Scan barcode
kianareads's review
adventurous
emotional
funny
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Amari. Is. Back.
AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME is full of twists and turns with almost every chapter ending on a cliffhanger. Amari continues to be a brilliant protagonist–smart, empathetic, passionate, vulnerable, and brave. She stands her ground and pushes back against racism, prejudice, and discrimination, especially now as it comes from the very top of the Supernatural government.
In this book, we see once again how strong of a magician Amari is. But it’s not her magical powers that make her great and strong. It’s who she is a person: her willingness and desire to never give up, to give others a chance (and a second chance), and to lean on the strengths of her friends.
Readers are shown a battle between good and evil. But when lines blur, motives are hidden, and hope is ignited...it isn’t always easy telling the difference between the two.
The ending made me gasp and sets the stage for what will surely be a dramatic third installment in the Supernatural Investigations series.
We read Amari and the Night Brothers as our first class novel this year and it was complete magic. To say my students were devastated to leave her world when we finished the book in December is an understatement. Now, I have a long list of new 5th graders who plan on coming back to my classroom to visit and borrow this much anticipated sequel 🧡
(Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-arc!)
AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME is full of twists and turns with almost every chapter ending on a cliffhanger. Amari continues to be a brilliant protagonist–smart, empathetic, passionate, vulnerable, and brave. She stands her ground and pushes back against racism, prejudice, and discrimination, especially now as it comes from the very top of the Supernatural government.
In this book, we see once again how strong of a magician Amari is. But it’s not her magical powers that make her great and strong. It’s who she is a person: her willingness and desire to never give up, to give others a chance (and a second chance), and to lean on the strengths of her friends.
Readers are shown a battle between good and evil. But when lines blur, motives are hidden, and hope is ignited...it isn’t always easy telling the difference between the two.
The ending made me gasp and sets the stage for what will surely be a dramatic third installment in the Supernatural Investigations series.
We read Amari and the Night Brothers as our first class novel this year and it was complete magic. To say my students were devastated to leave her world when we finished the book in December is an understatement. Now, I have a long list of new 5th graders who plan on coming back to my classroom to visit and borrow this much anticipated sequel 🧡
(Thank you so much NetGalley for the e-arc!)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Xenophobia
Minor: Racism
bookcheshirecat's review
adventurous
emotional
mysterious
medium-paced
4.0
“Director Van Helsing’s face goes quickly from shock to disgust. He lifts his chin. “A magician is no daughter of mine.”
➽ Amari and the Great Game was an engaging sequel! It was great to be back in this world! Amari is having lots of problems as Director Van Helsing is introducing increasingly discriminatory practices against magicians in his hatred for them. She feels helpless as she is confronted with a hostile environment and prejudices just for being a magician. Finally being a Junior Agent isn't as good as she imagined it to be! Even worse is the announcement of the Great Game, a competition between her and Dylan in order to determine who is the next leader of Magicians. Amari doesn't want to be their leader, but she can't let Dylan take the position without a fight!
➽ I felt so bad for her, as she's got a lot to deal with and is put in a difficult situation when she's still so young. She's trying to improve her magic in order to stand against Dylan, but she's still hurt at his betrayal and the kind of magician he chooses to be! I still love her friendship with Elsie and it's much needed because there are lots of people in the Bureau who can't see past her magic. Others are either hoping to use her or control her!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Deportation, Racism, Bullying, and War
theirgracegrace's review
challenging
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
An explosive second book that promises an even more powerful third! With the Supernatural Congress frozen in an act of apparent terrorism, Amari blamed and suspected of the attack, and the threat of the League of Magicians going to war if Amari doesn't win the Great Game, the Good Magician has her plate full. An amazing sequel where I can never predict what happens next and where I can find something to admire about every character (yes, even Dylan and his struggle with choosing evil when he enjoys being good ). Excited for the finale!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, Death, Xenophobia, War, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Deportation, Fire/Fire injury, Hate crime, Racism, Police brutality, Racial slurs, Stalking, Terminal illness, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Medical content, Child abuse, Confinement, and Torture
Minor: Genocide and Gun violence
The book does (through allegory) talk at length about white supremacy, white terrorism and related bigotry, including an event that is revealed tokari_f's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
tense
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reading a series you love that is still in process is always a hard thing, because it’s so exciting to get the next installment, but then you have to wait another year or two to find out what happens next.
After finishing Amari and The Night Brothers (yesterday), I dove right into book 2 and could *not* put it down (to the point where I finished it in less than a day)! I’m already excited about rereading both of these before book 3 comes out someday, and Amari has been officially added to my list of favorite juvenile/middle grade series.
Some of my favorite aspects:
🔥 Character growth from so many people, and coming to terms with evolving friendships.
🔥 Exploration of other departments in the bureau.
🔥 Lessons involving supporting each other’s successes, how easily society is swayed by the media, and the importance of second chances.
🔥 An ending that was unique and already has me ready for the next installment!
Thanks so much to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for this advanced e-copy! I’m definitely going to be purchasing a physical copy later on down the road.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Bullying and Racism
More...