Reviewed by: Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy by Angie Thomas April Spisak Thomas, Angie Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Manifestor Prophecy; illus. by Setor Fiadzigbey. Balzer + Bray, 2023 [368p] Trade ed. ISBN 9780063225138 $19.99 E-book ed. ISBN 9780063225152 $12.99 Reviewed from digital galleys R Gr. 4-6 Nic has been eagerly awaiting turning twelve, when her dad will teach her how to tap into the Gift that lives naturally within her and to become as incredible a Manifestor as he is. Unfortunately, he is ripped away from her, accused of a crime she is certain he didn't commit even. Soon, however, shocking secrets emerge about family dynamics, and Nic learns the family stories that were her core truths almost all turn out to be false, or at least way more complex than she believed. She can sort it all out eventually, but for now, Nic, her best friend, and a surprise twin brother need to find a stolen artifact and fix things. The concept of Remarkables hiding among the Unremarkables is certainly a familiar one, but the richly drawn Mississippi setting and creative blending of Black experiences (both historical and contemporary) and African and African American folklore upend most expected tropes. 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. Nic is a fantastic narrator, tossing out expositional details and witty insights that inform the reader of key aspects of [End Page 308] this world and ensure their commitment to seeing how this will all play out in the final two volumes. Copyright © 2023 The Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois