Common Sense Media Review
By Kate Pavao
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Quirky adventure about the power of friendship and fantasy.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
What's the Story?
Amanda is a creative, strong-willed -- and sometimes selfish -- little girl who has great adventures with her imaginary friend Rudger. But when she's hit by a car, he risks being forgotten and "Fading" into oblivion. Luckily, Rudger finds a safe library to hide out with other imaginary kids and other beings, including a hot pink tyrannosaur. They urge him to choose a less imaginative child to be his new Friend, but Rudger only wants to find Amanda. It will be risky to get to her at the hospital when creepy Mr. Bunting is after him; Mr. Bunting is a legendary villain who "eats imaginaries ... And for each one he eats, he lives another year longer."
Is It Any Good?
THE IMAGINARY could be a great bedtime read-aloud book for parents to share with their tweens, who will enjoy the odd story that has just the right amount of darkness for their age. Mr. Bunting, for example, is scary but also weird with his bald head and loud Hawaiian-print shirts. Gravett's beautiful and eclectic art -- black-and-white drawings with occasional bright spot of color -- ranges from eerie to playful, mirroring the many moods of children's dreams and fantasies.
One other thing that's really great about The Imaginary is that Amanda can be really hard to be around: She eats Rudger's cookies, blames him for breaking her piggy bank, and can be insensitive to his feelings. Even so, she's special and fun, and Rudger remains loyal to her -- and she to him, when he needs her most. This is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure that will captivate kids -- and remind parents of the importance of free time for imaginative play.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about imagination. Have you had an imaginary friend? Parents might want to share the stories of what they liked to imagine as children.
Why do we lose our ability to imagine and play as we get older?
What did Rudger like about Amanda? Is she a good friend to him?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Emily Gravett
- Genre : Friendship
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Friendship
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Bloomsbury Children's Books
- Publication date : April 6, 2015
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 8 - 12
- Number of pages : 224
- Available on : Paperback, Nook, Audiobook (unabridged), Hardback, Kindle
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
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