Nic Blake and the Remarkables: The Book of Anansi

During Nic’s first class, Remarkable Science for Notables, her fellow students stare at her. Dr. Aurora Boysenberry teaches about how portals can be opened to other realms. During her History and Folklore class with Dr. Everleigh, Nic learns that there are many different cultures of human Remarkables around the world besides Manifestors. In a few weeks, the Village’s students will go on a field trip to New Atlantis, which is inhabited by Merfolk descended from “people who jumped from slave ships” (118). In Dr. Calderwood’s Gift of Governance class, she learns about the conflicts and threats that LORE faced over the years, particularly Roho. 

At lunch, Nic and Alex eat outside rather than in the food court because gossip about their grandmother and father makes it difficult for them to make friends.

The narrative moves a few weeks forward. Nic begins to feel more comfortable in the Village, and she spends her free period taking classes at Sweet Haven bakery. JP surprises the twins by coming to Uhuru for the weekend, and President DuForte’s bodyguard, Murph, takes the three children to an anti-gravity trampoline park. A Shapeshifter gives Nic a voucher for a free pair of expensive Giftech sneakers, and Murph drives the children to the shoe store.

Inside the store, three Manifestors wearing hooded robes and holographic masks attack Murph and the shop owner. Nic tries to fight back, but Sarah’s necklace weakens her powers, and the children are captured. A Manifestor in a gold robe declares that they are Roho’s Apprentice and that they will reveal to the Remarkable world that Nic is the Manowari unless she retrieves the Book of Anansi for their organization, the Za Siri. The Apprentice threatens to hurt Nic’s friends and family if she tells anyone about them. After the Za Siri disappear, Murph and the store owner have no recollection that they were ever there.

Back at Zoe’s condo, the children search for a possible link between the Za Siri and Tyran and discover that the Book of Anansi is “a collection of original folktales compiled by the legendary Shapeshifter Anansi” (145). The book’s location is a mystery, and many Shapeshifters believe that it contains vital knowledge.

The next day is Sunday, and JP joins Nic’s family for brunch at the presidential palace after church services. Nic asks her mother if she can visit Junior, a Shapeshifter who lives next door to JP in Nic and Calvin’s old house. Their relatives are prejudiced against Shapeshifters because some cooperated with enslavers centuries ago and many of Roho’s followers were Shapeshifters. Junior used to follow Roho, but Nic doesn’t tell her family this.

When Zoe brings JP home to Jackson, the children sneak over to Junior’s home. Ms. Lena, a Visionary who sees glimpses of the future, and many other exiled Remarkables whom Nic met during her time in Jackson are also there. Junior becomes nervous when Nic asks him about the Book of Anansi, and one of his friends says that “there are some stories that ought not to be told” (158). A Fairy named Ms. Sadie says that Anansi gave the book to Mami Wata, an ancient water spirit, and that it’s in New Atlantis.

At school the next day, Nic practices portal hopping in Dr. Boysenberry’s class. In the hallway, she overhears two older students listening to a prism pod about Tyran. The Chosen One claims that President DuForte is keeping the Big Secret from LORE officials as well as the public. Dr. Everleigh tells the students to turn off the prism pod and apologizes to Nic, but the girl downplays the worry it causes her.

Zoe asks the twins to have lunch with her, a request that makes Nic uncomfortable because she worries how her peers will react and because she is still learning how to navigate her relationship with her mother after spending the last 10 years away from her. Skye intervenes and invites the twins to sit with her and some other older Thorn students. 

The students’ conversation turns to Tyran and the Manifestor Prophecy. Skye suggests that Tyran is the Chosen One and that “the real Manowari is out there, waiting to strike” (173). As she thinks about what would happen if her new friends knew she’s the Manowari, Nic becomes afraid and excuses herself from the table. Alex follows her and calms her down, promising that they will solve their problems together one step at a time.

The twins spend their free period researching Mami Wata in the Village’s library but find little information. That evening, the twins ask Zoe to bring them to the Blake estate. Mr. Lincoln catches the children sneaking into their grandfather’s massive private library, tells them that Calvin misses them greatly, and gets a strange glint in his eyes when they say that they’re looking for information on Mami Wata. The twins feel guilty because they didn’t come to the estate to visit their father, and Alex tells Nic that they hurt their mother’s feelings by not having lunch with her. He says, “I’m trying with Dad, Nic […] I’m not sure I can say the same about you with Mom” (183). She brushes off his concerns and tells him to focus on their research.

The children discover that Mami Wata will grant a wish to those who earn her favor by placing a token of appreciation in the fountain dedicated to her. However, those whose offering is deemed unacceptable risk “severe punishment” (183). Alex suggests that Nic offer her necklace because the Merfolk gave it to Sarah, but she says that she can’t because it protects other people from her Gift.