Amari is such a sweet and just kick ass character. I wanna be her friend so bad haha I loved her to bits! I love how resilient she is and super clever too.

This is a fabulous book for little black girls and it's filled with that special #blackgirlmagic in the entire book. I definitely wish that I had a book like this when I was younger. I love how diverse the fantasy world is becoming too.

I will say that if you liked Harry Potter, then you will definitely enjoy this book! I cannot wait to see the movie too.

Thank you so much for my ARC!

Thank you for the advance copy. In one way everything that I think has been said by the well deserved reviews for v this book. It's a wonderful story and very welcome one and I'm delighted that all children are beginning to see themselves reflected in fantastic, adventure filled books like this one. Bravo.

This was a fun read that I'll be recommending to the right audience. It's middle grade and it's diverse -- what's not to love?!?!

This was a great book. Mystery, suspense, believing in yourself, finding yourself, magic and a supernatural element. The reading experience was super enjoyable.

Amari and the Night Brothers - @bb_alston

In my COVID fog I couldn’t focus, & for two weeks of 2021 I didn’t complete a book. As I improved I wanted magical middle grade. Potter was out, because, the sheer cheek of the pretence of inclusion. I was headed for Nevermoor AGAIN (because my love for @digressica is all). But, something shiny beckoned.

After rave reviews, both on Bookstagram and from Rachael @rogansbooks - I knew I had to head to Amari.

Wow.

From the first chapter the world felt fresh. On the surface you might write it off as regular children’s fiction
- girl who doesn’t fit in
- quirky invite to magic school
- protagonist who doesn’t want to be there but is secretly working against the system for information (about her missing brother)
- bitchy classmates to win over
- cool trials the main character inexplicably does well in (despite not knowing magic existed 10 mins ago).

But.

Instantly you feel grounded with Amari. Her situation’s real. She’s already faced the bias and hatred that comes from being poor, black and marginalised on a scholarship in a private school - judged on stereotype rather than ability. With this reality baked in you can follow her on any journey, root for her in any situation. So often in middle grade, and YA, you put up with the bland main character to fall in love with the side characters <cough Harry, Katniss, Bella, Tris, cough> Here, Amari is so alive and vibrant and you want to spend every page with her.

The magic school’s fun, well realised and smartly fleshed out. The abilities are interesting, and Amari’s quest to find her missing brother is fascinating- with clues unravelling organically and actual earned twists, that build. Unusually (&mercifully) plots are resolved and answers are found even if they’re not easy. There is scope to build on in future books, but nothing withheld in a teasing cliffhanger.

In short, it was a pleasure to devour and got me out of my COVID slump. A much needed genre refresh, in the way Legendborn gave YA a needed kick in 2020.

Added to my Jan 21 shelf in my bookshop.org (link in bio).

Pic stolen from publisher. Shamelessly. Because COVID. And it’s an e-arc from @netgalley .

The book tells the story of a young girl Amari. She’s the only black student in the prestigious school she needs to attend. She faces being an outsider every single day. Firstly, because she is black and secondly because she is one of the poor students that can be in this school because of the scholarship. However, it’s not the only thing she needs to go through. Her older brother Quinton went missing this year. The police weren’t able to find any traces to find him.
On the last day of her school, she received an invitation to join the camp that her brother attended when he was her age. This invitation opened a new door for her to discover a supernatural part of her world that is hidden from all the people and to find out what happened to her brother. She wants to use this opportunity and try to find her brother. To do so she needs to go through many try-outs and join the group of supernatural agents.

Book review:
I am amazed by how good this book was! The beginning was a little bit boring but from the time Amari went to the camp, I couldn’t take my eyes off the book. I think we can add this book to the group of books like Harry Potter or Percy Jackson, which are loved by a younger and older audience. This book is very well written and includes a mystery that will keep you reading until you finish the book. I didn’t have much time for reading lately so it took me longer to read it as I wish, but I know that if I could I would read it in one or two days.
After all, Amari went through, I admire her courage the most. Don’t get me wrong she is very smart and kind, but her courage beats everything. From the very beginning, she is willing to take every challenge if it means a step closer to find her brother. At her age, most people would just allow police and agents to work. However, she feels that they don’t do enough, and she decides to do her investigation. Thankfully she’s not alone, she finds people on her way that help her.
The building of the world isn’t very complicated. However, it’s very interesting to learn more and more about it. The characters that appear in the book are all different from each other. Besides Amari, I think Elsie is my second favorite character. No matter what, she was always there for Amari even when they didn’t know each other well. At the time they met, I think they both were in need to find a friend and they became very close ones.
I enjoyed the connection between the villains in the book to the main character. It made the story much more interesting if she would be only assigned as very talented and special. This makes it new and fresh. I definitely wouldn’t enjoy it as much as I did if it would be done differently.
I would like to thank The Write Reads for inviting me to join this book tour! I enjoyed the book a lot and I will look forward to buying myself a copy of it soon so I can read it once again.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and Egmont in return for an honest review.

Amari and the Night Brothers is a brilliant debut with a fantastic new take on the magic school setting.

Amari Peters has struggled to fit in all her life: growing up in the shadow of her talented and intelligent older brother, Quinton, and trying to fit in at her elite private school, though everyone else's background is so different to hers. When her older brother mysteriously disappears, Amari feels lost and unsure what to do next. When a mysterious briefcase is secretly deliver to her containing a message from her missing brother, Amari learns about the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and a hidden magical world.

She is offered a place at a summer training camp where she will learn the knowledge and skills she needs to join a department in the Bureau. However, the training is intense and Amari must complete three tryouts, competing against children who have known about this world all their lives, in order to secure a covetted place in the organisation. If she fails, she might never find out what happened to Quinton.

I absolutely loved Amari. She is a wonderful main character: feisty and determined, but with a kind heart and plenty of self-doubts. Her personality shines out of this novel and you really just want her to succeed. The secondary characters are a great mixture of friends, mentors, rivals and villains, though no-one is exactly as they seem so it's hard to trust anyone!

The world-building was fantastic. The layout of the Bureau, its hierachy, the magic systems, the gadgets, the history of the world...all of it was rich and detailed. Add to this, the insight we get into Amari's life in the real world felt very genuine and a lot of children will be able to relate to her as a character.

The plot was really interesting and there were several points that fooled me! I'm so excited that we are just at the beginning of Amari's adventures in this world and there is so much more to explore and find out about.

I would recommend this book to readers aged 9+, especially those who enjoy books like Percy Jackson or Keepers of the Lost Cities.

I honestly haven’t had this much fun reading a book in a while. Things have been so intense this year, between pandemic and just being a human, that I never realised how the joy of a well written middle grade novel with magic, adventure and a main character with endless wit would actually boost my mood. What B.B Alston has achieved here is absolutely stunning. Imagine being informed you’re a demi god, who is magical but you’re missing brother is part of the magical equivalent of the X Files while struggling to be the Slayer. That’s only HALF the stuff Amari has to face and conquer.

The world Amari becomes part of would be any child’s dream come true, to escape the mundane and become part of one that is filled with magic and adventure. Amari isn’t your standard young girl though. From a poorer part of town, the odds seem always seem stacked against her. She is a victim of cyber bullying, as well as general bullying and general prejudice while attending a “good” school.

This is something I really enjoyed was how the writer managed to bring this discussion into the supernatural world as well. It can be a heavy topic but younger readers would definitely see it. But it’s handled so perfectly here, between kids from ‘legacy’ families (like the likes of the Van Helsing name) having a natural advantage over entry level students to the Bureau, I was so impressed.

Amari herself is every bit of the legend you would want from a book like this. She is tenacious and honestly a great person to read from. She is very well rounded in that we do get to see her vulnerabilities as well. She is so heaviluy dedicated to her family, but we do see her doubt herself in places too. When faced with the prospect that you’re the magical equivalent of a super villain template, I think it’s only fair to consider what potential you have. Both good and bad. What I also really loved about Amari was her secondary driver to not see others treated poorly or lose out on a chance at life because of their circumstances. I do hope to continue seeing her thrive on this in the following books.

Also its hard not to enjoy just how funny this book is. Honestly there are moments that are just genuinely made me smile or laugh. One example being where Amari is watching a man at a bus stop who’s head is on fire and he lights a cigarette off his own forehead. Or someone being sung out of a coma by a supernaturally trained medic. Definitely worth reading for some feel good moments as well.

Thank you to The Write Reads for having me on the tour as always and Egmont publishing for an advanced copy of the book in exchange for a review. Thanks for checking in guys, join Amari for her wonderful adventure on the 21st of January 2021!

All the best parts of men and black mixed with Harry potter and of course a Kick-Ass magician. Amari is on the hard to find her brother Quinton who recently went missing. She believe that he still alive even though everybody else seems to think she's crazy. On the last day of school she receives an interesting package that leads are until world she never even knew existed and one she will change forever. Interesting characters, Kick-Ass storyline and of course a little bit of danger mixed right in. This is definitely a contender for my book of the year and I believe everybody needs to read it whether you like YA or just a bit of fantasy. This is pitched as a middle grade book however I think it is worth reading not matter your age. If you don't already have Amari and the Night Brothers on your radar you really should change that.

Amari’s adored older brother is missing, she is in trouble for reacting to the cruel jibes of her class mates and her mum, called from her nursing job to speak to the principal who takes away her scholarship for the prestigious school, grounds her for the summer. Relief arrives in an unexpected delivery from her brother, providing a hint of the work he has kept secret and opening up a world beyond Amari’s wildest imagination, not to mention an invitation to a special summer camp and the chance of discovering what has happened to Quinton.
Arriving at the camp, she discovers that Quinton and his partner Maria are superstars in the Department that manages the interactions between humans and supernatural beings, but this does not prevent Amari from suffering the same persecution based on race and poverty that she experiences at her school. This intensifies when it is revealed that she is a born magician, not to be trusted because of the actions of magicians in the past, although she has allies in her room-mate Elsie and Quinton’s former mentor.
The world of the novel is brilliantly described, as vibrantly alive as that of Harry Potter or Men in Black. Amari is a great heroine, her confidence ebbing and flowing as she comes to terms with her new, unexpected powers and discovers who can be trusted in this unfamiliar world. Fast paced and action packed, this will have wide appeal in our school library. A thoroughly enjoyable fantasy adventure rooted in the real life dramas of self-discovery, family and friendship.

Step aside, Harry Potter, there's a new magical master of children's literature and her name is Amari Peters.

When Amari's big brother, Quinton vanishes without a trace, she is determined to find him. But when a mysterious suitcase is delivered to her door, and Quinton himself seems to take her on a flying boat, Amari quickly learns that her search will take her to a place more extraordinary than she could ever have imagined. The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs has been operating in secret around the world, keeping magical creatures safe and coming up with cover stories for the unexplainable, and Amari has just been given the opportunity to join their summer programme, like her brother before her. Making Junior Agent seems like the best way to uncover what really happened to her brother, but to do so Amari will have to overcome prejudice and learn who she can trust within the Bureau's magical walls.

I loved this book and can't wait to read it again, with my daughter this time as I know she's going to love it too. It has everything you could want from a magical Middle Grade: brilliant characters, high stakes and superb world building.

Alston's world building is really special, and was definitely my favourite thing about this story. The magical world Amari finds herself in will delight readers and leave them desperate to receive their own nomination to join the Bureau. It was filled with so many small (and usually very funny) details - from cleverly titled magazines, to the Bureau's many, jaw dropping floors.

This novel also has a fantastic cast of magical characters. I loved Amari and Elsie's friendship and can't wait to see what they get up to next. Amari's bond with her brother, Quinton, was another highlight.

The plot had lots of twists and turns and was fast paced and engaging. I can see this story being very popular and it will appeal to a wide range of readers, who will love Amari and her world. This has all the markings of a hugely successful series.

Thank you so much Egmont and The Write Reads for sending me an advanced copy to review.

Now, I’m going to get to the book shortly, but first, let me explain the impact this book has had on me. We need to start with a little trip down memory lane.

Rewind to the year 1997. I would have been seven years old, and during that time, two of my favourite childhood series were just beginning. J.K. Rowling had just released Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone and Columbia Pictures released Men In Black. I was in heaven at the age of seven.

Fast forward 23 years. and I found myself with a copy Amari & The Night Brothers thanks to NetGalley. Whilst reading, I couldn’t help but feel gutted that Amari’s story hadn’t been told sooner. I loved it and seven year old me would have devoured it.


For me, it feels like B.B. Alston has brought those two worlds together to create a completely fresh and exciting setting – I can just imagine 7-year-old me drooling. In amongst this delightful world, is the amazing Amari and a host of unforgettable characters that I honestly cannot wait to share with my class.

Amari’s brother has gone missing. Nobody seems to want to talk about it. All she knows is that it has something to do with her brothers job..

Out of the blue, Amari gets an invitation to tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and she is sure that this place will hold the key to the whereabouts of her brother. Very quickly, Amari must adjust to a world filled with aliens, sasquatches, magicians and a variety of other supernatural creatures.

Amari’s faced with the balancing act of trying to get through several challenges despite knowing very little about the supernatural world, whilst also searching for clues about what’s happened to her brother…

I loved this book. I know that Seven-year-old me would have adored this book.

I can’t wait to share it with my class.

Among the many authors on Twitter who I follow, there are a handful whose opinion with regard to other writers’ work I really value, and whose suggestions I will make a point of reading. One such author is Sophie Anderson and this is a book I requested from Net Galley the week before Christmas as she had spoken so very highly of it. After waiting patiently for three weeks, I had assumed I was not going to be lucky enough to be allocated this one so when the email came confirming that I had, a day or so after being granted Crater Lake: Evolution, I think it’s fair to say that I was a very happy bunny indeed.

In common with the other titles that I have requested based solely on Sophie’s recommendation, I knew absolutely nothing about this title when I requested it, and with it downloaded onto my Kindle, I had no blurb to guide me as to what sort of story this would be. A year ago, I would never have taken a chance like that on a book, but I would like to think that I have become a lot more open to reading a much broader range of books in the past twelve months and that my little library reflects this. So, what sort book is this – and, perhaps more importantly – what did I make of it?

Our story opens in a setting familiar to many of us, for a variety of reasons: a school principal’s office. And – as some of us might have experienced – Amari is not there for a good reason. Nor is she there for the first time. On this occasion, she has shoved another pupil after the girl in question joked about Amari’s brother being dead, and that girl’s mother is quite insistent that Amari’s scholarship to her school be revoked. After returning home, Amari’s mother is at a loss as to know what to do with her, telling Amari that the school was her ticket to a good college, because unfair though it is, a poor Black girl from the ‘Wood is going to have limited opportunities in her life.

Before her laptop is taken from her as punishment, Amari logs on one last time in the hopes of posting more missing posters of her brother Quinton onto social media. Scrolling through the Instagram account of the girl she has shoved, she is deeply hurt to see her crowing about Amari’s expulsion and – even more hurtfully – badmouthing Quinton. Just as she is about to vent her feelings in a reply, she receives a notification – an email has come for Quinton regarding a delivery: a delivery which the message says Amari has already signed for.

To her enormous surprise, the email suddenly disappears and is swiftly followed by a knock on the door. When she goes to see who’s there, she is somewhat puzzled by it being a rather scruffy man, who she assumes is a homeless person. He, however, askes Amari to sign for a delivery from Quinton – a delivery which he says is in Amari’s brother’s wardrobe. As if this wasn’t all odd enough, he then tells Amari that he has been instructed to leave her memory of his visit intact. Once he has gone, Amari rushes to see what has been delivered and is initially frustrated to find a loudly ticking briefcase which she cannot open, with a Post-it attached telling her the case will open itself at midnight.

After waiting impatiently for the case to open, she finds a pair of sunglasses inside with the instructions to lie down before putting them on. Doing so, she is amazed to see Quinton standing next to her and when he tells her to hurry along with him, the pair of them head up to the roof of their apartment block. Here, there is an incredible boat parked up – a boat which they board before Quinton steers it away, showing Amari a series of wonderful sights in what he tells her is a Wakeful Dream. Amari asks her brother what has happened to him and is stunned when he replies that he does not know, but if she has received the dream he is either missing or dead and she vows to find out what has happened.

While her mother is at work the following day, Amari examines the rest of the case’s contents and finds instructions telling her to attend an interview for which she is to wear the accompanying suit – a suit unlike any she has seen before. After sneaking out, Amari finds herself headed to a small skyscraper where she takes several attempts to get to where she needs to be. Once in, she is greeted by Barnabus Ware who tells her that this year’s summer programme has begun. After a prolonged – and extremely odd – discussion with him, Amari accepts a place on the programme – a place for which she has been nominated by Quinton.

With her mother believing she is off to Quinton’s old summer camp – something which will lead to a new scholarship – Amari finds herself at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, an organisation which exists to allow supernatural beings to meet and gather, and conduct business. After being allocated to a bedroom, Amari finds herself sharing with Elsie who has pictures of Quinton and his work partner – known together as VanQuish – plastered on the wall above her bed. Elsie has been brought up in the supernatural world and is in awe of the two most famous Agents of the past 50 years, filling Amari in on what she knows about them.

The following day, all of the new attendees find themselves facing the prospect of being allocated a supernatural talent, based on an ability they already have and Amari wonders what hers could be. She has a wait to find out, as her talent is the last to be revealed, and is as shocked as everyone assembled when her talent is revealed to be one which is illegal – one which makes her just as much of an outsider here as she was in school.

With many of the other participants in the camp taking an immediate dislike to her, Amari must work harder than all of them to pass the trials she faces if she is to become a junior agent and find out the truth about Quinton’s disappearance. But not only are there those who would seek to stop her and send her back home, there are those who would bring down the Bureau itself and it isn’t long before Amari finds herself facing dangers she has never imagined. As she gets closer and closer to finding out the truth about Quinton’s disappearance, will she be able to overcome the prejudices of everyone around her or will her illegal talent get her expelled – or even worse, killed…

I have no doubt that this book will inevitably be compared with the Harry Potter, Percy Jackson and Nevermoor series – possibly with good reason – but while they are some similarities, this book has a wonderfully innovative and new feel about it, so that it bears comparisons of both plot and characters extremely well. Yes, there is the thread of magic that runs through all of these books, but Amari uses her wits and intelligence far more than her supernatural talent because that is what she is used to doing. When she uses her new-found ability to defend herself on impulse, she is revolted by it and swears not to do so again. leaving us in no doubt as to the strength of her character.

And – like her mother and brother – she has needed to be strong all of her life. While Harry Potter has had a rough ride due to his misfortune in having the Dursleys as his guardians, he lives in what many people would say is a safe, well-heeled area. Yes, Harry is deprived of love and material possessions, lives his life in parallel to his family and is witness at close-hand to what his cousin gets, but he is not living somewhere where gangs and loan-sharks are a very real presence, as Amari is. Amari has a rough ride exclusively because of her family’s circumstances. Firstly because of where she lives and secondly because of the colour of her skin. As I seem to say very regularly, I teach in a school where the children and staff are almost exclusively white British and although we do have pupils whose families are on low incomes, a significant number live extremely comfortable middle-class lives. It is all too easy for those children to be completely unaware that not only do some people have a different lifestyle to their own because of their financial situation but also because they are judged on a daily basis on their appearance. Through books like this, and heroines such as Amari, our children have the chance to see that although we all have different backgrounds, these should not – must not – limit our opportunities

This is such a brilliant book – I absolutely adored it. I’ve said before that fantasy is my favourite genre, and in this book it is realised to perfection. The story is fast-paced with twists and turns the whole way through, building up to an ending that I suspect many readers will not see coming. Amari is fabulous – determined, courageous and with a strong moral code and I cannot wait to find out what happens to her next. Although this is more of an upper KS2 book, there will be many children of Year 4 age who will love this too and a great many in KS3. Enormous thanks must go to Net Galley and Egmont Publishers for allowing me to read this ahead of publication on January 21st. An electrifying 5 out of 5 stars.

If you're missing a "kid discovers they're magic & goes to boarding school (well, summer camp) & gets involved in shenanigans & bravery with new friends", then let me point you towards Amari and the Night Brothers by @bb_alston, *so* brilliant. Thanks @egmontbooksuk, out in Jan! https://t.co/Y3W9snTFpy

What a fun and clever story. It was reminiscent of Harry Potter with the kid who is an outsider but special. Picked on for no other reason but who he is. The magical aspect of both books in both books was fun and the good vs. evil magicians were clear in both.
I love Amari. Having a young black character from a lower-income neighborhood will speak to so many kids. She is smart, sassy and willing to go to any length to find her brother.
Going to summer camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, Amari might have thought life would be a little different for her. It turns out though, there are mean girls everywhere. But, there are also a few people willing to take a chance on her and be a real friend!
Amari takes a chance on making new friends, but is one of them willing to betray her?

When I 1st got the arc for this book and started reading I flew through it and was about 60% into it by the time I realized that I needed to sleep to be able to go to work the next day (I know right... rude much real life)
But yeah I couldn't put down the book, it's one of those "one more chapter" kind of books.... and I really loved every moment of it, I was rooting, cheering, and crying with Amari throughout it, know what it means to be the different one in the group and learning to overcome it.
Highly recommend it to anyone with a child or for yourself if you want to know what courage and stubbornness is and what one can do when they just learn to love and believe in themselves.
can't wait for the next book to come out so i can binge read it (hopefully it won't take too long) ^^

This is a simply wonderful book. It is the story of Amari who is trying to find out what happened to her brother who is missing. It takes you through a wonderful, supernatural secret agency and the unravelling of many secrets within. The biggest being around the Night Brothers.

What makes this book even more wonderful is that it challenges stereotypes, including those of social deprivation and racial inequalities. It was so well done and exceptionally important in 2021.

An amazing, imaginative book with a heroine that every young lady can inspire to be like. Intrigue from the start and the odd belly laugh along the way. Definitely worth a read!

Life for 12 year old Amari Peters is difficult to say the least. She’s a Black girl being raised in low income housing by a single mom that works 60+ hours per week. She attends an elite school on scholarship, but that may all be down the toilet thanks to the bullies who have made her life a living hell following the mysterious disappearance of her older brother Quinton.

Quinton was the school’s golden boy, but no one cares that he’s missing. The police have given up and everyone assumes that he must have taken up illegal activity. Everything changes when Amari discovers a magical world that may finally have the answers surrounding Quinton’s disappearance.

This is the story that I wish I grew up with. I loved the secret world of magic and the unique way that students are tapped in order to join the order. The world building is incredible. There’s different levels of magic and magical abilities as well as career paths based off of the type of magic a student harvests.

Since Amari was completely ignorant to this world, you get to experience the magic and wonder alongside her which makes for a truly immersive experience. There is so much action and adventure along the way, which makes for one heck of a roller coaster ride.

I loved loved Amari’s character. She’s independent, fierce, and unwilling to be swayed by those who would detract her from finding out the truth behind her brother’s disappearance. In addition to Amari, I loved her roommate Elsie, who is a weredragon. Elsie is the perfect complement to Amari’s personality; especially since Elsie is an outsider even in the magical world since not everyone is keen on potentially being eaten or burnt to a crisp.

Overall, if you are looking for a magical and adventurous coming of age story that features some serious Black girl magic then definitely pick this one up!

Thank you to HarperCollins for providing a review copy. This did not influence my review. All opinions are my own,

Loved Amari! Sassy & straight-talking, great to see strong female, black & unprivileged characters in a fantasy genre. MIB/Percy Jackson/Hunger Games vibes, it's a long read for MG but action-packed with plenty of tech & humour. Film rights needed! 📖🧙‍♀️🔮🖤🇺🇸