Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi - by Angie Thomas (Hardcover)

About the Book

"All of Nic's dreams have come true. After years of living in hiding as a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world, she now has everything she'd ever wanted: certified hero status, a big family and a real home in the hidden city of Uhuru, and a chance to develop her Gift at a school for young Manifestors like her. So life is perfect, right? Not quite. Her-favorite-author-turned-vengeful-outcast wants to destroy her. Then there's the terrifying secret prophecy that still threatens Nic's future, and the dangerous new power she seems to have--one she cannot control. And that's all before she encounters a cult of mysterious Manifestors who threaten to reveal the truth about her power and prophecy unless Nic delivers to them a legendary artifact, the Book of Anansi. There's just one small complication: no one knows if it still exists, or where it could be hidden"--

Book Synopsis

The highly anticipated sequel to the instant #1 New York Times bestseller Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy--a boldly original and suspenseful fantasy adventure by one of the most popular and imaginative voices of this generation, Angie Thomas.

All of Nic's dreams have come true. After years of living in hiding as a Remarkable in the Unremarkable world, she now has everything she'd ever wanted: certified hero status, a big family and a real home in the hidden city of Uhuru, and a chance to develop her Gift at a school for young Manifestors like her.

So life is perfect, right?

Not quite. Her-favorite-author-turned-vengeful-outcast wants to destroy her. Then there's the terrifying secret prophecy that still threatens Nic's future, and the dangerous new power she seems to have--one she cannot control. And that's all before she encounters a cult of mysterious Manifestors who threaten to reveal the truth about her power and prophecy unless Nic delivers to them a legendary artifact, the Book of Anansi. There's just one small complication: No one knows if it still exists, or where it could be hidden.

Nic now has only her twin brother, Alex, and her best friend, JP, to rely on as she makes a desperate attempt to uncover one of the Remarkable world's oldest mysteries--and hold on to the home and family she has been searching for her entire life.

Review Quotes

"The Manifestor mythology combines African and African American folklore and Biblical stories, and the book explores Black Americans' historical and present-day traumas alongside a fast-paced adventure and inventive worldbuilding. Readers will eagerly await the unearthing of more secrets in the next installment." - Kirkus Reviews
Praise for CONCRETE ROSE: "A heartfelt exploration of Black manhood and the power of possibility." - People
Praise for ON THE COME UP: "On the Come Up offers a complicated, imperfect heroine who lives and breathes her truth on every page." - Entertainment Weekly
Praise for The Hate U Give: "A portrait of culture and community and young womanhood that feels as fresh and necessary as Starr's indelible voice." - Entertainment Weekly
"Thomas brings her considerable talents to this first volume of an anticipated trilogy--her characters are well-developed, the world's framework is creative and satisfying, and powerful undercurrents of struggles against injustice add a memorable additional layer lacking in other similar series." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This book is no-holds-barred, fly by the seat of your pants (and other methods) trip to the corner of Thrill Street and Wonder Avenue. Nic Blake is amazing!" - Kwame Mbalia, author of the Tristan Strong series
"Understanding how and why authority develops expansive systematic rule, be it for safety or power, is a theme explored throughout the novel. Nic is carefully developed as an unwavering, brave, young Black girl who has strong self-awareness and empathetic instincts that lead her to advocate for the marginalized. A thoughtful reflection and commentary on both historical and modern struggles of minorities in the real world." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This second book is as energetic as the first. In a fast-paced and intriguing narrative, Thomas infuses elements of tried-and-true mystical tales with a West African bent, with an exciting conclusion that will leave readers clamoring for more." - Horn Book Magazine
"Grappling with questions of freedom and restraint, the greater good, and cycles of pain, Nic's moral core and care for others result in her facing complex dilemmas that render her relatable and appealing. Nic ends the story changed in ways that will leave readers excited to see what comes next. A beautifully executed sequel that surpasses the first book." - Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"The ending leaves [Nic] reeling from stunning revelations and game-changing twists but resolutely poised to chase after those elusive baddies. Readers will be on tenterhooks to follow her in the wake of this rich and rousing middle volume." - Booklist (starred review)
Praise for NIC BLAKE AND THE REMARKABLES: "Thomas 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." - Publishers Weekly (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.... Sober references...give further historical and emotional depth to this rousing quest tale's already richly articulated cultural context." - Booklist (starred review)