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I love the sense of representation in this book as pretty much all characters are people of colour, as well as the history behind the type of magic Remarkables/Manifestors can do and how a lot of it tied into African-American history, and also just worldwide Black history as well. This is one of those rare books that will instantly become the best friend you didn't know you needed. There's so much world-building here, which I don't mind, but Thomas breaks the cardinal rule over and over: she tells instead of shows.
I have read and enjoyed all three of Angie Thomas books, The Hate U Give, On The Come Up, and Concrete Rose. While planning to override her father’s refusal to attend the book event with JP is one thing, the explosion that happens when her father is arrested by LORE is quite another.They are Manifestors – Black people who have the Gift within them – and who can see vampires, werewolves and all kinds of Remarkables.
As Buzz and Mari walk home from school through Tangley Woods, they are astonished to find a woman bound to a tree with a magical rope. As a series starter for younger readers, she's taken the core theme of these and entwined it into a younger genre - the fantasy story, for a Harry Potter reader who may (or may not) want a dose of Black History and related contemporary issues. give further historical and emotional depth to this rousing quest tale's already richly articulated cultural context. Ineens moet ze op zoek naar de verdwenen Msaidizi, al heeft ze geen idee wat ze zich daarbij moet voorstellen. When her godfather gives her a pen that she can send messages to whoever she thinks of she decides to contact her mother, trouble is Nic’s father hasn’t been completely honest with her about why it is just them and her actions change the course of her life forever.Furthermore, this will prove a very difficult task with every ‘ haint, demon, vampire‘ and ghastly apparition out to get in her way. Meeting Nic Blake was a delight and I loved her character from the get go, along with every other character in this book! I enjoyed learning more about Black history/historical events, but I wish that she would have used the information in a way that built a stronger connection between it and this fantastical world.
Angie Thomas is such a phenomenal talent, and this truly is fantasy at its very best - a magnificent, exhilarating adventure in a richly imagined world.Nic Blake and The Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy is the first book to a start of a new middle-grade fantasy series.
Others, not so much — like not being trusted to learn magic because you might use it to take revenge on an annoying neighbour. I wouldn't read a horror novel and give it a low rating because it was 'too scary', and similarly I don't judge MG/YA for feeling 'immature'. Her Unremarkable best friend JP lives next door – but he is remarkable in his enthusiasm for the fantasy books of TJ Retro, and for hanging out with Nic. There were some really great fantastical elements woven into the narrative that made me even more curious about the world building and it was great to see a predominately Black cast at it's center. For example in the first part of the book (don't worry no spoilers), the main character says JP is her best friend.This experience has been fantastic primarily for the children, the school and also for me (professionally). Bronnie is so lovely with the boys and we also felt that having a man enthusing about the books set a great example. Is it possible that after all that Nic learns in a horrifying incident will inspire her to work to prove her father’s innocence? A world where magic is filled in a way that takes the lores from African culture but set in America.