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mia_arianne's review against another edition
adventurous
dark
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
This book was a wonderful encompassment of fictional and imaginary. The pure genius imagination of the author is to be commended. The writing is vivid and descriptive. My only problem was it was quite scary in some parts and may not be fantastic for young readers.
rachael_amber's review
adventurous
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.5
cjeziorski's review against another edition
4.0
Amanda is a girl with an imaginary best friend, Rudger. One day, a mysterious man, Mr. Bunting, comes to her door and can see Rudger. This leads to a series of events that have Rudger meeting other imaginaries in an attempt to escape. The book was a bit creepy/horror at times, which kids would love. The illustrations are amazing; Emily Gravett is indeed talented.
I will agree with another reviewer—I’m not sure kids would relate to an older kid with an imaginary friend. I never had one as a kid, but I feel like they’re relegated to the under 5’s. However, maybe it’s the creepy factor of Mr. Bunting that appeals to the middle grade reader.
I did like the cat, Zinzan. It reminded me of the cat in Coraline that was able to travel between the real and the imaginary.
I will agree with another reviewer—I’m not sure kids would relate to an older kid with an imaginary friend. I never had one as a kid, but I feel like they’re relegated to the under 5’s. However, maybe it’s the creepy factor of Mr. Bunting that appeals to the middle grade reader.
I did like the cat, Zinzan. It reminded me of the cat in Coraline that was able to travel between the real and the imaginary.
dawncox's review against another edition
5.0
I'm allowed to read children's books.....it's urm...research in my role as a primary teacher. (Not just because there are so many good ones honest.)
Wow.
This book made me cry twice. It made me laugh and also left me with a nervous lump in my throat and my heart rate was lifted for a while.
Such a creative book. It starts out very sweet and normal but takes a dark turn. Could not put it down. Lovely/slightly eerie illustrations. Hard back version is beautiful.
If you (or your child) like Neil Gaiman's children's books then you will really love this.
Thoroughly reccomended. (But do have a tissue handy.)
Wow.
This book made me cry twice. It made me laugh and also left me with a nervous lump in my throat and my heart rate was lifted for a while.
Such a creative book. It starts out very sweet and normal but takes a dark turn. Could not put it down. Lovely/slightly eerie illustrations. Hard back version is beautiful.
If you (or your child) like Neil Gaiman's children's books then you will really love this.
Thoroughly reccomended. (But do have a tissue handy.)
jeremychiasson's review against another edition
4.0
Oh my, what an unusual book! If you like Neil Gaiman (particularly his books like Coraline and The Graveyard Book), you'll enjoy "The Imaginary".
Right from the opening, where Amanda is dead, and her imaginary friend starts to fade away and become forgotten, I was emotionally invested in this story. And this may have been merely a kids book, but I defy you not to shudder when the sinister Mr. Bunting sucks a child's imaginary friend into his vortex of teeth.
Maybe it's because I was the sort of child who would not be persuaded that his stuffed animals were "just toys", but I found the perils faced by the imaginary friends in this book very affecting. I was more concerned for the safety of Rudger, Amanda's imaginary friend, than I was for Amanda herself!
This was a very dark, yet wonderfully heartwarming story, and it is greatly enhanced by Emily Gravett's top-notch illustrations.
Right from the opening, where Amanda is dead, and her imaginary friend starts to fade away and become forgotten, I was emotionally invested in this story. And this may have been merely a kids book, but I defy you not to shudder when the sinister Mr. Bunting sucks a child's imaginary friend into his vortex of teeth.
Maybe it's because I was the sort of child who would not be persuaded that his stuffed animals were "just toys", but I found the perils faced by the imaginary friends in this book very affecting. I was more concerned for the safety of Rudger, Amanda's imaginary friend, than I was for Amanda herself!
This was a very dark, yet wonderfully heartwarming story, and it is greatly enhanced by Emily Gravett's top-notch illustrations.
alldebooks's review against another edition
5.0
Fantastic, read it aloud to my children and we all loved it x
arwenauthor's review against another edition
4.0
I've been waiting to read this book for a long time. I was lucky enough to meet AF Harrold (although not Emily Gravett as she was unwell) at the UKLA conference back in the summer, but it has taken this long for it to filter through. There are lots of books that have to be read for various reasons: deadlines, blog tours, book clubs etc etc.
So I was ultra excited when I finally had the opportunity to read a book of my own choosing! That's what the holidays are about, right?
AF Harrold is an amazing wordsmith. That's the first thing to say, and the most important really. The characters, places, feelings and situations feel real. Although this is an MG read, I'm not ashamed to admit that I felt frightened at some points.
It's a fantastic story. The main character, Rudger, is actually imaginary. In fact, he is Amanda's best friend. No one else can see him, but her family are a decent sort and set a place at the table for him, and speak politely. Things are going really well for Amanda and Rudger.
Except, there's this suspicious man, Mr Bunting, that keeps popping up. What does he want?
There was a section that didn't work so well for me (lowering it to 4 stars). Rudger ends up in a place full of other imaginaries who are waiting with children with sufficient creativity to dream them up and become their new best friends before they fade. Out in the real world, if no one believes you exist then you gradually cease to exist. Rudger makes friend with another imaginary, Emily, who shows him the ropes and helps with Mr Bunting.
OKAY. SPOILER ALERT. DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
And Emily dies. That is, like, a really big deal. Yet hardly anything is made of it in the book. There's a minor moment of looking back on her and being kind of sad, but that's it. I know it's an MG book and there shouldn't be too much dwelling on death, but skimming over it is wrong too.
Apart from that wobble, it's a fantastic ending building to an exhilarating climax. And Emily Gravett's illustrations are not to be forgotten; this book is maybe a third down to the illustrations. I adore her style. I'd like to read some more books with her illustrations. And I already have some more AF Harrold!
Excellent.
So I was ultra excited when I finally had the opportunity to read a book of my own choosing! That's what the holidays are about, right?
AF Harrold is an amazing wordsmith. That's the first thing to say, and the most important really. The characters, places, feelings and situations feel real. Although this is an MG read, I'm not ashamed to admit that I felt frightened at some points.
It's a fantastic story. The main character, Rudger, is actually imaginary. In fact, he is Amanda's best friend. No one else can see him, but her family are a decent sort and set a place at the table for him, and speak politely. Things are going really well for Amanda and Rudger.
Except, there's this suspicious man, Mr Bunting, that keeps popping up. What does he want?
There was a section that didn't work so well for me (lowering it to 4 stars). Rudger ends up in a place full of other imaginaries who are waiting with children with sufficient creativity to dream them up and become their new best friends before they fade. Out in the real world, if no one believes you exist then you gradually cease to exist. Rudger makes friend with another imaginary, Emily, who shows him the ropes and helps with Mr Bunting.
OKAY. SPOILER ALERT. DON'T SCROLL DOWN IF YOU DON'T WANT TO. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.
And Emily dies. That is, like, a really big deal. Yet hardly anything is made of it in the book. There's a minor moment of looking back on her and being kind of sad, but that's it. I know it's an MG book and there shouldn't be too much dwelling on death, but skimming over it is wrong too.
Apart from that wobble, it's a fantastic ending building to an exhilarating climax. And Emily Gravett's illustrations are not to be forgotten; this book is maybe a third down to the illustrations. I adore her style. I'd like to read some more books with her illustrations. And I already have some more AF Harrold!
Excellent.