When readers are intrigued, they turn pages.Īlso, Alston didn’t just dryly tell his readers that Quinton is Amari’s star-student brother. The readers get a whiff of backstory and even better, they are intrigued. Readers can already deduce that Quinton is Amari’s brother, that he’s a hard act to follow, and that something bad has happened since that picture was taken. You can’t see, but me and Mama are just off-stage, cheering him on. Quinton proudly holds up the trophy he won in the state math competition. I glance up at the picture of the brown-skinned boy on the wall behind Principal Merritt’s desk and frown.

In the first four pages, there’s only one hint of backstory. Backstory Through Traditional MethodsĪlston starts his novel fully in the present, with the main character, Amari, in trouble at school. Fortunately, Alston gives a masterclass in how to provide readers with the information they need when they need it, through slow and big reveals using both traditional and creative techniques. No reader wants a big info dump at the beginning of the book to set the stage. In this post, I’ll concentrate on one specific thread: Amari’s brother and his mysterious job and equally mysterious disappearance. In Amari and the Night Brothers, Alston has multiple threads that require information from the past. It’s an inventive, fast-paced adventure fantasy. I highly recommend reading the novel before you dive into this analysis. Alston is an excellent mentor text for how to interweave backstory, using multiple techniques, without slowing down the story one bit. Plus don't miss the thrilling sequel, Amari and the Great Game!Amari and the Night Brothers by B. But if she doesn’t stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton. No matter how hard she tries, Amari can’t seem to escape their intense doubt and scrutiny-especially once her supernaturally enhanced talent is deemed “illegal.” With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she’s an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. Now she must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known about magic their whole lives. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she’s certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton-if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real.

Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. Perfect for fans of Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, the Percy Jackson series, and Nevermoor.Īmari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Artemis Fowl meets Men in Black in this exhilarating debut middle grade fantasy, the first in a series filled with #blackgirlmagic.

Amari and night brothers