Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy Paperback – 4 April 2023

Bought for son and he says it's a good story although he hasn't finished reading it yet

A great story written by Angie Thomas (winner of multiple writing awards) who decided to write the book she always wanted to read when she was a little black girl growing up.Nichole (Nic) Blake lives with her dad in a city called Jackson, in Mississippi, South Eastern USA. Next door is her friend JP who has a very religious family. They both love reading a fantasy adventure novel called The Adventures of Stevie James which actually turns out to be more realistic than they ever thought possible.Every year on her birthday her dad puts off revealing her gift, and so she continues to live an unremarkable life. But adventure is just around the corner when her godfather comes to Jackson. Soon the friends are on a rollercoaster of magic and mayhem. Find out how remarkable she is by reading this cracking story.Weaved within the story are bits of African folklore and black history within the US. Although there are plenty of magical elements the emphasis throughout the story is that you do not actually need the magic to fulfil your potential or achieve great things in your life.Angie is already working on the second story with a deeper exploration of the twist that we read about towards the end of this book.

Before I started this book I'd seen some of the twitter reviews by bloggers (I didn't read the full blog posts). Could it really be as good as they suggested? Also was I really going to be able to read 331 pages in two days, because it would disappear off NetGalley if I didn't!BUT this book is everything that has already been said about it. I had no problem losing myself in Nic's story, reading 200+ pages today.Nic Blake is a Manifestor, a Remarkable person who has a golden Glow around her. However, they are exiles from Uhuru and she lives with her dad in the Unremarkable town of Jackson, Mississippi. She chose this town but she has no idea why. Her father works as a handyman.There are other Remarkables in the town and they are able to be themselves at Ms Lena's Today she is 12, her dad buys her a hellhound puppy. She is homeschooled but the lesson on how to use the Gift is again sidestepped by Dad as he tells her she is too young. Instead she gets a lesson on the Wallinzi, African ancestors of the Manifestors who were taken as slaves to America.But today is also the day she get to go with JP (her best friend and neighbour) to meet TJ Retro their favourite author,. He writes stories about three children who live in a magical world, and fight evil. Only something happens when she holds Ms Lena's hands and her Dad gets freaked out and says she can't go. After a fight Dad goes to get pizza, and Nic sneaks out. She and JP see the author as he arrives, he has an aura - he's a Manifestor too! Dad arrives at the bookshop, he's not happy! It's then that TJ Retro greets her father, turns out they were best friends as children and TJ Retro (or Tyran J Porter) is her Godfather. However, Dad doesn't seem all that happy to see him.This chance meeting leads to a birthday present from Tyran which leads to a whole other life of which Nic knew nothing. It leads her and JP and another Manifestor boy into an adventure straight out of TJ Retro's books.This is a stunning story of a magical world. It has magical creatures, spells and curses.It also shows black characters in the title role of a magical adventure and brings in black history to build a story of a kinder world. Nic is strong, resourceful and determined: fighting injustice, proving herself to be a good daughter (finally listening to her father's words about the strength inside her), friend and ....I will be getting this book for school!

Thomas's YA books have been lauded and already become modern classics. 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.As a white, UK-based reader, I liked both the fantasy plot and the weaving into it of important topics. And the story-within-a-story also worked very well and could be useful to the characters in forthcoming books.Nichole lives in the Unremarkable world, the Muggle world for Potter fans. Her father hasn't yet taught her how to use her Gift, but she's aware of the Remarkable world, creatures, traditions and is desperate to start using her powers. But even on her 12th birthday, her single dad is refusing. Well, at least she got given a Hellhound!Sneaking out on her birthday to meet her and best (Unremarkable) friend JP's author hero at a book signing, Nic is about to learn some shocking news about her family, her heritage and about herself.What follows is a road-movie done magic-style, with shades of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson, with magical creatures and cultural references that readers may or may not know (George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery) as well as talk of underground railroads and slavery, interlaced into important Black locations and history (New Orleans, Uhuru).There is a little too much exposition at times, though this of course is necessary to understand this Remarkable world. But Nic, her best friend JP and later addition Alex are a threesome with strengths, foibles, great interaction and both history and a future together as the plot moves towards the first of many denouements that spell 'coming soon' for future chapters.A new world is created. And I'm betting it'll make it to the screen too. While firmly of its genre, it's also a stand-out in terms of its cast and setting. Those outside of America may find references go over their head but don't lose anything of the plot if so.Great adventure, exciting and fills a gap in the market.For ages 8-13.With thanks to Walker Books for providing a sample reading copy.

Great adventure story and I love the look on a Black Girls face when she see's the shero looks like her.

I bought this book for my 10 year old daughter and I to read together. I ended up reading by myself (you know how that goes LOL) because it looked interesting. I also teach 5th grade so I thought it could be a fun read aloud for our fantasy unit. I literally could not put it down. I read it in ONE day! The character development and the description were phenomenal. The way she was able to teach about our history while weaving this tale was something I hadn't experienced. I will be encouraging my daughter to read this and plan on buying the series for my classroom. Awesome!

“Nic Blake and the Remarkables- The Manifestor Prophecy” is a middle grade novel by Angie Thomas. It will be released on April 4, 2023.I received an eARC from NetGalley and HarperCollins Children’s Books.I LOVE discovering a good new series. Fantasy? Even better. Strong, powerful characters? Most definitely. A little mystery? Perfection. Multiple twists you don’t see coming? Indeed.“Nic Blake and the Remarkables- The Manifestor Prophecy” will be huge. Quite simply put…ginormous! I need to reread this book to soak it all in. I cannot wait to see where Angie Thomas takes us next!I highly recommend this book for middle grade readers. Everyone. Preorder. I cannot wait to hold this book in my hands on release day.

Such a fun introduction to what I hope is a lengthy series! I was supposed to be reading this with my 10yo niece, but once I got started I couldn’t stop. Can’t wait to read what happens next!

Thomas is one of the most gifted authors of her generation and the diversity movement. Her first foray into fantasy did not disappoint. I enjoyed the adventures of Nic and her friends as they try to save her dad. Ready to see where the characters take in their next adventure.