This book is creative. The author uses an imaginary friend as the narrator speaking to readers with the limitations of a child's mind and experience, and the powerful memories of love. It is about gratitude for living, mastery of how the world works, and finally, it is about disappearance.

Disappearance from a crippling phase of childhood, an abductor who has been a trusted school mentor, dependence on an imaginary friend, to saving oneself in reality.

Imagination is paramount at an early age in our lives with roles to play, stories to invent, and predictions of how the world works. But imagination must be measured against reality, and it is through crisis in MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND that change occurs in Max and Budo, his imaginary friend.

Here is what Budo knows when the book begins:

My name is Budo.
I have been alive for five years.
Max gave me my name.
Max is the only human person who can see me.
I am not imaginary.

Budo is not imaginary because he fears for Max, sympathizes with his parents, struggles with decisions to help Max to his own detriment, and loves Max entirely. He is a fulfilled image of Max's self, independent and resourceful. Our imaginations are how we are and how we want to be. Very powerful stuff!

And so is the imagination and creativity of Matthew Green...all to reader's enjoyment. Highly Recommended!


Thank you St. Martin's Press for sending me an advance reader's edition of MEMOIRS OF AN IMAGINARY FRIEND by Matthew Dicks to be released in August, 2012.