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A Novel
by Matthew Dicks
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.
"A chipper narrative and lively climax make Dicks's newest a fun read and engaging exploration of the vibrant world of a child's imagination." - Publishers Weekly
"An incredibly captivating novel about the wonder of youth and the importance of friendship, whether real or imagined. Delightfully compelling reading." - Booklist
"Dicks's third novel (after Something Missing and Unexpectedly Milo) is at turns funny, poignant, and frightening. Budo's world is as realistic as he is imaginary. We would all be lucky to have a Budo at our sides. Reading his memoir is the next best thing." - Library Journal
"Wholly original and completely unputdownable. Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is a captivating story told in a voice so clever and honest I didn't want it to end. The arresting voice of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time with the emotional power of Room and the whimsy of Drop Dead Fred but in a class of its own." - Eleanor Brown, New York Times bestselling author of The Weird Sisters
"A novel as creative, brave, and pitch-perfect as its narrator, an imaginary friend named Budo, who reminds us that bravery comes in the most unlikely forms. It has been a long time since I read a book that has captured me so completely, and has wowed me with its unique vision. You've never read a book like this before. As Budo himself might say: Believe me." - Jodi Picoult, New York Times bestselling author of Sing You Home
This information about Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was first featured
in "The BookBrowse Review" - BookBrowse's membership magazine, and in our weekly "Publishing This Week" newsletter. Publication information is for the USA, and (unless stated otherwise) represents the first print edition. The reviews are necessarily limited to those that were available to us ahead of publication. If you are the publisher or author and feel that they do not properly reflect the range of media opinion now available, send us a message with the mainstream reviews that you would like to see added.
Any "Author Information" displayed below reflects the author's biography at the time this particular book was published.
Matthew Dicks is a writer and elementary school teacher. His articles have been published in the Hartford Courant and he has been a featured author at the Books on the Nightstand retreat. He is the author of two previous novels, Something Missing and Unexpectedly Milo. Dicks lives in Newington, Connecticut, with his wife, Elysha, and their daughter, Clara. Visit him online at www.matthewdicks.com.
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