The Amari Series

Amari Peters, a 13-year-old girl from the projects, receives a mysterious invitation to try out for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs after her brother's disappearance. She enters a hidden world of magic and supernatural beings existing alongside modern-day society. The Bureau serves as a bridge between supernatural and human worlds, with agents working to maintain peace and order. Amari must navigate intense competition, complex politics, and age-old prejudices while training to become a Junior Agent. She forms new friendships and alliances at the Bureau while uncovering clues about her missing brother. Her determination to find him leads her through tests, trials, and confrontations with both supernatural and human adversaries. The series explores themes of belonging, identity, and systemic barriers through a supernatural lens. It examines how outsiders can challenge established systems while staying true to their values and beliefs.

Readers praise Amari's fresh take on magic school stories, with many noting it offers representation rarely seen in middle-grade fantasy. Parents and teachers report it resonates with young readers who feel like outsiders. Liked: - Complex family dynamics - Integration of social issues without being heavy-handed - Fast-paced plot - Character development, especially Amari's growth - World-building and magic system Disliked: - Some found similarities to Harry Potter distracting - A few readers thought the middle sections dragged - Some terminology and supernatural elements felt overwhelming Ratings: Goodreads: 4.41/5 (36,000+ ratings) Amazon: 4.8/5 (5,800+ ratings) Barnes & Noble: 4.8/5 (500+ ratings) Sample review: "Finally a fantasy book where the Black girl gets to be the hero and not just a side character. My daughter couldn't put it down." - Goodreads reviewer Common comparison: "Percy Jackson meets Men in Black" appears in multiple reader reviews.

Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan A young outsider discovers hidden powers and enters a secret world of mythological beings while attending a supernatural training camp.

City of Bones by Cassandra Clare A teenage girl learns she belongs to a secret society of demon hunters living in New York City and must navigate a hidden world of supernatural creatures.

Nevermoor: The Trials of Morrigan Crow by Jessica Townsend A cursed girl escapes her fate by joining a magical society where she competes in trials to earn membership in the elite Wundrous Society.

The School for Good and Evil by Soman Chainani Two friends are kidnapped to attend a hidden school that trains fairy tale heroes and villains, where their expected roles become complicated.

Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer A child genius discovers a hidden world of high-tech fairies and attempts to steal their gold using advanced technology and magic.

🌟 B.B. Alston wrote Amari and the Night Brothers while working as a mailman, often jotting down ideas during his delivery route. ⚡ The author was inspired to create Amari Peters after noticing the lack of Black female protagonists in fantasy stories he loved as a child, like Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. 🎬 Universal Pictures acquired the film rights before the first book was even published, with Marsai Martin set to produce and star as Amari. ✨ The supernatural agency in the series, the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, was partly inspired by the Men in Black movies, which Alston loved growing up. 🌍 Though the series is set in America, it first found success in the UK, where it was published before its US release and won the Waterstones Children's Book Prize.