Dickens & Rumi
Cover of AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME

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AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME

B.B. Alston

Amari agrees to participate in the Great Game after a magician with dangerous plans for the League steps forward. (Ages 8 to 12)

Ages 10+Source checked

Why this age? Best suited to about age 10+ because of sustained fantasy danger, threatening villains, conflict, and emotionally serious choices, alongside accessible middle-grade prose. This is guidance, not a safety guarantee; reading level and family context may differ.

Quick view

At a glance

Recommended age10+

Strongest cautions

  • Frightening scenes3/5
  • Violence3/5
  • Death of a character2/5

Strongest positives

  • Courage & resilience4/5
  • Creativity & curiosity4/5
  • Diverse representation4/5

What’s in it?

Death of a character2/5
Why this rating?

The mystery surrounding the fate of family members and past casualties is a significant plot driver.

Graphic injury1/5
Why this rating?

Injuries are described in a fantasy context but not in a graphic or bloody manner.

Strong language1/5
Why this rating?

Includes very mild occasional name-calling or frustration typical for middle-grade fiction.

Romance1/5
Why this rating?

Contains very minor hints of friendship and crushes, but no central romance.

Frightening scenes3/5
Why this rating?

Includes tense scenes, supernatural threats, and atmospheric suspense appropriate for the genre.

Violence3/5
Why this rating?

Contains fantasy combat, magical duels, and tense confrontations involving supernatural creatures.

What’s good in it?

Courage & resilience4/5
Why this rating?

Characters repeatedly face frightening magical threats and difficult responsibilities, with courage framed as principled persistence rather than recklessness.

Creativity & curiosity4/5
Why this rating?

Its imaginative magical world, inventive powers, puzzles, and problem-solving strongly encourage curiosity and creative thinking.

Diverse representation4/5
Why this rating?

Features a diverse cast of characters with various backgrounds portrayed with agency.

Educational value1/5
Why this rating?

Promotes vocabulary development and themes of social empathy.

Kindness & empathy3/5
Why this rating?

Kindness, friendship, and loyalty are core themes that define the protagonists' actions.

Positive messages4/5
Why this rating?

The story emphasizes responsibility, solidarity, resisting prejudice, making difficult choices, and using power to protect others.

Good role models4/5
Why this rating?

Amari is a resilient, thoughtful, and brave protagonist who learns from her mistakes.

Family discussion

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Conversation starters based on this title’s published content notes.

  1. What did courage look like in this story? Was being brave always the same as being fearless?
  2. Which moment felt most tense or frightening? What helped the characters handle fear?
  3. Which choice in AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME would you have made differently, and why?
  4. Who changed the most in AMARI AND THE GREAT GAME, and what caused that change?
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These content notes are a starting point, not a guarantee. Review the evidence and use your own judgment before choosing a title.

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