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A review by arwenauthor
The Imaginary by A.F. Harrold
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.