Imaginary

August 30, 2021
When Zach loses his father at age six, the boy reacts by burying some of his dad’s things deep in the backyard, saving only a knight with a green sword, the result of a memorable afternoon the two spent together. To help cope with his father’s death, Zach also maintains a relationship with fuzzy purple imaginary friend Shovel, shown cartoonishly cute in b&w art by Wu (Sylvia’s Bookshop). Five years later, middle school looms large and uncomfortable for the now-11-year-old, who must navigate his lingering heartache as well as endure bullying from former best friend Ryan, the only other person who knows about Shovel. When a fight between the assumed-white former friends lands them in detention along with Zach’s new compatriot Anni, cued as being Asian American, the three reluctant companions find themselves struggling to determine whether Zach and Ryan’s relationship is salvageable. Employing Shovel’s narration, which is directed at Zach, Bacon (The Last Human) tells a familiar story of deep loss and friendship that combines gentle humor and ardent wistfulness, making the themes of trauma suppression and the reluctance to move on feel both personal and universal. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sarah Burne, the Gernert Company.

Starred review from October 1, 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, � 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 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

October 15, 2021
Grades 4-6 Eleven-year-old Zach knows that he's too old for an imaginary friend. Shovel should have faded away long ago, like all the other imaginary friends, yet he is by Zach's side on his first day of middle school. Shovel knows that Zach is still struggling with the loss of his father, so he helps distract him. Together they can retreat to an imaginary world to escape reality whenever Zach gets bullied at school or when he thinks of his dad. However, relying on an imaginary companion for so long causes Zach to shut out those who care about him. To finally overcome his grief, Zach must address the emotions he has been suppressing for years. Told completely from the point of view of Shovel, this touching book will help children understand the many changes that come with growing up. Wu's illustrations help bring Shovel and his imaginary world to life. Imaginary will especially resonate with those who are grappling with the loss of a loved one.

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Starred review from September 15, 2021
What happens when an imaginary elementary school friend stays around when you're in middle school? As a small child, Zach Belvin began his friendship with an imaginary furry purple friend he names Shovel. Zach shared his imagination and bright blue eyes with his dad. But when Zach was just 6, his father fell ill and died. After this devastating loss, Zach escaped with Shovel into fantasy worlds filled with magic and knights and danger. "These places might've seemed scary, but we both knew....Reality could be so much scarier." With Shovel as a narrator--hilarious, despite the seriousness of the subject matter--readers experience Zach's loneliness up close. On the first day of middle school, Zach is bullied by some boys--including his former best friend, Ryan. Shovel inspires Zach to fight back, and new student Anni joins in to help, resulting in both of them being placed in detention with Ryan for a week, a situation that leads to social and emotional growth and real-life problem-solving. Even as Zach learns to deal with his grief and Shovel begins to fade away, the purple furball protects the heart of this vulnerable boy with humor and love. Spot art depicts a charmingly appealing Shovel and a racially diverse human cast: Zach and his family present White, Anni is cued as East Asian, and some supporting characters read as Black. A witty, heartfelt, and sophisticated story about the consequences of grief. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)

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