Move over Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, there is a new big name in middle grade fantasy and that is Amari Peters!

Amari's older brother, Quentin, hasn't been seen in months. Quentin was the pride and joy of their low-income neighborhood; he volunteered at a tutoring program, attended a fancy private school on a scholarship, and was accepted to two different Ivy League schools on full scholarships. And now he's gone. Poof. Not a trace of him or the mysterious job that he held. The police are about ready to give up on the case, but not Amari. She knows her brother is out there, somewhere. And she's going to find him.

What she doesn't expect to find is a briefcase in her brother's closet that sets off a chain of events like no other. Turns out, Quentin left a nomination for Amari to try out for an exclusive summer camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Turns out, mermaids, dragons, yetis, and more all exist, coexisting with normal human beings who are completely oblivious--and the Bureau is dedicated to ensuring it stays that way. There, Amari not only learns that her brother worked for this agency, but was famous in his field; he was also kidnapped by followers of an evil Magician he helped capture.

And Amari also learns something about herself: she has powerful magic in her, and that she is a Magician. Only problem? Magicians are the Sith Lords of the supernatural world. Even without knowing a single spell, Amari's fate is supposedly sealed.

Now Amari is on a mission: Find Quentin. Become a Junior Agent. And prove to everyone that she alone chooses her fate and how she uses her magic.

This brilliant debut and start of Amari's story is fantastic in every sense of the word! The world building is phenomenal, the supernatural world wacky and mysterious and wonderful. There's an amazing cast of characters, from spunky, fierce and determined protagonist, Amari, to her new weredragon best friend, to the elevators you will bizarrely become attached to, and more! The plot twists and turns are astounding; even when I thought I knew one was going to happen, it still blindsided me through Alston's brilliant execution!

Eagerly anticipating book 2, and to see more of this super cool supernatural world that Amari is now a part of!

A Fast-paced fun fantastical ride that is reminiscent of The Lightening Thief and Harry Potter. Amari is on a mission to find her brother and on the way she will discover who she is and what she can do.

This had a junior Men in Black vibe to it which I was definitely on board for!!

Amari's brother has gone missing and nobody seems to care about finding him. They can't find anywhere there was proof he was working so they think he was probably doing something more seedier. Amari doesn't believe it and so when she finds a briefcase that says Quinton has nominated her for a summer tryout for a secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. 

She is told to put in some eye drops and once she does she begins to see that living among them are the supernatural and when she gets to the Bureau she learns that it is a place that makes sure things go well between the humans and the supernatural without anybody knowing they exist. 

Amari is still trying to grasp the fact that the supernatural exist and having a weredragon for a roommate. She has tough competition as most of these kids have grown up knowing about the supernatural as they come from a long line of Bureau families. When she finds out that Quinton was an agent and a pretty good one and has gone missing she is determined that she is going to become a junior agent so she can find her brother.

The only bad thing about her plans is that everyone who is part of the Bureau is given a supernatural ability to help them work within the bureau and she is given an illegal ability. Others want her kicked out but some want to give her a chance and she is determined to prove to them that it doesn't matter what ability she was given that she can do the job and be on the side of good. 

I really enjoyed this one, it was a little slow to start but once she gets to bureau it picks up and becomes really interesting. I liked Amari, she is young and a bit flawed and makes the wrong decisions sometimes but that is all part of learning and growing. She is strong as she moves from one prejudice because of the color of her skin to another one having an illegal ability that everyone is afraid of but she is resilient and doesn't give up when it comes to trying to be a junior agent and finding her brother. 

It has some twist and turns along the way one one I didn't see coming at the end that really surprised me! I think this is one that everyone could enjoy from adults to young readers!

Review goes up on my blog Feb. 9th.

Amari and the Night Brothers was outstanding. I can't recall a time I have seen a brand new book go out so quickly from our school library. Once word gets out, five copies might not be enough to support all this magic! Highly recommend for middle grade and younger teen readers!

For every millennial librarian that loved HP and needs a better book to suggest: this is the one. Lovely cast of characters, creative, exciting.

Amari needs to find her brother to make everything go back to normal, for everything to make sense again. Every since he left she has been left with a huge void, until suddenly she gets an invitation that may lead straight to him. Amari and the Night Brothers blends extra terrestrial fiction and the magic of Harry Potter together. This is the Men in Black for a younger generation. Alston creates a magical realm within our own that will leave readers in wonderment. From the very first page, Amari is the protagonist that will reach every reader, allowing them to immerse themselves in all her adventures. The fast paced plot and detailed world building elevate this book to aa higher standard. Each character comes with flaws and the storyline allows for each to find themselves. This book explores how difficult it can be to live your life in the shadow of expectation or a sibling.

Amari Peters is devastated when her older brother, Quinton, goes missing. So when she receives and opportunity to find him, she takes it...even though it means attending summer camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and finding out there is a whole hidden world she never new existed.

I loved Amari and the Night Brothers and think it will be one of my favorite reads of 2021! This is a great series start for lovers of both the supernatural and series such as Percy Jackson and Harry Potter. Moreover, and, perhaps more importantly, Amari is a black girl facing systemic injustices that many black Americans face. Readers will be able to see themselves in Amari and, maybe, see the ways in which they, too, can overcome unfairness and injustice and be heroes. I think that Amari and the Night Brother will appeal to a diverse population of readers and should be a part of every library's collection. I can't wait to put it in the hands of my students!

Thank you Harper Collins and NetGalley for sharing this book with me in exchange for an honest review. The next Harry Potter is what I heard, and I wasn’t quite sure I could believe that...but then I read the first page. Then the second. And before long, I was so hooked in this book it consumed me. This book is needed, for many reasons. Representation and an escape into a magical and exciting world. This was an instant favorite.

MIB meets Harry Potter with a little of Percy Jackson thrown in. Magical creatures, special agents and agents in training make this book a fun and at times serious look into the diverse world of magic and fantastical creatures.

Amari is a normal girl with normal kid problems. Except she is suspended from her elite school after she defends herself from the school bully and her brother, Quentin is missing. On her birthday, Amari receives a special gift from her missing brother and it changes her summer.

She enters the world of magic at an elite summer camp where each kid trains in the magic they are granted when they touch the crystal ball. When it is Amari's turn, something goes wrong. The crystal ball cannot grant her any powers because she already has one.

This knowledge sets Amari apart, just like she was in the school she struggled in the human world. She befriends the brother of her Quentin's partner and together they look into the pairs disappearance. Amari learns she is much stronger than she knew and
that she can't trust anyone.

This book is fantastic. I love how many diverse fantasy and sci-fi books are now being published and filling the gap on many library shelves.

Harry Potter fans will enjoy the shout outs and everyone regardless of age or interests will find themselves somewhere in its pages.

Ever wanted to read a fantasy novel that acknowledges struggles like your mom getting a payday loan to make sure you had what you needed as a kid while also granting entry into a fantastic world? B. B. Alston’s Amari and the Night Brothers delivers the above without verging into traumatic territory. What a refreshing turn!

We are introduced to Amari and the way she deals with the primary conflicts of this book — the possible loss of her older brother Quinton and being bullied by racist and classist peers — as she is facing the repercussions of standing up to such a bully. A scholarship student at a college prep private school, Amari has long been subject to ridicule and racism from wealthy classmates who see her family background and neighborhood as fodder for the humiliation that they throw at her. Even in the incident that we find Amari in at the start of the story, her biggest bully has instigated a fight by implying that Quinton’s possible death is another blow to lodge against Amari. When the bully’s mother gets involved and demands the revoking of Amari’s scholarship, she is effectively expelled from the school that no one in her family can afford. Hope is not all lost, however, as upon her return home later that day she receives notice of a special package that Quinton has sent to her. It’s her family’s first indication of Quinton being alive in a year.

After taking up the mission Quinton has laid out for her within the package, Amari realizes that her accomplished older brother had several reasons for keeping his career hidden from her and her mother – he is an investigator for a secret supernatural world! His instructions to her give her access to the world through a prestigious summer program, which mollifies her mother’s concerns while causing Amari major anxiety.

Despite Amari’s initial misgivings, she decides to enter the program to learn more about her brother’s disappearance. Sadly, there’s no escaping bullies even here where legacy candidates who have grown up in this supernatural world weaponize their advantages against Amari’s efforts. While her brother is a star in the world of supernatural investigations — he’s on the cover of every magazine — not even his golden reputation can shield her from the hate lashed at her by program rivals and adults alike.

Where is this prestigious program, pray tell? Why at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, naturally. Think an effective Ministry of Magic meets the Men in Black. The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs has trained humans with special abilities to maintain secrecy between the supernatural and mundane world since the days of the first Van Helsing. But the school’s leaders are narrow-minded; the system only ensures that legacy families are considered for internship application and testing. This means that Quinton’s meteoric entry and rise are regarded as rare anomalies that much of the Bureau leadership and staff resent. Their resentment and -isms become minefields that Amari is forced to navigate around with minimal support all while trying to solve the mystery of her brother’s disappearance.

Oh yeah, and the mysterious Night Brothers play a great deal into Amari’s awakened abilities, supernatural encounters, and the discrimination against her. I will not divulge more here because spoilers, but suffice to say Amari has a lot on her plate in this first book of a series that’s already been optioned for a film trilogy before its debut.

Amari and the Night Brothers is a middle grade book series that offers a convergence of magic, supernatural elements like werepeople and vampires, mythos like Atlantians, as well as aliens and physics without feeling clunky or overwrought. With a diverse cast of characters depicting many different life experiences, Alston delivers a tale that welcomes readers through entry points sure to ensnare readers from nearly any walk of life.

Thank you to HarperCollins Children's Books and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to review this title.

Have you ever experienced something and it made you realize you had unknowingly been missing something in your life? That's what it's like to finish Amari and the Night Brothers. Is it that good? Yes. Oh yes. This book was EVERYTHING! Percy Jackson, Nevermoor and Men in Black all rolled into one!

Amari is a girl trying to find her place in the world. Now that her brother simply disappeared and no one knows where he is, Amari does not give up hope and tries to find him. On that search she also needs to figure out where her own place in this world is, and how and where she fits in.

I 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.

The plot is tight and not a word is wasted. And the magic is fun! So much fun and also bizarre in places. The author shows off his incredible imagination on every page!

This was a delightful and joyous experience about finding the courage to embrace your destiny, and forge your own path regardless of the obstacles placed in your way.

Amari and the Night Brothers (Supernatural Investigations #1)  by B.B. Alston

Balzer + Bray, 2021

ISBN-13 : 978-0062975164

Available: Hardcover, Kindle edition, audiobook




Thirteen year old Amari Peters has some big footsteps to fill: her older brother Quinton was the highest performing student at ritzy Jefferson Academy. Since his disappearance (or possibly death) six months ago, Amari's grades, and behavior, are slipping, and on the last day of school, she shoves a mean girl who makes a dig about her brother and loses her scholarship, her best opportunity to get out of the Rosewood Projects and go to college. Grounded indefinitely, Amari hasn't been home long when the doorbell rings and she's asked to sign for a package that, oddly, has been delivered to Quinton's closet. Opening the package, Amari discovers she has been nominated by her missing brother for a scholarship to the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs training camp. The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs keeps supernatural creatures secret while also protecting innocent humans. Quinton and his partner, "special agents" for the Bureau, have gone missing from the Bureau as well, and Amari decides to attend the camp in hopes of discovering what happened to her brother.

Early on, Amari is discovered to have tremendous magical potential, but this turns out to be a major problem when her supernatural power is discovered to be magic, as magicians are universally considered bad and magic is illegal. Among a throng of privileged "legacy" trainees, Amari's race, socioeconomic status, and illegal magic make her a pariah among the other trainees, and more determined than ever to qualify to become a Junior Agent and find the answers that will lead to her brother.

While individual elements of the story may sound familiar (a mysterious letter, a summer camp for teenage legacies, mythical and supernatural creatures hidden in plain view, and evil magicians all show up in either Harry Potter or Percy Jackson) B.B. Alston has mixed them up to create something very different. A big piece of that is that Amari, a smart and determined Black girl who already has to prove herself in the outside world, is the point of view character, so we get to see a resourceful character working hard who keeps going even when she's discouraged by hostility and racism. Nobody hands her a destiny or quest to fulfil, does her homework for her, or makes decisions for her, although she occasionally gets a boost of encouragment from a friend. Alston is also incredibly creative in his world-building (talking elevators with individual personalites, delightful and spooky departmental names and descriptions, gorgeously described magical illusions, magic that can manipulate technology, gossip rags that give you juicy tidbits only when you ask the right questions, and so much more).

Although there are some terrifying creatures and spells, the scariest parts of the book really involve the people who interact with Amari: spoiled mean girl Lara van Helsing, who spreads nasty rumors; evil magician Raoul Moreau, one of the "Night Brothers"; racist kids who draw malicious graffiti on the walls of Amari's bedroom; Bureau directors certain Amari is a danger to the supernatural world. Amari and the Night Brothers is more of a dark urban fantasy and coming-of-age story than it is a horror story, but it is a great #OwnVoices title that provides a fresh point of view in a genre that seems to be telling the same story over again and again. I'm looking forward to book #2. Highly recommended for grades 4-8.

Amari and the Night Brothers is a thrilling debut from B.B. Alston. Not only is the book wonderfully written, but it has so many elements that work so well together – making it hard to put down. Of course, it helps when you have a main character that is as amazing as Amari is. She is a young girl trying to find her place in the world and she finds it in the most unexpected of places. Whether we find ourselves trying to cope with a sudden loss that uproots our world, feeling as if we don’t have a friend in the world while trying to find our footing in new surroundings, or trying to extinguish some kind of nefarious force (literal or otherwise) in our lives, these are things that Amari must deal with.

It is likely that many people have experienced one or more of these elements in their lives and to read a book that not only helps one through it but also shows the reader they are not alone in these experiences, is a true testament to Alston’s writing. Amari is a character who will be relatable to many of the people who read the book and that is one of the best parts of the book. While the odds aren’t in Amari’s favour, her determination is never lost.

In addition to an amazing character, the magic and supernatural within the book are extremely well done. There is always a sense of wonderment whilst reading, not only with the world-building but with the magic itself. All the scenes are beautifully built up and it sets the stage for the different enchantments we see throughout the story. I enjoyed that the magic didn’t just begin and end with things like spells and magicians. It encompassed various places, creatures and more, which added to this new world that Alston created.

The first in a trilogy, I can honestly say I am very excited to see what else happens in Amari’s story. It is a fantastical story that showcases Black girl magic in all its forms. If this sounds like the book for you, then you’re probably right. Amari and the Night Brothers should be added to everyone’s TBR lists immediately! Trust me, you won’t regret it.

This book has been described as "Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black" and that's the perfect description. It takes the magic from Artemis Fowl and the clandestine organization from Men in Black and creates a compelling story readers won't want to put down. Fans of Rick Riordan and the Rick Riordan Presents series are going to desperate to know if this is the first of many books about Amari.

Amari's older brother Quinton mysteriously disappeared six months ago. Police rationalize that Quinton might have gotten himself into trouble in an attempt to earn money for his mother and Amari. Committed to proving them wrong, Amari hasn't given up hope and continues to look for her brother. Her chances of finding him seem to improve when he sends her a mysterious message giving her the opportunity to attend summer tryouts for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari begins to wonder if she's gotten in over her head. Can she find Quinton? Can she learn enough in this new world to defeat the Night Brothers? Or will her mother have to mourn the disappearance of a second child?

Amari and Quinton's relationship feels very real from the beginning. I teared up as Amari did when she found clues about her brother. Each new detail about the Bureaus of Supernatural Affairs made this a fun book to devour. I can't wait to share this book with my readers!

FANTASTIC fantasy debut from B. B. Alston! Amari Peters cannot believe that her brother Quinton Peters is missing. Why isn't it featured on the news, or the talk of the town? Everything changes when she finds a mysterious briefcase in his closet. One that is ticking and is noted that it is for her eyes only... Soon she finds out that Quinton nominated her for a summer tryout at the same place that Quinton was enrolled in. What lies ahead is full fantastical, including weredragons (half-werewolf/half-dragon), talking elevators, magicians, yetis, and more. This fantasy was done so well and I felt like I was at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs with Amari. The fact that this also involved a missing brother was even more engaging because it leaves you wanting to know what happened to him. This is going to be a series, so reading those final pages will at least give you hope since we will journey into the next book with Amari, too. Please share this to all middle grade readers. You won’t regret it!

It is amazing! It’s full of magic and adventure, intrigue, plot twists, family, and friendship. Keep your eyes out for this one, you truly don’t want to miss it! I'm really excited for the sequel!

Disclaimer: I received an arc and e-arc from the publisher. Thanks! All opinions are my own.

Book: Amari and the Night Brothers

Author: B.B. Alston

Book Series: Supernatural Investigations Book 1

Rating: 5/5

Diversity: Black main character and side characters

Recommended For...: fantasy lovers, mg readers

Publication Date: January 19, 2021

Genre: MG Fantasy

Recommended Age: 10+ (racism, classism, sexism, and prejudice)

Publisher: Balzer And Bray

Pages: 416

Synopsis: Quinton Peters was the golden boy of the Rosewood low-income housing projects, receiving full scholarship offers to two different Ivy League schools. When he mysteriously goes missing, his little sister, 13-year-old Amari Peters, can’t understand why it’s not a bigger deal. Why isn’t his story all over the news? And why do the police automatically assume he was into something illegal?

Then Amari discovers a ticking briefcase in her brother’s old closet. A briefcase meant for her eyes only. There was far more to Quinton, it seems, than she ever knew. He’s left her a nomination for a summer tryout at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Amari is certain the answer to finding out what happened to him lies somewhere inside, if only she can get her head around the idea of mermaids, dwarves, yetis and magicians all being real things, something she has to instantly confront when she is given a weredragon as a roommate.

Amari must compete against some of the nation’s wealthiest kids—who’ve known about the supernatural world their whole lives and are able to easily answer questions like which two Great Beasts reside in the Atlantic Ocean and how old is Merlin? Just getting around the Bureau is a lesson alone for Amari with signs like ‘Department of Hidden Places this way, or is it?’ If that all wasn’t enough, every Bureau trainee has a talent enhanced to supernatural levels to help them do their jobs – but Amari is given an illegal ability. As if she needed something else to make her stand out.

With an evil magican threatening the whole supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she is an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn’t pass the three tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

Review: I absolutely loved this book! This is now one of my favorite series! I loved the writing and how captivating this story was. The character development was expertly well done and I loved how the author brought in and dealt with racism, sexism, classism, and prejudice. The concepts aren’t hard to understand and middle graders should be exposed to this more in their literature. We should be raising children to recognize these issues and deal with them appropriately. The world building was also so well done.

My only complaint is that in some spots the pacing was a little slow, but it was quickly resolved! I legitimately have nothing to complain about, but for the sake of fairness I have to say the downsides.

Verdict: I HIGHLY recommend this book! Go get it now!

OMG! I hope this becomes a long series!

Amari is amazing. After the mysterious disappearance of her brother, Amari receives an invitation to a secret supernatural bureau. Very quickly her world gets turned upside down. She goes from another girl on the block to a world full of dragons, talking elevators, and supernatural beasts. She also finds that every part of who she is, is considered illegal in this new world.

Excellent read!

CAWPILE Rating: 10

Real world got you down? B. B. Alston has the medicine you need — the Black girl magic in his new middle grade series starter, Amari and the Night Brothers. Right from the start, you’ll root for heroine Amari. Raised by a single mom of modest means, Amari attends a fancy prep school on scholarship. Along with trying to cope with the fact that her older brother Quinton is missing, Amari has to deal with constant bullying from the students of privilege. When Amari discovers a message from Quinton, she finds out the world is a whole lot more complicated than she thought. Magic, supernatural creatures, and aliens are all real — and they’ve been living among us all along!

Quinton had arranged a tryout for Amari at a top-secret summer camp at a place called the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Like Camp Half Blood of the Percy Jackson world, the Bureau is hidden in plain sight. It turns out that kids at this school have superpowers! And while they aren’t demigods, not all of them are completely human. For instance, Amari’s roommate Elsie is a weredragon. Elsie hasn’t yet figured out how to transfer and breathe fire, but because she’s different, the other kids didn’t want to room with her. But Amari knows what it’s like to be treated differently for things you can’t change, and the two outsiders become fast friends. It’s good she’ll have a friend, too, because even though she finds out she has powerful magic, Amari faces a new bias as insidious as the discrimination she already faced at school.

Happily, I can report that Amari and the Night Brothers is part of a planned trilogy, so more will be coming! Also happily, this book is a complete story in and of itself. There is no cliffhanger ending, only hints that more characters will join in on the action in the next installment.

Alston has written a superb fantasy that has deservedly earned four starred reviews and heaps of praise from fellow authors, including Angie Thomas, Nic Stone, and Soman Chainani. The novel has perfect pacing. You won’t be able to turn the pages fast enough as you follow Amari on her adventure. Amari’s newfound world and abilities will fill you with wonder — it’s really that fantastic. But Altson’s fantasy world never loses its grounding in reality. And that’s part of what makes this novel special. Amari faces prejudice and comes face to face with the disparities between her and those with privilege. Alston addresses these themes with sensitivity and finesse, weaving in the serious with the humorous, all while keeping the story’s rhythm flowing seamlessly.

As Amari battles bias and searches for her brother, she finds confidence in herself and learns to celebrate her uniqueness. And that self-love, added to her honesty, kindness, and bravery, will make Amari unstoppable!

Verdict: 5 of 5 Hearts: A Fast and Fun Fantasy Filled with Adventure, Intrigue, and Black Girl Magic!

All thirteen-year-old Amari Peters wants is to find her older brother who mysteriously vanished six months ago. Instead, she discovers a ticking briefcase in his closet that contains a nomination to try out for a summer camp at the secretive Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, where her brother apparently worked. Certain the Bureau has answers about her brother’s disappearance, Amari accepts…and is plunged headfirst into the realization that dwarves, yetis, mermaids, and magicians all exist. Competing against kids with much more money and knowledge about the supernatural world than she has and armed only with an illegal supernatural ability, Amari must tell truth from lies and friend from foe if she wants to pass the tryouts, find her brother, and save the supernatural world from an evil magician with a nefarious plan.

Adventurous and magical with a social justice bent, B.B. Alston’s phenomenal new addition to the middle grade genre is set to become the next big series. Amari is a fantastic heroine who has real struggles and doubts, and Alston does not shy away from presenting the prejudices Amari faces. Every choice she makes feels genuine, and I enjoyed exploring the Bureau and solving the mystery of her brother’s disappearance alongside her. The other characters are also very real and seemed to jump off the page and into my living room, specifically Amari’s roommate Elsie. The magic is inserted seamlessly into the story, and with all the surprising twists and turns, I was kept guessing until the very last page. I can’t wait to follow along with Amari’s future escapades in the forthcoming books in the series. Fans of magical middle-grade adventures will love this sensational story.

(Pine Reads Review would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for providing us with an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Any quotes are taken from an advanced copy and may be subject to change.)