Release Date: March 3, 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA
Pages: 224
Source: ARC from publisher (Thanks!)
Pages: 224
Source: ARC from publisher (Thanks!)
ISBN-10: 0802738117
Rating: 5 Hearts
Book Description
"Rudger is Amanda’s best friend. He doesn't exist, but nobody's perfect.
Only Amanda can see her imaginary friend – until the sinister Mr Bunting arrives at Amanda's door. Mr Bunting hunts imaginaries. Rumour says that he eats them. And he's sniffed out Rudger. Soon Rudger is alone, and running for his imaginary life. But can a boy who isn’t there survive without a friend to dream him up?
A brilliantly funny, scary and moving read from the unique imagination of A.F. Harrold, this beautiful book is astoundingly illustrated with integrated art and colour spreads by the award-winning Emily Gravett.."
Review
Short and Sweet:
I love this adorably drawn and beautiful story of imagination!
To Elaborate...
Amanda has a brilliant mind, and she knows it. When she meets her imaginary friend, Rudger, she is thrilled at all the fun they will have. When Mr. Bunting shows up, an evil man intent on eating imaginaries, the two friends will go on thrilling and frightful adventures separate and apart to escape him.
When I first saw the comparison of this book to Roald Dahl, I was a little hesitant. I love Dahl, but I doubted that anything could really be compared to him. I was so wrong. While THE IMAGINARY certainly holds its own voice and power through A.F. Harrold's writing and Emily Gravett's beautiful illustrations, like Dahl's books, this book is full of entertainment, discovery, adventure, and some darker underlying themes at parts. I enjoyed every bit of it and couldn't read it fast enough.
What I love most about the story is the friendship aspect. Friends are so crucial to living a happy life, and Amanda and Rudger have so much fun together. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous in this book, and they support the story really well.
I wholeheartedly recommend this one to middle grade readers who are looking for a magical and brilliant story!
5 Hearts!
When I first saw the comparison of this book to Roald Dahl, I was a little hesitant. I love Dahl, but I doubted that anything could really be compared to him. I was so wrong. While THE IMAGINARY certainly holds its own voice and power through A.F. Harrold's writing and Emily Gravett's beautiful illustrations, like Dahl's books, this book is full of entertainment, discovery, adventure, and some darker underlying themes at parts. I enjoyed every bit of it and couldn't read it fast enough.
What I love most about the story is the friendship aspect. Friends are so crucial to living a happy life, and Amanda and Rudger have so much fun together. The illustrations are absolutely gorgeous in this book, and they support the story really well.
I wholeheartedly recommend this one to middle grade readers who are looking for a magical and brilliant story!
5 Hearts!
This sounds like such a lovely middle grade about friends and the power of imagination!
ReplyDeleteGreat review and recommendation Samantha!
Oooh, this one has been on my radar - it just sounds SO adorable! The beautiful illustrations and writing sound wonderful. I'm going to have to make and put this one on my list to read with my daughter, if not to myself, Lol. I love to escape to little gems like these.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely review, Samantha :)
Thank you! Your comments are always so thoughtful and nice, and I think that's so awesome <3
ReplyDeleteIt would be a perfect one to share with her! It is a great one to escape to for a while and get the imagination going. :)
ReplyDeleteI haven't heard of this one! It sounds great, and like something any reader young or old could love!
ReplyDeleteI loved this one too, Samantha. I loved how creepy it was!
ReplyDelete