  | Imaginary Author: Bacon, Lee | |
| Price: $23.08 | ||
Summary:
Eleven-year-old Zach knows he is too old to have an imaginary playmate, but between grieving for the loss of his father and coping with bullying at school the only place he seems to find joy is in his fantasy world with his best friend Shovel.
| Illustrator: | Wu, Katy |
| Accelerated Reader Information: Interest Level: MG Reading Level: 3.80 Points: 6.0 Quiz: 518027 |
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews (+) (09/15/21)
School Library Journal (+) (00/10/21)
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books (00/10/21)
Full Text Reviews:
School Library Journal - 10/01/2021 Gr 3–7—When blue-eyed Zach's dad died when Zach was six, his world split into "before" and "after." Before, his imaginary friend, a purple fuzzball called Shovel, was beginning to fade; after, Zach retreats into the fantasy world in his own head, pushing away his real-world best friend Ryan. Now, Zach is 11, and Shovel—who narrates in first person, addressing Zach in second person—realizes he is "long past the usual expiration date." In the first week of middle school, Ryan and "the Matts" make fun of Zach, drawing Zach and his new friend, spy-obsessed Anni Lai, into a fight; as a result, Principal Carter gives Ryan, Anni, and Zach (and Shovel) a week of detention, together. Short sentences and chapters make this title accessible without sacrificing emotional depth; Wu's illustrations throughout spotlight the most humorous aspects of the story (e.g., Zach as a knight in armor talking to his mom on a cell phone in front of a stop sign). But as Zach becomes more interested in the real world, what will happen to Shovel? As Anni says, every story should have a big twist ending, and this delivers, à la Toy Story 3. VERDICT With Shovel as narrator, familiar middle grade topics (death of a parent, friends-turned-enemies, bullying), become completely unique and fresh. Tender, laced with sly humor, and full of complex emotion, this novel explores the line between unpredictable reality and controlled imagination. Highly recommended for all youth collections.—Jenny Arch, Lilly Lib., Florence, MA - Copyright 2021 Publishers Weekly, Library Journal and/or School Library Journal used with permission.
