Amari and the Night Brothers

“The car rattles as we pass over the railroad tracks, letting me know we’re in my neighborhood now. I’m not going to lie, it feels different coming back here after being on the other side of town. It’s like the world is brighter around Jefferson Academy and all those big, colorful houses that surround it. Where I’m from feels gray in comparison. We pass liquor stores and pawnshops, and I see D-Boys leaning up against street signs, mean mugging like they own the whole world.”

Alston uses the details of the setting to characterize the stark contrast between the privileged world of Jefferson Academy and the lower-income neighborhood Amari inhabits. The contrast emphasizes the advantage given to those with privileges of wealth or other resources. It also suggests the unfairness of how Amari’s surroundings shape other characters’ responses to her, as those who inhabit the “nicer” neighborhood are the ones primarily responsible for treating Amari badly.

“[Mama] sighs. ‘I know it’s unfair, but the truth is that when you’re a poor Black girl from the ‘Wood, certain people are gonna already have it in their minds what type of person you are. You can’t give them a reason to think they’re right.’”

Mama’s comments to Amari establish one of the main conflicts that will develop in the novel—the way others stereotype her based on preconceived notions. This builds on the previously established clash between Amari and the privileged classmates who harass her. Mama’s words also foreshadow the parallel drawn to Amari’s situation as an illegal magician in the supernatural world later in the novel.

“Me looking out for [Jayden] was just me sharing whatever I had at the time. Sometimes it was just half my candy bar. He was always so grateful.”

Jayden’s home life is quite different from Amari’s; while Amari has Mama and Quinton to lean on, Jayden’s mother is absent, and he has had to fend for himself since he was young. Amari’s reflection on how she used to share what she could with Jayden highlights her compassion for others. This quote demonstrates that even though Amari doesn’t see herself as a “hero” like Quinton was, she has a strong drive to help others and possesses the same “heroic” qualities that she idolizes in Quinton.

“Even if it is dangerous, Quinton wanted me to experience all the things that he did. When has he ever wanted anything but the best for me? Just the memory of those glittering trains lighting up the ocean sends a rush of excitement through me I can’t explain. And more than anything, this could be my only shot to find out what happened to him.”

The motif about the future and broadened horizons here reinforces the idea that possibility and opportunity are the key to rising above circumstances and attaining self-growth. This moment reflects the importance of Bonds of Family Loyalty, as Amari is driven to enter the supernatural world out of love for her brother. It is also the moment that will be referenced at the end of the book, when Amari presents opportunity to Jayden just as Quinton is doing for her here.

“Truth is, I am worried. Nobody would want me for a hero.”

Elsie suggests that Amari could be a hero like Quinton, and Amari’s reaction reveals the deep sense of inferiority she harbors. This develops Amari’s internal conflicts regarding the theme of her arc, Self-Confidence and Discovering Identity. She is open about her inferiority complex—not because she wishes to be self-deprecating, but because she takes Quinton’s incomparable genius as a fact.

“[The Moonstone Badge] is the most beautiful, most wonderful thing I’ve ever owned. It’s also the badge my perfect brother received, and all those accomplished Bureau members before him. I don’t deserve it.”

Amari’s diction here further underscores the feelings of inadequacy she experiences. This early in Amari’s arc, it does not matter that an objective force noted Amari’s power as “legendary.” She places emphasis on the achievements of her brother and other Bureau members, disregarding her own potential to achieve the same.

“It’s kind of like how being the Black kid from the projects makes Mr. Jenson feel the need to watch me extra close every time I come in his store. Or how surprised my scholarship interviewers were that I could speak so well. People assume stuff about you based on things you can’t change about yourself. So I just do my best to prove them wrong, to be the person they’re not expecting. Amari Peters, changing minds one person at a time.”

This quote draws a parallel between Amari’s experiences as an illegal magician in the supernatural world and her experiences with racism and classism in her ordinary world. This speaks to the heart of the novel’s theme of Hope in the Face of Prejudice; despite what she is faced with, Amari is resilient and determined to show people they are wrong about her. This position sets her apart from other magicians, like Dylan, who allow bitterness and hatred to guide their actions.

“For a moment, I imagine myself back at Jefferson Academy surrounded by Emily Grant and her friends. Then I imagine those taunting smiles fading away as a pack of scowling hybrids show up to help me. I’ll bet they’d wet their pants at the sight. As much as I hate to admit it, a part of me likes that idea.”

When Moreau offers Amari the power to make those who hurt her suffer, she is initially tempted by it. She relates it to her experiences with racism and classism, paralleling it to how she’s treated as a magician in the supernatural world. Amari’s initial temptation is important to underscoring the seriousness of the harm she’s received from others, and to demonstrate that her ultimate choice to have hope and choose good is not an easy one. This reinforces the strength of her character.

“[The boogeyperson’s] fear of me makes me sick to my stomach. Is this what it means to be a magician?”

After Lara points out that magicians were once the “masters” of boogeypeople, and that Amari is a magician, the boogeyperson pleads with Amari not to include them in the magicians’ evil plots. Amari’s reaction to this situation demonstrates her innate goodness. While magicians like Moreau (and later Dylan) draw a sense of empowerment from controlling and harming others, Amari consistently chooses compassion. This reinforces the idea that magic is not inherently bad, and that Amari can choose what kind of magician she wants to be. The choice of the word “master” is also an intentional reference to the real-world racism that Black people have endured.

“‘Just because we’re afraid, doesn’t give us the right to attack,’ I say. ‘Where I’m from that happens a lot—you get labeled as bad or scary just by how you look or what neighborhood you’re in.’”

During the first Junior Agent tryout, Amari is the one to notice that the zombie isn’t dangerous despite its appearance. She relates it to her own experiences with racism, reinforcing themes of prejudice and privilege. This moment subtly sets her up against Dylan, who is more inclined to see others in a cynical manner.

“Who am I kidding? It’s not like people like me anyway. The Bureau isn’t any different from Jefferson Academy. I’m the outcast here too.”

At the celebration party following the first tryout, Amari is disoriented to find that she is still left on the outskirts despite her success. The explicit comparison to Jefferson Academy draws a parallel between her experiences in both worlds. This scene also displays Dylan’s position, straddling the line between siding with and against Amari. He happily accepts all of the attention instead of directing any toward Amari, but he also leaves the party to go investigating with her shortly after this moment. Though the investigation is a part of Dylan’s scheme, Dylan later claims that his bond with Amari was genuine, which adds a note of tragedy to his downfall.

“Remember, your magic is alive. It can sense your doubt.”

Dylan’s words to Amari establish magic as a representation of Amari’s self-doubt. As Amari grapples with her own sense of unworthiness, reinforced by how others treat her, she is afraid of her magic and what she can do with it; as a result, her magic does not work for her. However, once she embraces her potential and believes in her ability to do great things at the novel’s climax, she attains great power and uses it to save the day.

“[Dylan] leads me over to the path and paints a tiny green sprout that grows through a crack in the concrete. ‘This reminds me of you. […] Because you haven’t let where you come from or what you are make you give up. At least, not yet. You just keep fighting through it.’”

When Dylan shows Amari how to paint illusions, he creates a flower that represents Amari. The flower growing through concrete symbolizes her resilience and reflects her developing self-confidence. This moment is also significant because it foreshadows the climax of Amari’s character arc when she must attain confidence in herself despite overwhelming odds in order to use her magic effectively against Dylan.

“My whole life I’ve been comparing my best efforts to my brother’s supernatural efforts. Of course I’d fall short.”

This is an important realization for Amari: that she has been pitting her own efforts against Quinton’s supernaturally enhanced abilities. One of the foci of her insecurity complex is Quinton’s achievements in comparison to her own; she idolizes her brother’s accomplishments and has believed that she can never compare to him. With this realization, Amari can finally begin giving herself credit for her talents and push her closer to self-acceptance and confidence.

“But I can’t let that be the end of it. I won’t let anyone intimidate me anymore. I look them both square in the eyes and say, ‘I’m not scared of you.’”

Following her realization about unfairly comparing herself to Quinton, Amari puts her greater confidence into action. Shortly after the hybrids attack, Lara accuses Amari of being involved, and one of Lara’s friends calls Amari a “freak.” Amari, however, stands up to her bullies and asserts her right to belong in the supernatural world. At this point, some of her bravery is still an act, but Amari is well on her way to finding true inner strength.

“‘But I was always told…I thought that too much magic…’ [Ranger Alford] shakes her head. ‘You’re just an ordinary twelve-year-old girl from what I can tell. Smiling, good-natured. I guess what I’m trying to say is you’re not what I was expecting. […] I think you’ll change a lot of minds while you’re here, Amari Peters.’”

This quote from Amari’s chaperone during the second Junior Agent tryout shows Amari that many of the people who are wary of magicians behave so because they’ve never been told anything else. This moment encourages Amari that she can show non-magicians that what they’ve been taught is wrong. This informs Amari’s perspective towards having hope that she can change minds, in opposition to Dylan’s perspective of collective punishment for all non-magicians.

“I can’t believe I ruined Quinton’s legacy like this. It’s bad enough that Quinton’s little sister is a cheater. I won’t make it worse by lying.”

When Amari and Dylan hear a rumor about the second tryout, they make use of it to give themselves an advantage. When they are questioned, Amari feels guilty and confesses, while Dylan’s surprise indicates that he would have kept silent. Amari’s decision to be honest secures her and Dylan an invitation to the final and demonstrates Amari’s integrity. It also positions her as Dylan’s foil once more; though they were in the same situation, Amari made the choice to speak up for them while Dylan didn’t. The fact that Amari was motivated by her love and respect for Quinton speaks to the power of her Bonds of Family Loyalty.

“What did I just do? Lara’s worst fear is the same as mine. That my brother is more than just missing. That he really is gone.”

After Amari casts Magna Fobia on Lara, she resolves never to use foul magic again. Her horrified reaction at the distress she’s caused Lara—whose actions before this have caused Amari much, much distress—demonstrates the care Amari has for others, even those who have done her harm. This sharply contrasts her against characters like Moreau and Dylan, who are okay with hurting others to get what they want.

“The last question is the hardest and I have to think before I answer. ‘I don’t know that anything makes me different from those other magicians. Honestly, there’s a lot to being a magician that I still don’t get. What I have learned is that it’s my choice what kind of magician I’m going to be. I’m trying to learn from my mistakes and not be like those bad magicians you guys know about. I guess I’m just asking for a chance to prove myself.’”

During the final Junior Agent tryout, Amari presents her illusions as part of her supernatural ability demonstration. This is a significant moment for her as she finds that many people are willing to give her a chance if they are exposed to proof that not all magicians are bad like they’ve been taught. This quote encapsulates Amari’s personal philosophy on the anti-magician prejudice; by showing them who she is, Amari has the power to help others understand that just because she’s different from them, it doesn’t mean she is inherently bad. This moment unites the themes of Hope in the Face of Prejudice and Self-Confidence and Discovering Identity, as Amari is able to change people’s minds by being proud of who she is.

“I swallow. [Madame Violet’s] words suddenly make sense. What’s the most obvious reason for an illusionist not to trust? Because we know that the eyes can be tricked. It’s the very first rule in the spell book: […] In viewing anything, assume its appearance is false until otherwise proven.”

This realization motivates Amari to dispel the illusion hiding the fake Moreau, a plot twist that drives the events to the climax with heightened urgency. The words of this realization, though Amari does not yet know it, are also an ironic foreshadowing of the final plot twist that the greatest illusion was in front of Amari all along: Dylan was Moreau’s true apprentice.

“I’ve had those same thoughts. Wanting revenge on all those people who’ve hated me for something I can’t change about myself. […] Isn’t it exactly how I felt when I’d finally had enough and shoved Emily Grant on the last day of school? It was payback for all those times she made me feel bad about being the poor Black kid from the other side of town. For daring to say that Quinton was dead. […] I felt totally justified. But that’s not how I feel anymore.”

This is the climax of Amari’s internal conflicts regarding how to respond to the discrimination, stereotyping, and bullying she’s endured. This moment encapsulates the narrative’s stance on Hope in the Face of Prejudice: even when faced with unjust actions, responding with equal hate is not the answer. It also creates sympathy for Dylan; though he has kept his own magic a secret and thus been shielded from the open hatred Amari has faced, he still witnessed the injustice enacted upon magicians, and grew up with a father who openly decried magicians as evil. Dylan’s arc is a tragic foil to Amari’s because he has the chance to choose compassion and side with Amari, but he has become too consumed by his own hatred to accept it.

“Didn’t Elsie become my friend because we gave each other a chance? And what about Ranger Alford at the second tryout or those people who clapped for me at the finale. I was changing minds by simply not shutting myself off. No matter how many times my efforts got thrown back in my face.”

During the showdown with Moreau and Dylan, Amari demonstrates her growth by acknowledging her own accomplishments. Amari has learned that opening herself up to others and giving them the chance to know the real her can be a tool for dispelling prejudices. Acknowledging her support system and the good she’s done gives Amari the strength to maintain her integrity and stand against the villains who believe that non-magicians will never give magicians a chance.

“No! I shake those doubts from my mind. That’s not me anymore. I’m not the girl who gives up. I’m the girl who tries. The girl who fights. The girl who believes. My eyes open with a burning realization. I’m unstoppable.”

This is the climax of both the narrative and Amari’s character arc. When Dylan steals Moreau’s magic, he becomes unbelievably powerful, and Amari briefly wavers out of fear. When Amari dredges up her courage and wholeheartedly embraces her potential, she successfully summons her fair magic illusion and defeats Dylan without resorting to the same kind of cruelty and pain upon which Dylan and Moreau rely.