Just under the wire, here comes my recommendation for February: Amari and the Night Brothers.
Now, not all middle-grade fantasy lands with adults. A certain amount is just whimsical, kid-centric noise — not without value, but it lacks… heft.
The first book in B.B. Alston’s Supernatural Investigations series is not one of those stories. There’s a reason this book has ended up on so many “Best of” lists: it’s fun, fast, and genuinely thoughtful in ways that adults can connect with, too.
If you pay attention to kidlit, there’s a decent chance you know that already, because Amari is one of the more popular series of the past several years. In fact, I almost didn’t include it for that reason. But I hate it when people start to ignore (or worse, denigrate) something as soon as it gets “big,” so I didn’t want to ignore it.
What’s the story in a nutshell?
Synopsis
Amari Peters’ big brother Quinton has vanished, and no one believes he’s alive. Naturally, she uncovers something incredible: he was part of a secret organization — the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs — that manages the supernatural world (imagine a Men In Black for magic). Even more amazing? He nominated her to join it.
That organization recruits kids with magical potential, and when Amari steps through the portal, she discovers a world of mermaids, alien-like creatures, hidden societies, and more. And she doesn’t just have magic — her talent isn’t literally illegal according to the Bureau’s rules. Yikes.
Over the course of the story, Amari must navigate a place that’s supposed to protect people, master powers she barely understands, make real friends (including a weredragon roommate), and slowly unravel the mystery she really cares about: what really happened to Quinton?
Why Adults Will Actually Like It
Magic with Meaning. Yes, the magic is cool. But it’s also woven into systems with bias, hierarchy, and rules rife with prejudice and suspicion.
A Protagonist Who Feels Real. Amari’s brave… but also angry and uncertain. Anyone who’s ever felt othered or underestimated will relate.
Worldbuilding That Isn’t Just Window Dressing. Weaving together secret-society intrigue and hidden-world fantasy, The Bureau feels surprisingly fresh. Plus, magical creatures are more than mere fun, carrying stakes and consequences.
Themes That Sneak Up On You. Beneath the fantasy adventure, you’ll find an exploration of identity, grief, belonging, and what it means to challenge systems that try to define you.
Pacing That’s Just Right. Unputdownable without being exhausting, this book moves with purpose, mixes emotional beats with big moments, and never gets bogged down in unnecessary fluff.
Final verdict: this is one of those middle-grade books that earns its appeal through craft, character, and emotional honesty — something a lot of adult books could benefit from.
Buy Amari and the Night Brothers here.
Have you read Amari? What did you think? Do the rest of the books in the series match (or exceed) this first one?