Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks - Book Review

Title: Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend

Author: Matthew Dicks

Publisher: St Martin's Press

Publication Date: 21st August 2012

Pages: 320

Format: E-Book - PDF

Genre: Literary Fiction

Source: ARC via NetGalley

 

Imaginary friend Budo narrates this heartwarming story of love, loyalty, and the power of the imagination—the perfect read for anyone who has ever had a friend . . . real or otherwise
Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He's been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age, and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.

Max is different from other children. Some people say that he has Asperger’s Syndrome, but most just say he’s “on the spectrum.” None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can’t protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, the woman who works with Max in the Learning Center and who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.

When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable and kidnaps Max, it is up to Budo and a team of imaginary friends to save him—and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max’s happiness or Budo's very existence.

Narrated by Budo, a character with a unique ability to have a foot in many worlds—imaginary, real, child, and adult—Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming . . . and heartbreaking conclusion. (Goodreads Synopsis)


This is a wonderful tale that captured my imagination from the start. Reminiscent of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, this is a heart-warming story with amazing characters, both real and imaginary.

I loved the simplicity of the prose, which really added to the sense of youth and innocence of Budo and Max. You really felt you were experiencing the same things Budo was and it was a great hook for the reader.

Light-hearted at first, the story then darkens and I confess I shed a tear or two before the end. I was completely drawn in from start to finish and the book had a real emotional impact for me. I never had an imaginary friend myself, but if I had had one, I would have like him/her to be like Budo.

This is a wonderful story beautifully told and I highly recommend it to one and all.