an unbelievable fact: Quinton worked for a hidden magical society. Wait, what? With a note of recommendation from Quinton in Amari's pocket and some instructions for an interview, Amari shows up for the strangest thing in her life.
Turns out Quinton pulled some strings to get Amari into the same "leadership camp" that he attended each summer. The camp that was actually a high-stakes magical training program. And Amari's been formally invited to tryout for her own place in the society.
Now down the rabbit hole,
Amari quickly realizes that she's not the only one who loved Quinton and is looking for him—the entire Bureau of Supernatural Affairs is looking. Quinton was their star agent and he disappeared with his partner in a deadly chase.
If Amari can survive her summer tryouts and be selected by the Junior Agent training program, then she's one step closer to finding out the truth about what happened to her brother. But
Quinton isn't the only Peters sibling with some standout talent. Just what, exactly, qualifies Amari to be trained in the magical arts? No one, especially not Amari, is ready for the answer.
Y'ALL. This was such a great fantasy debut! I could not stop reading it—all of our favorite tropes were here, but given a fair few fresh twists.
Magical schooling, deadly stakes, a mystery, secret coverups, magicians, magical beings, humor, and MORE. I can't describe all of the elements, but trust me, they're present.
Separate from the immediate appeal of the magical setup was Amari herself.
Amari was a fantastic character to follow. Her heart, her love for her brother, and her experiences as a young Black girl realizing that the obstacles facing her in the real world do not magically disappear once she's been whisked away really hit me in the feels. She's a strong protagonist and she's here on a mission. But will she learn how to blossom and grow along the way? Agh. I cannot wait to grow with Amari in later installments. She's here to rock the world.
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Rating: really liked it
5/5 starsEvery single year, like clockwork, a new middle-grade fantasy with magical themes is released, and immediately promoted to be “the new Harry Potter”. My response is always the same: a deep sigh and an exaggerated eyeroll to the offending publisher. This time however, was different. For the first time in my reviewing career, I’m going to call that comparison valid.
Now, please hold on to your chairs, for not only am I going to say
“If you liked Harry Potter, you will like Amari and the Night Brothers”, I’m going to take it one step further.
I genuinely think this book is better… Amari, a young black girl, bullied for being from a “bad neighbourhood” has felt rather lost since the disappearance of her brother whom she adored. When she discovers a strange suitcase in his room, she has no idea how much bigger his disappearance - and the world around her - actually are. Enter the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where Amari begins to train as a junior agent in a world where aliens, witches, dragons and way, way more exist.
I don’t say this lightly, but this book reminded me of my experience reading the first Harry Potter. The same adventure, whimsy and friendship, in an introduction into a phenomenal world of witches, wizards, and much more. The one difference being: I think Amari and the Ghost Brothers is actually better. Everything that J.K. Rowling did wrong, BB Alston does right: this book is diverse, inclusive and has a very timely message which it doesn’t shy away from. If you want to experience that “Harry Potter-feeling” that my generation had (blissfully unaware of all the insensitivities and opinions of Mrs. Rowling), but brought to a new, more diverse and inclusive generation: this series is for you.
I’ve already given this book and its Dutch translation as a gift to quite a few kids and pre-teens in my life, and have only heard back positive things. Can’t recommend this book enough: although it’s my first, I think this will be my middle-grade book of the year.
Rating: really liked it
*climbs to the very top of a mountain, inhales and screams*: I LOVE THIS BOOOOOOOK.
Amari and the Night Brothers has the potential to be the next big series - yes, it is really that good.
- Follows Amari, a young Black girl who gets swept into a hidden magical world when she receives a briefcase from her missing brother - and she gets nominated to be a trainee at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs.
- This book is just so much fun!!! I loved how imaginative and creative and visual this book was. This was the sort of book that ignites your imagination and love for reading - and I can absolutely seeing this book being the book that gets young people into reading.
- The story was amazing, and I just could not stop reading? Each time I picked up this book, I genuinely looked forward to where the author would take us next.
- The characters were wonderful - especially Amari. She was such a wonderful protagonist who isn't perfect but is absolutely trying to do the right thing when she gets caught in a sticky situation.
- I just loved that this was a magical school but mixed with elements of Men in Black. I loved the references to other magical works and mythologies and has paranormal elements too.
- I just. I just really loved this. I really need this to become a big thing so that it can be adapted into a film! It'd be perfect.
Trigger/content warning: mild fantasy violence
Rating: really liked it
I really wanted to like this more than I did. I was very excited to get the chance to read this book early because I’ve lately been enjoying middle grade novels. There’s something so pure about these novels that sweep you away into an adventure, and Amari and the Night Brothers is a brand new diverse read with a fantastic cover. I was so on-board and ready for the adventure. The book had potential but I felt that major world-building and pacing issues held it back. I think the most frustrating part is they are somewhat easy fixes for the most part, and it would have let the core part of the novel shine so much brighter.
Let’s start with the positives. Amari is a 13-year-old girl who is inducted into the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and overall I think she is a strong protagonist. She is kind and compassionate, but also quick to anger. One of the main values Amari learns throughout this novel is that you should never lash out in violence, even if people are cruel, and I think that’s a great lesson. I also appreciated how Amari struggles with prejudice both inside and outside the Bureau. It’s always been a great strength of middle grade novels to reframe a character’s struggles in a new magical context. Outside of the Bureau Amari is judged for her race and her poverty; inside the Bureau she is judged for having magic. I think that this recontextualization is a great way for children to relate to these issues, and for children to work through these issues. Finally, while I may criticize novels aimed at an older audience for overusing the ‘chosen one’ narrative, I think it’s a great device in middle grade novels. It’s important for children to feel empowered and to feel like the hero of their own story, especially so for children who rarely see themselves represented as the hero, so I’m totally on board for Amari to be very special.
My biggest issue with this novel is the flimsy world-building. Right from the first chapter I started to have a sinking feeling that I wasn’t going to enjoy this book. The author constantly throws in
fun quirky ideas until this novel is completely oversaturated with random content that doesn’t add to the world in any way. Worse, it undercuts elements of the world that should seem magical and special because as readers we’re exposed to dozens of random fantastical events a chapter, so how is anything supposed to stand out? In the first (or perhaps the second) chapter, Amari receives this illusion-message-thing that gives her a vision, and in this vision she experiences so many different scenarios from flying in a hot air balloon to travelling in an underwater train. These scenes have barely any descriptions because before you know it we are already off to our next quirky scenario. Now, I’m not saying that every fantastical detail needs to contribute to the story as a whole; there is always room for fun little details. But this whole book is built almost entirely on fun little details and a fundamentally flawed magic system (which I’ll get to later).
In this book Amari explores pretty much every area of the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs to the point that she explores multiple departments in one chapter. While I’ll return to the pacing later, I should mention now that this book moves at a breakneck pace. At one point Amari visits a room that I thought had a lot of potential; it was an astrology type room where the keeper can give prophecies or something. But this lasts maybe half a chapter before we’re off to a safari. As readers we can never settle into the world because it just never stops. Now I hesitate to make the following comparison for many reasons – from the fact that not everything needs to be compared to this series as well as the problematic views of author – but I need an example that most people know. So imagine if Harry Potter finds the Chamber of Secrets, explores the path under the Whomping Willow, takes a trip to Hogsmeade, pops over to the Ministry of Magic, and attends the Quidditch World Cup, all in the first book. How on earth could any of these places be memorable when they each appear for maybe one chapter, and then a million things happen in the same book???? For heavens sake Amari has the potential to be large series, why throw everything in at once???
I want to move on to one of the central aspects of this series, and why it doesn’t make any sense. When students join the Bureau there is a special ceremony.
“All of you possess a unique talent that we will enhance into a supernatural ability through an ancient gem gifted to us by the famed elf, Merlin. For instance, if you are someone who is constantly being told how good a listener you are, once you’ve touched the Crystal Ball, you might find yourself capable of hearing through walls.”
When Amari touches the ball it reveals she has magic, which apparently just means she can create illusions, and in the Bureau there is a huge prejudice against and fear of people who have innate magic. Now that doesn’t sound bad on its own, but here are a list of some of the other abilities students received:
Freakish Organization Skills
Unnatural Luck
A Medium
Mastermind Inventor
Physics-Defying Aim
Superhuman Athleticism
Read your mind for your intentions
Hands transform into solid metal
There are people who can
read your mind without your consent, but the undefined magic gene is the issue. Do you see some of these abilities that are just considered normal??? Their prejudice against magic should at least be based on something coherent, but it makes no sense in this world. This talent-enhancing ceremony is so completely unnecessary and just creates huge contradictions when it comes to the central conflict. Literally these enhanced abilities make zero impact on the story as a whole and you could easily forget they exist. They just exist so that Amari can occasionally notice someone jumping really high in the hall or something. If they just had all the students be regular kids who maybe had a special gene that lets them see supernatural beings, then it would make sense why they fear someone who could use magic. But oh no we need to fill this book with
random quirks. Who needs logic.
Now I want to touch on an aspect of the book that genuinely angers me. It may not have the biggest impact on the story, but sometimes it’s the small things that matter most. In the ceremony when the students touch the crystal, they are not just given enhanced abilities. Students are also evaluated on their potential and given a badge that embodies their rank.
“This publication lists every job classification the Bureau has to offer. What positions you are allowed to pursue depends on both your potential and your ability … Badges represent you current potential – intelligence, bravery, curiosity, all those kinds of things.” And here are the list of badges:
Opal
Gold
Silver
Bronze
Iron
Copper
Stone
Glass
Wood
Plastic
Cardboard
Aluminum Foil
Notebook Paper
Now I want you to think on that for a moment. Imagine how many children already feel not good enough, not smart enough, not talented enough. In the real world when you do poorly on a test it can be soul-crushing, but you can at least take comfort in several facts. Maybe you didn’t study hard enough, maybe you had a bad teacher, maybe you were feeling sick that day. You can plan to study harder or get a tutor or switch classes; a bad grade doesn’t necessarily mean you’re bad student. But this crystal ball isn’t a test for which students prepare. In one touch it examines your mind, your heart, your soul, and determines that you intrinsically have low potential. If that was me I’d never recover. I can’t even begin to express how much this infuriates me. When I was going through school I knew so many people – sadly it was mostly girls – who would just say
I’m not a math person or
I’m not a science person. They truly believed that there was something wrong with them and that would never change, so they didn’t bother to try. They wouldn’t do any of the math homework and then claim that their poor grade was just a result of their intrinsic ability. How many people have held themselves back because they didn’t think they were good enough?? It’s so depressing. Sure the president lady of the Bureau can say
“While it’s true that badges are important in identifying those children we feel will be extraordinary additions to our ranks, don’t allow your initial badge to define your career with the Bureau. Hard work can improve your badge over time.” I would kindly like to tell her to f*** off. Imagine how insanely demoralizing it would be to walk around with a piece of cardboard pinned to your shirt (yes that’s literally how it works) displaying your ineptitude for all the world to see. What a disgusting system that is not critiqued in any way. Again it’s just a
fun little quirk that is never referenced again in the story and only exists so that Amari can have an opal.
Oh god this review is already getting too long, so I’ll try to be brief on my last point. The pacing in the book is terrible. I don't even know how to express how quickly this book moves. The students at this Bureau have one summer ONE SUMMER to complete their training to become full-fledged agents. That’s insane not just on a logical level, but on a story level. The author crams three important trials into this one book, and then Amari is fully certified by the end. Again, don’t you want this to be a series???? Why can’t the readers learn and grow with Amari and appreciate her accomplishments over several books. We’ve barely been introduced to this world and already she’s an expert.
If you like this book then that’s great. It’s even better if you’re a kid who loves it. There are lots of positive reviews, but of course these are all written by adults so who knows what the kids think. I would never in a million years want anyone, especially a child, to ever feel ashamed or uncomfortable about the things they like. But I think children’s content deserves to be taken seriously and to be critiqued seriously. Too often I find creators taking the easy way out because something is targeted at children and they just want an easy buck, and that’s wrong and exploitative. I don’t think this author falls into that category at all but I do think that he should have put more thought into this world. There are plenty of middle grade series with rich, well-conceived world, and he shouldn’t have just dumped everything he thought was cool into one book. None of the world-building makes sense if you think about for longer than a few seconds. So many of these little quirks could have been removed to leave more room for character work. Again I think this story had potential, but unless he or his editors reign it in, it will continue to be a disjointed, oversaturated mess.
Thanks to Edelweiss for the arc.
Rating: really liked it
I'm still reeling from this book. The twists, yall!
Amari and the Night Brothers takes you on a journey from start to finish. She's such a relatable hero and this gives a twist on the chosen one trope in that she's the only one with her special powers but her peers aren't receptive.
This book had great world building. Sometimes in MG fantasy authors feel like they have to tell you more than show you the world. And they feel like they have to overexplain to the audience because they are younger. This doesn't do that. The Bureau felt like a real place and readers feel like they're going through this camp and discovering these supernatural beings alongside Amari. While at this camp she's also dealing with being an outsider because she doesn't come from one of the rich legacy families and has different abilities. And I liked how this book never shied away from or tried to condemn her background and change her into someone else.
I always look forward to friendships in MG fantasy and the friendships here were well written and fully realized. Amari and her roommate Elise bond over being outcasts and and work together to uncover the secrets behind Quinton's disappearance.
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Rating: really liked it
This book is the epitome of why I still read middle grade as an adult. I couldn't put this down and in all honesty, I can't see any other middle grade surpassing this as my favourite middle grade of 2021.
There isn't a single thing I didn't like about this book. I had no idea what the book was about before diving in, and really just picked it up because of the hype, but I'm so glad I went in blind. It was so much fun, so wholesome, and so incredibly empowering at the same time. The writing is also fantastic - I had no idea this was BB Alston's debut because this reads like a seasoned author's work.
Amari is easily one of my new favourite characters, not just in middle grade fiction, but in general. She's just so incredibly resilient, smart, and kind, and I was ready to fight anyone that dared hurt her in any way, shape, or form. On top of this, the friendship and sibling dynamics in this book were top notch.
The pacing in this book is also standout for me - Alston is really good at keeping you interested with a fast-paced plot, while not overwhelming you with what's happening. Some of the twists towards the end definitely caught me by surprise, and I loved it.
I have no doubt in my mind that this book and series will become one of the all time greats, in terms of middle grade. It's truly middle grade fantasy at its finest, and I think this is a book that a lot of young girls, especially Black girls, will be able to see themselves in, and that just makes my heart so happy.
If it wasn't clear already, 10/10 would recommend this book, regardless of age.
