Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books/Blazer + Bray for the digital ARC!

This was a fun book to read. The style is similar to Percy Jackson/Harry Potter, which I loved. The plot moved along pretty quickly and I really liked learning about Black history and culture. There were also several twists and turns that were unexpected and the interactions between Nic and her friends and family were great and very believable.

The characters were fun and there were different types of magic and abilities shown throughout the book. I really liked Nic as the main character and thought she was a great protagonist, with an adorable hellhound puppy as a sidekick. There are a number of interesting side characters, including several magical creatures like demons, vampires, and a vegan Rougaru. JP, who is Nic's best friend, was probably my favorite side character.

Overall I enjoyed this book and would recommend it to those who enjoy fun middle grade adventure stories with great characters and lots of magic.

I loved everything about this! The characters are funny and relatable but still unlike anything I’ve read before. This felt very Harry Potter meet Percy Jackson meets Tristian Strong all while being something new. I loved the setting being that I live in the area. I am so excited to follow Nic and her friends in what I know is about to be an awesome series.
Thank you to Net Galley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I am not a fantasy reader but I wanted to give Angie Thomas's new middle grade fantasy a try. This book was not for me but I know that it will resonate with the right readers. The use of Black history/folklore/mythology to create the story was excellent.

There were times when this book dragged on a little and I was ready for the next part of the story. But dang, this is some impactful writing. I truly think kids will find comfort in this story while also discover tough questions to discuss about the world. Even as an adult, I found myself researching some of the historical figures and events mentioned to learn more. This is a wonderful stepping stone for children and adults to discover black history that they might not have known before.

The fantasy elements were fascinating and wonderful. I loved being immersed in this world and am eager for more. Even though this is a middle grade book, I would have loved more depth and development of the characters. A lot of them felt a little flat, which is unlike an Angie Thomas novel.

Overall, I enjoyed the heck out of this book and can’t wait for the next one.

Nic Blake and the Remarkables is about a young girl who finds out that she is a "remarkable." However, she has been living in the unremarkable world aka the normal, natural world. She quickly discovers that her father has lied to her and kidnapped her when she was a baby. Her father has been on the run all of her life and she has an opportunity to help sort this out. He has been accused of taking the a valuable weapon from the remarkables.

Nic, her newly discovered twin brother, and her best friend set out to find this weapon while her mother, father, and uncle are imprisoned for their 'crimes.' On their journey, they encounter many other type of remarkables and face a number of problems. The end of the novel comes to a nice close, but also leaves room for a sequel to follow.

The first book I ever read by Angie Thomas was The Hate U Give. To this day, it is still one of my FAVORITE books that I recommend all the time to my students. What I appreciate about it is the underlying themes in the book and its focus on representation. While Nic Blake and the Remarkables in geared towards what I think is a younger audience, it still does have some underlying themes. Nic Blake is a young, Black, girl which allows other people to see themselves as the hero. There's also brief mentions of what it's like to be discriminated against. Nic has to explain to her twin brother that when they go into a gas station, they need to keep their hands out of their pockets because it's not uncommon for the clerk to think that "people like them" steal. Breaking these stereotypes is what I love about Angie Thomas as an author and I appreciate that this has still made it into this book.

As an adult, I wasn't sure that I was going to like this book. However, I thoroughly enjoyed seeing a different version of Angie Thomas as an author. I hope that this becomes one of the next great series for young readers! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a free ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Angie Thomas is a magic-maker. My school library shelves don't lie: I cannot keep her books on my shelf. So I was thrilled to receive an early copy of Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy. Reading this was like jumping in a pool on a hot day- refreshing and everything I needed- I did not come up for air until it was over. It was fantastic, a 10/10. The magic for me is in the details. Angie Thomas has created a whole world, and it is woven with history, culture and fresh, new creatures and magic. The story references black history, culture and current media in a way that will make so many kids feel seen. Nic Blake is a character kids will root for, relate to and learn from. It is a FUN read- so many twists and turns and characters who make appearances that I hope we will see again. This book is a strong addition to any middle school fantasy collection, and I am so glad that there are more to come.

I am loving this new trend of literal Black Girl Magic! This reminds me a lot of Amari and the Night Brothers and has similar vibes to Harry Potter (magic systems, prophesy, etc.), Percy Jackson (humor & folklore), and Root Magic (cajun/creole conjuring). This series will be a hit!

Nic Blake is a Remarkable living in an Unremarkable world, but she makes the best of it with her dad and best friend JP (an Unremarkable). She longs to connect to the Gift inside her and become a skilled Manifestor like her dad, but he just keeps delaying her. Maybe she'll learn next year... at least for this birthday she gets a hellhound puppy! Everything is shaping up to be a normal year in Jackson, Missisippi... but not for long.

I can't list anything else that happens because it is ALL spoilers. Craziness goes down, identities are revealed, prophecies are explained, and Nic finds herself with friends traveling on a quest adventure to save her whole world and family. Just when you think things must be wrapped up, there's another twist and more characters and settings to meet. This was a wild ride! It's also set up perfectly for a whole series. I can't wait!

I loved this story so much, though I wish there was more thorough world building. You can tell that Angie Thomas has the whole plot line in place, but I wanted to know so much more about the Remarkable world and how things had developed. Maybe in later books! I also loved how actual history was intertwined with the story. Historic Black and African American leaders were incorporated, the folktales and folklore of early enslaved people had connections to magic, and the Underground Railroad had a physical, mystical counterpart. It was all so genius and well done!

I highly recommend this one, especially for readers who loved Amari and the Night Brothers or any of the other aforementioned books/series. This one is a gem!

Thank you to NetGalley for the Advanced Reader's Copy!

Angie Thomas can do no wrong. Everything she touches turns to literary gold. I'm not normally a fan of fantasy books, but she tells a story so well that I could help but enjoy it. The main character is relatable through the fantastical elements.

It is obvious that this book was created after years of writing and rewriting the story. Thomas mentioned in a social media post that she has wanted to get this story to the public for a very long time and it is finally here!

Nichole has a gift, although her father is reluctant to let her learn more about it and definitely not use it. She begins to suspect that things may not be as they seem. Her life begins to unravel and she must go on a quest in order to save her family.

If you enjoy Thomas as an author, this is a really fun departure from her previous novels. If you like fantasy, Nic Blake is definitely an entertaining choice. I went into this story blind so I do not want to give out too many details and spoil the ride the reader gets to go on.

Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for the ARC.

This has been a highly anticipated read! I am an Angie Thomas fan and was curious to see her middle grade fantasy coming out April 4th. In this fast paced adventure, Nic Blake is a “Remarkable” in an Unremarkable world, living with her dad in Jackson, Mississippi where she is eager to start learning how to wield “the Gift”. Instead of starting her training on her twelfth birthday, the Remarkable world comes crashing into her own and her father is arrested for crimes of kidnapping and thievery. Thus begins an epic adventure story where alongside her best friend, JP, and twin brother, Alex, Nic must find the answers to clear her father’s name. Thomas intentionally integrates elements of Black history to shape an important and exciting fantasy world that centers Black children. A must-read and another great alternative to Harry Potter!

Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I really liked this book! It was super cute and the magic system was really interesting. The pacing was a little too fast for my liking, but it was still a great book!

Angie Thomas is primarily known for her contemporary YA books with black characters, and some of the previous titles included The Hate You Give and On The Come Up, which I enjoyed thoroughly. So, I was very excited to learn she had a MG fantasy series coming out. Her new series did not disappoint. It reminds me a lot of The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton or Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston, so if you enjoyed these two books, I'm sure you'll enjoy Nic Blake as well. While reading, I still had the same feel of Angie Thomas' humor that I've come to enjoy from her books with lines like: "I can smell a hellhound from thousands of miles away. Wherever this thing is, it's filling the forest with a strong odor of boiled eggs and Fritos."

I really enjoyed both Nic and JP, they're fun characters. I also liked that despite being an Unremarkable, JP had a lot of skills he brought to their adventure too. Nic's mixed feelings about why her dad hid her mom and twin brother Alex from her were also understandable. She doesn't know if she can forgive her father, but also can't help being concerned about him. Also, while she's excited to find out she has a twin, she's also upset that he knows so much about their mom and Uhuru. Balancing some jealousy with wanting to get to know him better.

As a first book in the series, I was eager to learn about this new magic system, and to immerse myself in the world building. I felt there were enough details and explanations made so that the major distinctions between Unremarkables, Remarkables and where their magic comes from were clear. How learning to use the gift involves mojos and jujus to control the elements. There still feels like there is so much more to learn about Uhuru and the gift that I hope will be explored further in the next book. What I also enjoyed while reading the story were the cultural ties to African American folklore, history and mentions of slavery in terms that kids could easily understand. Topics like school shootings and police violence are addressed but not delved into great depth. It's a nice melding of magic, culture and historical elements mixed with a fast-paced adventure. But oh, to end on a cliffhanger...torture. Overall, I really enjoyed Nic Blake and the Remarkables and see lots of kid appeal.

** A huge thank you to Sparkpress for the E-ARC via Netgalley**

I really wanted to like this book. However, I just think it wasn't for me. Honestly, I didn't finish reading it and I thought the topic wasn't appropriate for the grade levels I work with.

Angie Thomas’ first foray into middle grade fantasy is a winner. Readers will love the fast paced fantasy adventure. Nic Blake is a strong female character she is a Remarkable, but her dad won’t let her start training. She and her dad move frequently in the unremarkable world. The latest move is to Jackson, Mississippi where Nic finally makes a friend.

Filled with magic, complex family dynamics, creatures, Black history, and surprises, Ms. Thomas has a hit on her hands. Middle grade readers will eat this up and ask for more.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the chance to read this arc in exchange for an honest review. This title will definitely be part of my middle school library.

What a great middle grade debut! When Nic learns of a deep family secret, she has to go on the hunt for a powerful weapon to set wrongs right. The Remarkable world with glowing auras was fun to read; I liked the integration of several different supernatural creatures. Nic, JP and Alex are great characters. Nic's determination to save her family, JP's openness and commitment to his friendship with Nic and Alex's knowledge of Remarkables teaming up make for an amazing adventure.
Thanks NetGalley!

Angie Thomas loves to challenge her readers with humor and insight. She has created a wonderful blend of fantasy and non-fiction. Readers will want Book 2 to follow quickly.

ohhh my god, I'm OBSESSED with this. like the layers!! This is so much in conversation with Harry Potter/JKR and the way that stories/authors can betray their readers and it's just like *chef's kiss*. But crucially the base story is fun and compelling too. And I just LOVE Nic as a protagonist. I want a Nic Blake theme park!

Nic Blake and the Remarkables was something I needed when I was a kid. Thomas knocked it out of the park as always and didnt disappointment. I love that she is venturing into MG and I can't wait to see what she brings out next.

Nic Blake is truly a remarkable girl living in an unremarkable world. This wonderous tale takes us through the south with The Blake Family who are a magical family living in Jackson, MS. The story takes us on a journey with Nic and her neighbor best friend, JP. The two set out to find out why her father is a wanted man in the remarkable world. On the path, we are gifted with mythical creatures, pop up surprises, African folklore, and a real underground railroad. Angie Thomas has done what she always does-delivered a masterful tale that leaves us wanting more. In Nic Blake, we get history wrapped up in a fantasy tale that definitely makes the ancestors proud.

I recieved an eARC of this title from #netGalley and HarperCollins

This one was FUN! The mix of African American history and Fantasy was fantastic.

It ends with unfinished business, almost guaranteeing a sequel (I hope it comes soon)
This is rated a middle grade book, but I think even your young high schoolers that are fans of fantasy will like this one.