Amari and the Great Game – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Amari and the Great Game

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

book2022

92%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Amari is back, and she’s juggling a supernatural civil war with the world’s most intense magical competition.

Amari and the Great Game

book

2022

92%

WISE Score

4.8

Amazon

Amari is back, and she’s juggling a supernatural civil war with the world’s most intense magical competition.

4.8

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4.8

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Screenwise Verdict

This is exactly what middle-grade fantasy should be. It’s smart, fast-paced, and actually has something to say about the world.

If your kid liked the first book, this is a no-brainer. If they haven't started the series yet, get them 'Amari and the Night Brothers' immediately. It’s one of the few modern series that actually lives up to the 'next Harry Potter' hype without feeling derivative.

Age Fit

Perfect for the 9-12 crowd. It’s sophisticated enough that 13 and 14-year-olds won't feel like they're reading a 'baby book,' but the content is clean enough for an advanced 8-year-old.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

Amari’s bond with her best friend Elsie and her drive to find her brother are the emotional anchors. It models standing up for what’s right even when the 'system' is rigged against you.

Imaginative

The Bureau of Supernatural Affairs is a creative goldmine—think Men in Black but with more magic and less memory-wiping. The 'Great Game' itself adds a high-stakes competitive layer that keeps the world-building fresh.

Safe

Standard middle-grade fantasy peril. There are magical battles and some scary supernatural creatures, but it never veers into gore or inappropriate territory. It's safer than most PG-13 movies.

Enriching

It tackles heavy themes like prejudice and systemic bias through the lens of 'magicians' vs. the supernatural world, making complex social issues digestible for kids without being preachy.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Amari is a fantastic lead: she's powerful but feels like a real kid dealing with real self-doubt.
The pacing is relentless; it’s one of those rare books that can actually pull a kid away from a screen.
It handles representation naturally, giving Black kids a hero in a genre that has historically ignored them.
The blend of high-tech gadgets and ancient magic is genuinely cool and doesn't feel like a Harry Potter rip-off.

⚠

What to Watch For

The themes of discrimination and being 'hated' for who you are can be intense for more sensitive kids.
Some secondary characters are pretty mean-spirited, reflecting real-world bullying and political maneuvering.

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think the other supernatural people are so afraid of magicians like Amari?"
"If you had to pick a 'department' at the Bureau to work in, where would you go?"
"Amari has to decide who to trust when everyone has an agenda—how do you tell who's actually on your side?"
"Would you rather have a cool magical ability that everyone feared, or be 'normal' and blend in?"

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