Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Funny, thrilling addition to Black girl-led fantasy series.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
When AMARI AND THE METALWORK MENACE begins, Amari, a Black 8th grader living in Atlanta, is on the verge of resigning her commission as a junior agent in the supernatural realm after suffering the traumatic loss of a mentor. Just as she's about to sign away her commission and have her memories erased, she learns another good friend is in danger and steps in to help save them, and maybe, humanity.
Is It Any Good?
This is a clever, fast-paced addition to the Supernatural Investigations series. In Amari and the Metalwork Menace, the lovable Amari, her brother, Quinton, her best friends, and her rivals are back to tackle a new menace. B. B. Alston's characters are true to the previous stories, and they demonstrate a consistent arc of personal growth across the series. This book works as a standalone, but the best way to read the series is to start with the first book, Amari and the Night Brothers, and read them in order. Each book refers to past events covered earlier, and watching the characters mature as the series progresses is truly satisfying.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of curiosity in Amari and the Metalwork Menace. Have you ever had an experience where your curiosity led you to overcome your fears and persevere when you wanted to give up?
Courage doesn't always mean facing external danger. How do the main characters in Amari and the Metalwork Menace display courage in tackling their own feelings?
One of the tools of entertaining writing is metaphor. That means the author writes about one thing to symbolize or comment on something else. In Amari and the Metalwork Menace, people's bodies are taken over by machines. Can you think of some reasons the author used that metaphor? What might they want you to think about in your own life, current events, or the world?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Fantasy ( Magic ) , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Courage , Curiosity , Perseverance
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Storytide
- Publication date : February 24, 2026
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 306
- Available on : Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : February 26, 2026
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