Informational Resources:

Author Information:

Author’s Website:

https://www.bbalston.com/

Activities & Resources:

Activities:

Magic

What is Magic:

https://kids.britannica.com/kids/article/magic/353408

Learn to do your own magic tricks:

http://magictricksforkids.org/

5 Easy Magic Card Trick for Kids (13:55):

https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=AhKYbhSbSrA

History of Magic and Magicians Video (11:08):

https://www.yout-ube.com/watch?v=xy1hdnz8E8E

Optical Illusions and Optics:

https://www.optics4kids.org/optical-illusions

Mythical Animals

Mythical Creatures:

https://kids.kiddle.co/Legendary_creature

Dragon Crafts:

https://camp.com/art/easy-dragon-crafts-for-kids

This mythical creature is the national animal of Scotland: https://kids.kiddle.co/National_symbols_of_Scotland

Careers

How to choose a career:

https://students.collegefactual.com/choosing-a-career

U.S. Bureau of Labor and Statistics K-12:

https://www.bls.gov/k12/

Kids Career Test:

https://www.cfnc.org/media/0xtdpcig/career-interest-explorer-elementary.pdf

MakerSpace Activities:

Quinten’s vehicle is a flying boat. Design your own supernatural vehicle. Draw it, then build it with any materials you find. How does it move? How does it stay undetected from the human world? Does it have any interesting features?

Amari uses True Sight drops to see the supernatural world hidden in the human world. Supernatural creatures are living among humans doing normal jobs. If you had the True Sight, who in your community would be a supernatural being? Draw their supernatural selves. For example, a camp counselor could be a werewolf or a hair dresser could be Medusa.

Design a crazy outfit for the supernatural world. First draw out your design. Then, take it a step further and create your outfit in real life with recycled materials. Have a fashion show to show off your creation!

Create your own Bureau job. Write up a short description for One Thousand and One Careers. What would your supernatural job entail? What are its responsibilities and minimum badge requirement?

Make a dream journal. Keep a notebook by your bed and write down your dreams after you wake up (if you remember them). What do you think your dreams mean? https://penzu.com/dream-journal

Discussion Questions:

Amari states, “People like Emily and Mrs. Grant will never understand what it’s like to not have money. They can do whatever they want with no consequences while the rest of us have to watch our every step.” (pg. 3) What do you think Amari means by that?

Have you ever been bullied online before? What should you do?

How does Quinten’s disappearance affect the community? Outside their family, who else does it impact?

Mr. Ware describes the badge system as “current potential”. Do you think a person’s potential will always stay the same or can it change? What do you think affects someone’s potential?

Magnus explains to Amari that the supernatural world decided it would be safer to hide from the human world? Why do you think supernaturals would need to hide from humans?

Discuss some similarities and differences between the human world and the supernatural world.

Director Van Helsing thinks power corrupts the soul. Do you think having a lot of power leads to bad things? Why or why not?

List and discuss the times that Amari was treated differently because of who she was, where she lives, or things outside her control. Find examples in both the human world and the magical world.

Discuss the prejudices that magicians face compared to examples of prejudices that Amari has experienced in her own life. How are they similar? How are they different?

What is one piece of supernatural world technology that you would want in the real world. Why?

How is Amari an outsider at Jefferson Academy and the Bureau?

Moreau thinks right and wrong are relative. Do you think that’s true or false and why? Discuss.

What is a hybrid? Can you describe one?

Should Amari trust a stranger online? Should they meet in-person? Discuss your point of view and give reasons for your views.

How are Amari and Dylan good partners during the first tryout?

After talking to Jayden, Amari has a realization. Do you think it is fair for Amari to compare herself to her brother? Why?

Who do you think the snakes represent in Amari’s visit with Director Horus? Discuss your guess.

Do you think it’s fair that Legacies get extra help?

What is Elsie’s “great act of courage” that triggers her transformation?

Who did Amari nominate at the end of the book? Why do you think they would be a good candidate?

Book Talk Teasers:

Watch the book trailer and author/illustrator interviews embedded at the bottom of the page.

Read Alikes:

Magical Organizations

Colfer, Eoin. Artemis Fowl. When a twelve-year-old evil genius tries to restore his family fortune by capturing a fairy and demanding a ransom in gold, the fairies fight back with magic, technology, and a particularly nasty troll. (Novelist Plus)

Townsend, Jessica. Nevermoor. Born on the unluckiest day of the year and blamed for all misfortunes that occur in her community, a girl doomed to die at midnight on her 11th birthday is unexpectedly whisked away by a stranger on horseback who brings her to a magical city, where she learns she has been chosen to compete for a position with an organization comprised of highly talented individuals. (Novelist Plus)

Character Driven Fantasy

Allen, Elise. Twinchantment. When magic and other potentially magical beings, such as twins, are outlawed in Kaloon, royal twin sisters Flissa and Sara pretend to be one princess until dark magic puts their mother's life in danger. (Novelist Plus)

Aster, Alex. Curse of the Night Witch. After changing the fate he has known since birth, twelve-year-old Tor Luna, accompanied by his friends Engle and Melda, must visit the notorious Night Witch to break the curse he now faces. (Novelist Plus)

Okorafor, Nnedi. Akata Witch. Twelve-year-old Sunny Nwazue, an American-born albino child of Nigerian parents, moves with her family back to Nigeria, where she learns that he has latent magical powers which she and three similarly gifted friends use to catch a serial killer. (Novelist Plus)

Reviews:

Alston, B. B. Amari and the Night Brothers. HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray. 2020

Booklist

Amari and the Night Brothers. (Starred)

By B. B. Alston (author) Illustrated by Akpan, Godwin

HarperCollins/Balzer+Bray Jan. 2021. 416p. $17.99 (9780062975164). Grades 3-7.

REVIEW. First published November 1, 2020 (Booklist).

Ever since her big brother, Quinton, disappeared six months ago, life’s been hard for Amari— especially staying out of trouble at her fancy private school. But when a strange delivery arrives, containing a way-too-real vision of Quinton and a world more akin to a fantasy film than real life, it’s hard to tell if Amari is dreaming or straight losing her mind. As the vision comes to an end, Amari is left with an invitation to join a summer internship at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and a glimmer of hope—crazy or not, this opportunity might be her chance to find Quinton and bring him home! Thrust into a world of magic, technology, and mysticism, the fortitudinous Amari, alongside Elsie, her new best friend and yet-to-shift dragon, leads readers through a plot to save Quinton and his partner, Marie. Amari and Elsie don’t face an easy path, however, as new and old issues surrounding fitting in, friendship, and loyalty arise, stirring feelings of mistrust and self doubt. 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. —Melanie Marshall

Used with the permission of Booklist https://www.booklistonline.com/

School Library Journal starred (November 1, 2020)

Gr 3-7-Amari Peters is a young Black girl who believes her brother Quinton is alive, even if no one else does. Everything is going wrong and she just got expelled from school, but something exciting is about to happen. Amari, as recommended by her brother, joins a summer camp at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs. She starts to learn a special skill all her own, and discovers magical creatures exist (fairies, aliens, and magicians, to name a few) that the Bureau must protect from average people. Readers follow Amari as she navigates a new magical world, hones her skills, and searches for her brother who was attempting to track down the Night Brothers-a mysterious band of magical criminals. 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. VERDICT 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.-Maeve Dodds, Charlotte Mecklenburg Lib., NC © Copyright 2020. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

Reprinted with permission from School Library Journal ©2020