B.B. Alston
HarperCollins, 2021
408 pages
Grades 4-7
Fantasy
Supernatural Investigations series #1
Thirteen-year-old Amari does not have an easy life. The family is working poor and on the wrong side of the tracks. Her super-star and loving brother has been missing for many months and she is about to lose her scholarship to a private school after a bullying incident of which she was the target. An unexpected visitor brings a package and an invitation to an elite summer camp. The package contains glasses that once she puts on allow her to see an entire supernatural world that exists within our present. The camp is located at the secretive "Bureau of Supernatural Affairs" for which her brother worked. She begins training and auditioning for the position of "Junior Secret Agent", where she will track down the villains of the supernatural world. All campers have a supernatural power and Amari's is revealed to be the ability to wield magic, which is strictly forbidden at the agency for it's evil nature. Amari must prove that she has what it takes to be a Secret Agent, all while proving to the bureau that magic can be used for positive purposes, all while trying to find her brother and learning who to trust.
New author, B.B. Alston hits it out of the park with this new series entry. A cross between Harry Potter and Percy Jackson-yet completely original in its own right- Alston introduces a new supernatural world. This time the creatures are that of legend (Bigfoot, vampires, etc.) and the folks at the agency are trained to keep everyone in-line and the world safe from evil domination. Magic has traditionally been used for nefarious purposes, so Amari finds herself the outcast, yet again, in a program for which she naturally excels. The protagonist is spunky, brave, loyal and able to face challenges outside her comfort zone, serving as in inspiration to readers. There is bullying on several levels, but Amari continues to take the high road and prove herself worthy of her place in the program and does not sell-out to the evil villain. The concept is fresh and the plot is fast with twists, turns, and surprises. The main arc of the story is resolved, yet some plot points are left open, leading readers to the next installment, yet to be released. Highly readable with a contemporary setting and vibe both lovers of fantasy and "Muggles" will devour this book. I can't wait to see what will happen next, now that the world building is out of the way and Amari is established.
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