Thanks to NetGalley and Balzer + Bray for an advanced copy of Nic Blake and the Remarkables by Angie Thomas to review! It’s Angie Thomas’s first middle grade, so I obviously had to see what it was all about. This book is funny, full of heart and magic, but isn’t afraid to still tackle tough issues. Middle grade readers are going to eat it up!

There’s a lot about this book that reminded me of Percy Jackson, from the tone to the kids having to go on an epic quest. Fans of those books will definitely enjoy this one. The world that Thomas creates is a fun one; the concept of Remarkables was a fun way to introduce magic. There’s also a bit of a twist on the classic chosen one trope, and I can’t wait to see how it gets played out in future books.

Even though Thomas is known for her YA books, it’s clear she knows how to also write for a middle grade audience. The action keeps the story moving quickly, and there’s a lot of humor throughout. Plus, the characters are just overall fun and relatable. Not only is Nic well-developed, but there is a colorful cast of side characters that just makes the book great.

For Thomas’s first middle grade, I’d classify this as a huge success!