B. B. Alston lives in Lexington, South Carolina. His debut novel, Amari and the Night Brothers, is a #1 Kids’ Indie Next pick and the winner of Barnes & Noble’s inaugural Children’s and YA Book Award as well as a New York Times and indie bestseller. When not writing, he can be found eating too many sweets and exploring country roads to see where they lead. Visit him online at www.bbalston.com
Praise for Amari and the Night Brothers, the first book in this
smash-hit series:
'Sharp, funny and brightly imaginative – a big adventure filled
with magic and heart.' – Jessica Townsend, New York Times
bestselling author of the Nevermoor series
'An enchanting fantasy adventure filled with heart and soul. Amari
is magical!' – Angie Thomas, New York Times bestselling
author of The Hate U Give.
'As a former black girl misfit who wanted nothing more in the world
than to be magical, this book is a song to my soul. Amari is the
heroine we all need.' – Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling
author of Dear Martin
'Amari and the Night Brothers gives an electrifying jolt to
middle-grade fantasy, that takes the ingredients we know and love –
strong-willed, relatable protagonist, a worthy quest, and a
thrilling magical portal – and makes them fresh and new. From the
first pages, Amari is at once self-possessed and an underdog,
battling racism, bias and poverty, all later mirrored in her
efforts to find her brother inside the fantastical labyrinth of the
Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. Funny, fast-paced, and
ultimately moving, B.B. Alston's debut is a rousing
success and kicks off a series that will truly stand out from
the rest!' – Soman Chainani, author of the bestselling The School
for Good and Evil series
'The surprises and story never slow down for a minute in this
magical, astonishing world, with a heroine who’s like Buffy meets
Meg Murry multiplied by Shuri to the power of awesome. I want
to live in Amari’s world and watch her save it (or have her come
here and save ours!)!' – Tui T. Sutherland, bestselling author
of the Wings of Fire series
'Clever, imaginative, and filled with heart. I loved every magical
page.' – J.C. Cervantes, New York Times bestselling author of The
Storm Runner
'Fast-paced adventure and cutthroat pre-adolescent contempt make
for a delightfully challenging journey here, particularly
considering the ways that Alston frames Amari’s racial and economic
experiences as a Black girl as the root of her strong-willed nature
and spirit of integrity. It’s a good thing this book is the first
of a series, because readers will be sorely disappointed when it
ends.' —Booklist, starred review'This series debut is
sure to be a hit with late elementary students and middle-graders
who are fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and
the Men in Black movies. There are a lot of diverse
characters who will be relatable to all kids. Amari is tough,
smart, kind, and very likeable. The plot doesn’t shy away from
depictions of racism and discrimination, which may provide
necessary, thoughtful discussion topics for classrooms and families
... This story is action-packed with no fluff; a magical world
readers will want to visit, blended with contemporary themes. An
excellent middle-grade fantasy that will attract an immediate fan
base and leave kids eager for more.' —School Library
Journal, starred review'Alston’s middle-grade debut is a
breath of fresh air in the normal-kid-finds-out-they’re-magic
genre, with Amari’s snappy, no-nonsense narration, a mix of new,
bizarre supernatural creatures and classic vampires and witches,
and rich world-building that reads as both familiar and fantastic.
... Her feelings of inadequacy from living in her brilliant
brother’s shadow will ring true for any younger sibling or legacy
kid, making later realizations of her own worth and abilities all
the sweeter. While the book concludes with a satisfyingly unknotted
dénouement, there’s a wealth of material for possible sequels, and
readers will no doubt cross their fingers for more of Amari’s
adventures.' —Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
'The author weaves magical whimsy with honest, realistically
portrayed circumstances, allowing Amari’s literal #BlackGirlMagic
to shine even when she doesn’t believe in herself. This timely,
energetic, first-person narrative moves quickly with clear
descriptions, a thrilling buildup, and strong messages about
profiling. An impressive debut series opener.' — Kirkus Reviews,
starred review'In this thrilling debut, Alston thrusts his intrepid
heroine into a setting packed with magic, mythical creatures, and
danger. Amari, a Black girl with limited means, confronts privilege
and prejudice even while delving into a world of wonder, humour,
and adventure, making this a sure-to-please winner.' — Publishers
Weekly, starred review'Plunged into a parallel magical world, Amari
must do her best to learn and succeed in this new reality ... The
story introduces a world of enchantment, danger, excitement, and
humour ... Readers will root for Amari's own unique determination
and wit.' — The Horn Book'Exhilarating ... The definitive hook
of this narrative is Alston’s exceptional skill for world-building
... Fans of the Harry Potter series will likely find much to enjoy
in Alston’s imaginary Bureau, which features significantly more
authentic diversity than Rowling's Hogwarts. Amari stumbles into
one capricious adventure after another en route to a stunning
conclusion that also lays the track for a sequel to this breakout
debut.' — Shelf Awareness'"Book of the fair" at the Bologna
Children’s Book Fair in 2019, Alston’s debut has so far garnered 25
publishing deals, and film rights have been optioned by Universal.
Happily, it more than lives up to the hype. The vibe is Men in
Black meets Nevermoor, a brilliantly realised magical world of
supernatural creatures, magical gadgets, rip-roaring action and
humour. Alston says he never read a fantasy book with a black
protagonist when he was growing up, and Amari is a triumphant
riposte to that: a smart, courageous heroine whose identity as a
poor black girl is integral to the narrative.' – Fiona Noble,
The Bookseller, Book of the Month
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