Starred Review In a set of gleefully ingenious riffs on African and African American folklore, from "The People Could Fly" to Wakanda, Thomas pitches 12-year-old Nic into a whirl of stunning discoveries about her background as she struggles to understand her own magical gifts while rescuing her secretive dad from the ruthless cops of a hidden, high-tech Black civilization (constructors of an actual underground railroad that inspired the metaphorical one). Along the way, she meets family cluding an annoyingly stuffy twin brother at she never knew she had, and with him and other allies she faces not only a band of dangerous, if comically inept, amateur wizards but a host of supernatural foes, including everything from the Devil's daughter (still smitten with her ghostly beau, High John the Conqueror) to vampires and rougarous. There's even a bona fide dragon lurking near the volcano beneath Jackson, Mississippi, and, adding a generous measure of cuteness to the cast, a tagalong hellhound pup named Cocoa. Sober references to lynching, Emmett Till, and safe behavior while Black in the rural South give further historical and emotional depth to this rousing quest tale's already richly articulated cultural context. While leading up to a melodramatic climax, the author folds in both an ominous prophecy and at least two surprise villains to juice up interest in sequels.

Gr 5 Up —Nic Blake is a Remarkable, but she and her dad Calvin live in the Unremarkable world, never staying in one place long. Calvin is stalling on teaching Nic to use her powers—apparently she's not mature enough for the immense responsibility. Then, a surprise encounter with someone from Calvin's past reveals that her entire life is much more complicated than she knew; her dad has been accused of kidnapping her and stealing a powerful magical object. Nic sets off on a quest with her Unremarkable best friend, her new brother, and a pet hellhound. Their goal: to clear Calvin's name, to find the Msaidizi, the magical object, and to keep it out of the hands of the Manowari, the person destined to destroy the Remarkable world. Thomas has been a force on the young adult scene, and her first middle grade novel proves her range extends across genre and age groups; she weaves complex fantasy stories as deftly as realistic ones. This novel in some ways feels like an homage to some of the best works in the genre, both modern and mythical, but the freshness of the story and characters, along with Thomas's control of a multilayered, nuanced plot, makes everything feel brand new. VERDICT A book that will delight young readers and adults alike. Nic Blake is entering the Black fantasy scene with all the confidence and energy of its main character, and we're so glad it's here.—Kristin Brynsvold

Acclaimed for her young adult realistic fiction, Thomas (The Hate U Give, rev. 3/17) has taken on a new venture with this middle-grade fantasy. It's Nichole "Nic" Blake's twelfth birthday, and her father is going to "teach me how to use the Gift so I can finally be a real Manifestor." Belonging to a group of people known as the Remarkables, Nic and her father carry a power much stronger than magic -- and once a Remarkable is taught to use their gifts, they can do all manner of wondrous things. Nic is also looking forward to hanging out with her nerdy (and Unremarkable) best friend, JP, to get a book signed by their favorite fantasy author (think the Tristan Strong books). This encounter sets off a fast-paced, intense, mystical adventure for the duo. Sure, there are hellhounds, vampires, merfolk, and an encounter with the devil, but even more shocking for Nic are the revelations about her family, her powers, her past -- and the predictions for her future. Thomas skillfully incorporates folktales from the African diaspora and infuses her story with the energy and emotional nuance of a pre-teen in this tale of intrigue, loyalty, identity, and courage -- the first book in a projected trilogy. Eboni Njoku

In Jackson, Miss., homeschooled Nichole Blake is hoping that her single father will finally train her in her Gift as a Manifestor—the most powerful tier of the supernaturally gifted Remarkables, whose innate abilities originate with Africa’s Wallinzi tribe. After another Remarkable summons a vision for Nic’s 12th birthday—one that turns quickly terrifying—Nic’s deeply wary dad forbids her from attending a high-profile book signing. But when Nic goes against his wishes, she discovers something extraordinary: world-famous children’s book author TJ Retro is not only also a Manifestor, he’s her godfather, and the books she’s obsessed with are based in truth. As Nic’s developing Gift begins to wreak havoc, and the family secrets her father has kept catch up with them, Nic encounters a prophecy that promises the destruction of the Remarkable world unless a Chosen One can intervene. Thomas (Concrete Rose) brings her trademark voice to an action-packed series kickoff rooted in a mixture of African diasporic myth, biblical references, and U.S. history. Imbuing characters both brave and sweetly vulnerable with unflappable senses of humor amid harrowing circumstances, Thomas creates an elaborate supernatural mythology that boldly confronts fantasy tropes and questions of forgiveness. B&w art by Fiadzigbey (Bunheads) appears throughout. Protagonists are Black. Ages 8–12. Agent: Molly Ker Hawn, Bent Agency. (Apr.)