Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Saunders
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Girl finds her magic in fun fantasy full of surprises.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 3 parent reviews
Based on 16 kid reviews
Kids say this book is an engaging and entertaining read that captivates both children and teens with its unique characters and relatable storyline. Readers appreciate the rich fantasy elements, character development, and important themes like acceptance and resilience, though some have noted that certain darker content may require parental guidance.
- engaging storyline
- character development
- themes of resilience
- fantasy elements
- parental guidance
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS begins, Amari is in the principal's office with her mother. Amari shoved another girl who teased her about her brother Quinton's disappearance. As punishment, the exclusive private school, where she's one of the few Black students, is withdrawing her scholarship. Amari's mother grounds her, including asking her to turn over the old laptop she inherited from Quinton. Before she does that, Amari finds a mysterious email message from Quinton. She follows a series of instructions, and she eventually learns that Quinton was part of a secret organization that manages the supernatural creatures who live in the world, invisible to ordinary humans. Amari is recruited as a trainee. She accepts in the hope that she'll learn what happened to her brother -- and maybe even find him alive.
Is It Any Good?
This fun fantasy is masterfully crafted! Amari and the Night Brothers brings delicious tension to every chapter, and to almost every paragraph. The story world created by first-time author B.B. Dalton is complete on its own terms and offers obvious parallels to our real world, covering topics like privilege, grief, the search for identity, and the anxiety many teens experience about having to grow up at all. The first of a planned three-book series, this opener provides a satisfying resolution on its own and leaves enough threads to make readers want more of Amari and a few other characters.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the theme of loyalty in Amari and the Night Brothers.
Have you ever kept a big secret? Was it hard? How did it feel holding it inside?
What special talent do you have? What talents do you admire in other people, like your parents, friends, or siblings?
Book Details
- Author :
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings ) , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Balzer + Bray
- Publication date : January 19, 2021
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 416
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Apple Books, Kindle
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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