This enchanting tale is at once a beautifully rendered narrative of childhood loss and a powerfully simple fable about the necessity of imagination...
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Sep 04, 2007
Jen
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A novella with imagination, set in the opal-mining country of Australia. A young girl has two imaginary friends, and everyone around her supports her, except her brother. When her father is accused of "ratting," or poaching someone else's land, she can't find her friends anymore and becomes very very ill. Her brother decides to help her find her "friends" even though he thinks she's crazy. Poignant and authentic; I am happy I found this lying on the shelves in the library
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Jan 10, 2009
Dana
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Kellyanne has two imaginary friends, Pobby and Dingnan. Ashmol, Kellanne's brother, thinks she should just grow up and forget about her friends. One day Kellyanne's father takes her friends to work in his opal mine with him. When he returns home, she asks where they are. Horrors!! They are lost and presumed dead.
Kellyanne starts to wither away from heart sickness and worry. Ashmol concerned for his sister rounds up the whole town to look and try to find his sister's imaginary friends More...
Kellyanne starts to wither away from heart sickness and worry. Ashmol concerned for his sister rounds up the whole town to look and try to find his sister's imaginary friends More...
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Jan 16, 2010
Courtney
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Pobby and Dingan are just Kellyanne's imaginary friends. It's kind of annoying how everyone humors her, but whatever. Or so thinks Ashmol, Kellyanne's older brother, at the outset of this short and charming novel.
Set in an Australian outback mining town, "Pobby and Dingan" takes a dark turn when the children's dad pretends to take the imaginary friends down into his opal mine one day. He forgets to bring them back, and Kellyanne becomes frantic, stops eating, grows ill and More...
Set in an Australian outback mining town, "Pobby and Dingan" takes a dark turn when the children's dad pretends to take the imaginary friends down into his opal mine one day. He forgets to bring them back, and Kellyanne becomes frantic, stops eating, grows ill and More...
Dec 06, 2007
Debi
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This book ponders the question, "What is real?" Set in Australia, Pobby & Dingan is about a brother and his sister and her imaginary friends. A quick, easy, sometimes sad, othertimes amusing story.
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May 10, 2009
Ann
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This was a "Chicago Book Club" book -
We picked it because we needed something short and this book is being taught at some of the Chicago Public Schools... I have heard that is sort of a replacement for To Kill a Mocking Bird on reading lists, although not because of the subject, but because it's a new modern classic?? I am not sure about that, I am just mentioning it because I thought that was interesting.
It's about a family living in a small town near the opa More...
We picked it because we needed something short and this book is being taught at some of the Chicago Public Schools... I have heard that is sort of a replacement for To Kill a Mocking Bird on reading lists, although not because of the subject, but because it's a new modern classic?? I am not sure about that, I am just mentioning it because I thought that was interesting.
It's about a family living in a small town near the opa More...
Aug 11, 2009
Marvin
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A delightful little (94 pp.) book narrated by an Australian boy of indeterminate age (older than 8 but younger than 16), who tells how the imaginary friends (Pobby & Dingan) of his younger, 8-year-old sister died and thereby--through the narrator's efforts on behalf of his dying sister--brought the community together, redeemed the children's family, & taught them all about believing in what they could not see. Though it couldn't be more different from The Gospel of Judas, both, in their own way,
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Jul 25, 2011
Nancy
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Pobby and Dingan are two imaginary friends who go missing. The longer they remain missing, Kellyanne (their friend) becomes sicker. Ashmol, her brother, doesn't believe in either Pobby or Dingan, but in order to help his sister get well, he goes around both hunting for and recruiting the others in the small settlement in New South Wales to find the lost friends. Until he believes, and thus finds them, does the situation resolve. While it is a short novel, there are truths within its pages th
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Sep 24, 2008
Yvonne Cowell
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Amazing. Emotional. Impressive. Those are only three of the fantastic elements of this spectacular book. Pobby and Dingan live in Lightning Ridge NSW, the opal-mining town. You're probably wondering what happens to Pobby and Dingan in this book, but nothing much happens to them. They're imaginary.
Or are they?
This short novel is based on trust, loyalty, faith and belief in something whether it is visible or not.
Kellyanne Williamson is a beautiful little girl who touches near More...
Or are they?
This short novel is based on trust, loyalty, faith and belief in something whether it is visible or not.
Kellyanne Williamson is a beautiful little girl who touches near More...
Jul 08, 2007
Chazzbot
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This is a strange little novella. Set in the opal mining fields of New South Wales, Australia, the story concerns the imaginary friends of young Kellyanne, or rather, the disappearance of Kellyanne's imaginary friends. How, you might ask, can imaginary friends disappear? That is the first hurdle you will encounter in this tale; if you can get past that, you might enjoy this. Kellyanne's brother, Ashmol, sets out to find the titular friends and convince the townspeople that they should join i
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Apr 24, 2009
Mel
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Ashmol is the brother of Kellyanne. She doesn't have any friends, other than her two imaginary friend pobby and dingan.
The story is told in Ashmol's voice. They live in an opal mining town in Australia.
Life is normal until pobby and dingan go to work with their dad in the mine and don't return.
The story is odd, but thought provoking which is why I liked it. It's interesting to see what brings people together.
The story is told in Ashmol's voice. They live in an opal mining town in Australia.
Life is normal until pobby and dingan go to work with their dad in the mine and don't return.
The story is odd, but thought provoking which is why I liked it. It's interesting to see what brings people together.
Jul 31, 2011
M
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This short little tale of imaginary life (and death) in the Australian outback is both sad and uplifting at the same time. Forever accompanied by imaginary friends Pobby and Dingan, little Kellyanne is happy with her life - until her father takes both of them to work in the mines. Forced to try and see what his sister has always could, older brother Ashmol explores what happens when the realms of reality and fantasy coexist.
Mar 11, 2009
Brian
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A funny, charming, poignant little novella bursting with imagination and generosity. Pobby and Dingan shares much in common with one of my favorite films, Lars and the Real Girl, but does it even better. At only 93 pages, it is amazing what Rice is able to accomplish emotionally through the nearly pitch-perfect adolescent narrative voice of Ashmol Williamson.
One of my new all-time favorites.
One of my new all-time favorites.
Aug 28, 2010
Anne
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A lovely little book -- a novella, really -- I think it took me only an hour or so to read it. The tale of a boy who reluctantly succumbs to his sister's insistence on the existence of two imaginary friends has a unique tone -- light, wry, and moving -- but the reasons for his acquiescence, his efforts on behalf of these "friends," and the story's outcome make for a touching and unexpectedly layered story.
Jul 02, 2009
Lavinia
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I just couldn't relate to it, though I know that behind (finding) a child's imaginary friends there's an entire life philosophy - if it's hard to see smth, it doesn't mean that thing doesn't exist or if you don't find smth it doesn't mean you should stop looking for it. OK, so the story is simple, innocent, childish a.s.o. Anyone can spare an hour or so to read it.
P.S. Dear author, Ashmol tries too hard to sound like Holden.
P.S. Dear author, Ashmol tries too hard to sound like Holden.
Jun 21, 2010
Leah
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This book is not a book but more of like a novela. A short little thing you can read through in maybe a day or two. It's surprisingly good and the author manages to straddle and dance in the gray area between categorizations. It's difficult to simply place this book in one area and is best described as a "story." And it indeed is a touching story about childhood, imaginary friends, illness, and precious stones.
Jul 07, 2010
bookczuk
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What an utterly delightful little book. I had an imaginary friend as a child. His name was Rudi and he was my husband. I was 3. He only showed up when I was in the bathtub. My brothers used to tease me.
Now I have an imaginary friend. I'm 53. Her name is Ruthe (or bumma). She's my mom and she's still teaching me how to live a good life.
Now I have an imaginary friend. I'm 53. Her name is Ruthe (or bumma). She's my mom and she's still teaching me how to live a good life.
Apr 04, 2009
Jean
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I read this first as one of the stories in an Australian themed issue of Granta magazine. Later it came out as a book - a short little book - and I bought a few copies because I liked it so much. It has to do with childhood fantasy and faith, difficult family situation, and salvation. Striking, uplifting, a story of failure yet triumphant. A good read.
Jun 01, 2009
Erin
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I loved, loved, loved this book. A brother who goes out in pursuit of his sister's lost imaginary friends - very much my kind of book. I thought it had a great message about believing in things you can't see, and putting your pride aside to do the right thing, without beating you over the head with it or sounding pedantic. It was also short and sweet. I highly recommmend it.
Feb 04, 2011
Monika
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Kellyanne, an adorable little girl has imaginary friends - Pobby and Dingan. Her brother Ashmol was irritated about it untill life changed suddenly for the family. Ashmol tries to do everything what he thinks will save his family from disgracful and hard future.
This is a remarkable story. Touching and unpredictable. Original.
This is a remarkable story. Touching and unpredictable. Original.
Jul 05, 2011
Cheryl
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Always keep a diamond in your heart and an opal in your belly button. Sweet and spare as Violet Crumble. Set in the dusty and desolate mining shantyville of Oz, a tale that will shred your heart tissue. Being true to your self, nurturing your dream with a fire as polished as a rare, unearthed opal.
Jul 25, 2009
Chel
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers.
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Oct 06, 2010
Kesley
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I loved this book- the story was fascinating and the characters you fall in love with right away. This book is a different read- I have never read any book of this style- but I loved it. It is a fast read that you will be glad that you read. Give it a try!
Apr 10, 2009
GeoRG!e
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I have never truly read a fairy tale. This was probably the first real children's story I ever read. I liked the voice in the story. Read it if you want to love fairy tales. There are a darker themes than in typical fairy tales.
Oct 26, 2010
Erica
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A gem of a book (an opal to be exact)! Laugh-out-loud funny, yet as deep as the mine it features. If you are a fan of the movie Lars and the Real Girl (which I am) you will enjoy Pobby and Dingan. And it's a 2 day read max.
Jul 10, 2009
Michael
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God yes! I had forgotten all about this book, I read so long ago (it seems).
It is not a happy story, it is not a wholesome story either, but it is worth reading.
It is not a happy story, it is not a wholesome story either, but it is worth reading.
Nov 04, 2011
Sherry
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A lovely book about the healing powers of the imagination. A young girl who is a trauma survivor is healed by her two friends no one can see but her.
Nov 11, 2009
Deborah
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Kellyanne's imaginary playmates Pobby & Dingan turn up missing. While Kellyanne falls ill, Ashmol gets the town to help find the missing duo.
Cute story.
Cute story.
Mar 23, 2009
abatage
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Absolutely touching and written with care. Rice uses the language and perspective of Ashmol's narration expertly. I don't have a lot to say... tears streamed down my face... a wonderful book.
Jun 14, 2010
Helen
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There are two novellas in this book but Pobby and Dingan is the reason to buy it. It's very short but incredibly beautiful. I sobbed when I read it.
Jul 26, 2011
Sd
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When was the last time that you read a book in a single evening and kept thinking about the characters for weeks afterwards?
