by B. B. Alston
“Oh, I’ve just been busy saving the world and stuff.”
He laughs. “If you say so—wait, we’re going to the roof?”
“Yep,” I say. “Promise me you won’t freak out, though.”
“Girl, please, don’t nothing freak me out.”
“Okay, Mr. Tough.”
I step out onto the roof first and turn around to watch Jayden come up after me. His eyes go so big they nearly pop out his head. He ducks back down the stairs and I can’t help but laugh.
“I know I’m not that sleepy,” says Jayden. “Is that a boat?”
“Sure is,” I say. “You coming or not?”
“Oh, I’m cool. Just give me a sec to get myself right.” He takes a few deep breaths and then steps onto the roof. I lead him inside the Jolly Roger 2.0. “I don’t know what’s going on, but this is some next-level stuff. How’d you get a boat up here?”
“Let’s just say I borrowed it from a family member,” I say. “Besides, you haven’t seen anything yet.” I lead him up onto the deck and hand him an envelope.
Jayden takes it and reads it aloud. “Nomination for Consideration for the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs . . . Wait, am I being pranked?”
“No, just listen, okay? You used to be a part of Quinton’s tutoring program. But I also know that you gave up on school after he went missing. Well, I’m going to restart the program.”
“For real?” he asks. “You really gonna start it up yourself?”
I nod. “I know I’m not Quinton, but I think it could be just as helpful. Because you are smart, Jayden. You just need someone to have your back the same way Quinton always had mine. That nomination won’t make much sense yet, but if you promise to really give the tutoring a shot, it will. Tonight, I’m going to give you just a taste of what I mean.”
I touch the wheel just enough that it lifts off the roof. Jayden’s jaw drops.
I give him a wide grin. “Tonight, we’re going to go look at some trains.”
Acknowledgments
This is the book of my heart. A book many years in the making, and a story that both scared and thrilled me to write. There are countless people who have helped this novel find its way into your hands. Far too many to ever thank properly. But I’ll do my best.
Thank you, first and foremost, to God, who has blessed me far more than I could ever hope to deserve.
Thanks to Gemma Cooper, SUPER-agent and captain of #TeamCooper, for just being such a great human being. That first phone call when you offered rep was one of the happiest moments of my life. Your endless enthusiasm and guidance through what has been a whirlwind of a publishing journey has been invaluable.
*A special thanks to everyone at the Bent Agency: Jenny Bent, Molly Ker Hawn, Amelia Hodgson, and Victoria Cappello and all the assistants and co-agents around the world.
Thanks to my utterly brilliant editors, Kristin Daly Rens and Lindsey Heaven, my companions in turning this book into the best story it could possibly be. Kristin, you’ve been wonderful since our first conversation and I don’t think there is a smarter, more patient person in the whole universe! Lindsey, your enthusiasm and expertise are unmatched! I’ve learned so much from you both and look forward to learning so much more.
*A special thanks to everyone at Balzer + Bray, Egmont UK, and the entire HarperCollins family. To the editing team, the sales and marketing teams, the art department, and everyone else who works tirelessly on my and so many other book’s behalf behind the scenes. You all rock!
Thanks to Mary Pender, my amazing film agent who I can never thank enough.
*A special thanks to Orly Greenberg, Akhil Hedge, and everyone at UTA!
Thanks to Estelle Laure, freelance editor extraordinaire. The first person to read Amari who didn’t share my last name. And the first person to say that I might have something special.
Thanks to those authors who’ve most inspired me and paved the way. It’s my hope to tell you how much you’ve meant to me whenever I’m lucky enough to meet you all. And thanks to the authors who’ve been so generous in freely sharing what they know about the craft and the industry.
Thanks to all of my family and loved ones. Especially my brother Steven (who got the height and the hair), and his wonderful wife, Stephanie. Thanks to John Lakin for the constant laughs these past twenty-five years (man, we’re old!). Thanks to Marquise and CC Ramey for the much-needed game nights. Thanks to Cousin DJ, Uncle Dib, and Aunt Judy. A special thanks to Uncle Mel and Aunt Carol for stepping up when they didn’t have to.
Thanks to my parents who have always been shining examples of what it means to be “good people.” So often it’s not until you grow up that you can appreciate what a commitment being a great parent truly is.
Thanks to my loving wife, Quinteria, for always believing in my writing even when I didn’t. You are absolutely the best thing that’s ever happened to me.
About the Author
Photo credit Joshua Aaron Photography
B. B. ALSTON lives in Lexington, South Carolina. Amari and the Night Brothers is his debut middle grade novel. When not writing, he can be found eating too many sweets and exploring country roads to see where they lead.
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Copyright
Balzer + Bray is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
AMARI AND THE NIGHT BROTHERS. Copyright © 2021 by B. B. Alston. All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.harpercollinschildrens.com
Cover art © 2021 by Godwin Akpan
Cover design by Lisa Vega and Amy Ryan
* * *
Names: Alston, B. B., author.
Title: Amari and the night brothers / B. B. Alston.
Description: First edition. | New York : Balzer + Bray, [2021] | Series: Supernatural investigations ; 1 | Audience: Ages 8–12. | Audience: Grades 4–6. | Summary: Twelve-year-old Amari, a poor Black girl from the projects, gets an invitation from her missing brother to join the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs and join in the fight against an evil magician.
Identifiers: LCCN 2020028609 | ISBN 978-0-06-297516-4 (hardcover) — ISBN 978-0-06-309388-1 (special edition)
Subjects: CYAC: Supernatural—Fiction. | Magic—Fiction. | Missing persons—Fiction. | Brothers and sisters—Fiction. | African Americans—Fiction.
Classification: LCC PZ7.1.A4755 Am 2021 | DDC [Fic]—dc23
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2020028609
* * *
Digital Edition JANUARY 2021 ISBN: 978-0-06-297518-8
Print ISBN: 978-0-06-297516-4
2021222324PC/LSCH10987654321
FIRST EDITION
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