Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

 

              A world filled with magic is unraveled in Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, one of the picks for the 2022-2023 Bluebonnet Awards. The story follows twelve-year-old Amari Peters, a young girl who is actively searching for her older brother who disappeared under mysterious circumstances. When she receives an invitation to interview for a spot at the prestigious summer camp her brother attended every year, she jumps at the chance to hopefully find out more information about what happened to Quinton. But as Amari dives into a magical world that her brother was involved in, and that she didn’t even know existed, she finds out that things are not always what they seem. It’s up to Amari to help bring down an evil force that is putting the magical world in danger, all while trying to desperately to bring her Quinton back safely.

              I chose this book because I love fantasy and I’ve heard great things about it. I’ve also been wanting to read more books with characters from different backgrounds than my own, and this book is a great candidate for that. I thought this book offers great representation for the Black community and Amari proves to be a character that young Black girls can look up to or relate to.

              One of my favorite things about this book was the pacing. There was a lot going on, but in a good way. It didn’t drag and I never felt bored while listening to the audiobook. The story was fast paced, which I think is perfect for kids since their attention spans are not as long as adults. Magical elements were constantly being introduced, which helped move the plot along.

              I also loved the characters in the story. So many different personalities were introduced, like the smart and critical thinking Elsie, the mean and popular Lara, and the brave and headstrong Amari. The characters balanced each other out and their differences was a nice touch to the plot. I don’t like it when characters are hard to tell apart or blend together, but that wasn’t the case here. Each character brought something different to the table and really helped Amari on her quest to save the secret magic world.

              Finally, the point of view really made this book for me. These days representation is very important, and that’s exactly what B.B. Alston did when he wrote this novel. Amari Peters brings a breath of fresh air to the middle grade fantasy genre. I think I can count on one hand the number of popular series I know of that include a Black child as the main character. There are many moments where Amari shares the struggles she’s grown up with, like living in the projects or having close friends that have chosen to go down the wrong path by joining gangs. This type of perspective is usually never shared in the fantasy genre. Some may argue that it’s not necessary, but I think it is if we want children who come from this background to see themselves in the books they read.

              I thought this book was amazing and cannot wait to read the second in the series. The plot is filled with action, magical elements, humor, and drama. As a fourth grade reading teacher, I feel compelled to recommend this book to all my students as I think it’s perfect for their age group. I give this book five out of five stars.

Alston, B. B. (2022, January 4). Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations, 1). Balzer + Bray.