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Quick answer: If you loved Amari and the Night Brothers, try Amari and the Great Game, Nevermoor, Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief, Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky, Aru Shah and the End of Time and The Girl Who Drank the Moon. Each one combines magic, a secret world and a courageous hero who learns to believe in herself.
B. B. Alston's debut follows Amari Peters, a girl from an Atlanta housing project who discovers a hidden Bureau of Supernatural Affairs while searching for her missing brother, Quinton. There she learns she has an illegal magic and must prove herself. Kids love the hidden world, the humor and Amari's courage. These picks share the same blend of magic, mystery and identity.
Table of Contents
Quick Picks at a Glance
| Book | Author | Ages | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amari and the Great Game | B. B. Alston | 9-13 | kids who want more Amari |
| Nevermoor | Jessica Townsend | 9-12 | kids who like magical trials |
| Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief | Rick Riordan | 9-13 | kids who like mythology |
| Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky | Kwame Mbalia | 9-13 | kids who like Black folk heroes |
| Aru Shah and the End of Time | Roshani Chokshi | 9-12 | kids who like Hindu mythology |
| The Girl Who Drank the Moon | Kelly Barnhill | 10-13 | kids who like fantasy |
| Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone | J. K. Rowling | 8-12 | kids who like magic schools |
| Keeper of the Lost Cities | Shannon Messenger | 9-13 | kids who like hidden worlds |
| The Marvellers | Dhonielle Clayton | 9-12 | kids who like magic schools |
| Dragon Pearl | Yoon Ha Lee | 9-13 | kids who like space fantasy |
| The Mysterious Benedict Society | Trenton Lee Stewart | 9-13 | kids who like puzzles |
| Sal and Gabi Break the Universe | Carlos Hernandez | 9-13 | kids who like science and humor |
| City of Ghosts | Victoria Schwab | 9-12 | kids who like spooky adventures |
| Artemis Fowl | Eoin Colfer | 10-14 | kids who like clever heroes |
| Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy | Tui T. Sutherland | 8-13 | kids who love dragons |
1. Amari and the Great Game by B. B. Alston
Amari faces a dangerous international competition while learning to control her magic.
Best for: kids who want more Amari.
2. Nevermoor by Jessica Townsend
Morrigan Crow escapes a curse and competes to join a secret society in a magical city.
Best for: kids who like magical trials.
3. Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan
A boy discovers he is a demigod.
Best for: kids who like mythology.
4. Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia
A boy is pulled into a world of African American folk heroes and West African gods.
Best for: kids who like Black folk heroes.
5. Aru Shah and the End of Time by Roshani Chokshi
Aru frees an ancient demon and becomes a hero.
Best for: kids who like Hindu mythology.
6. The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill
A girl with moon magic grows up in a forest with a witch.
Best for: kids who like fantasy.
7. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone by J. K. Rowling
A boy discovers he is a wizard.
Best for: kids who like magic schools.
8. Keeper of the Lost Cities by Shannon Messenger
Sophie discovers she is an elf.
Best for: kids who like hidden worlds.
9. The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton
Ella becomes the first Conjure student at a magic school in the sky.
Best for: kids who like magic schools.
10. Dragon Pearl by Yoon Ha Lee
A fox spirit searches for her brother.
Best for: kids who like space fantasy.
11. The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart
Four gifted kids go on a secret mission.
Best for: kids who like puzzles.
12. Sal and Gabi Break the Universe by Carlos Hernandez
A boy can pull objects from other universes.
Best for: kids who like science and humor.
13. City of Ghosts by Victoria Schwab
Cassidy can see ghosts and slip into the world between life and death.
Best for: kids who like spooky adventures.
14. Artemis Fowl by Eoin Colfer
A boy criminal mastermind kidnaps a fairy.
Best for: kids who like clever heroes.
15. Wings of Fire: The Dragonet Prophecy by Tui T. Sutherland
Five dragonets are destined to end a war.
Best for: kids who love dragons.
How We Chose These Books
Every pick is a real, widely available book that shares something specific with Amari and the Night Brothers: its tone, its themes, its pace or the kind of characters it puts at the center. We mixed well-known favorites with a few less obvious titles, and we noted who each book suits best so you can match it to the reader. Where a book belongs to a series, we list the first volume so you can start at the beginning.
How to Choose
For more Amari, read Amari and the Great Game. Kids who love mythology should try Tristan Strong or Aru Shah. For secret magical societies, pick Nevermoor or The Marvellers. If your child wants humor and science, choose Sal and Gabi Break the Universe. For spooky adventures, try City of Ghosts.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What age is Amari and the Night Brothers for?
It is usually recommended for ages 9 to 13.
How many Amari books are there?
There are three: Amari and the Night Brothers, Amari and the Great Game and Amari and the Despicable Wonders.
Is Amari like Harry Potter?
It shares a hidden magical world, but it centers on a Black heroine and a government bureau of supernatural affairs.
Is Amari and the Night Brothers scary?
It has some spooky moments and danger, but it is mostly adventurous and hopeful.
Is it good for reluctant readers?
Yes. Its fast pace and humor keep pages turning.