Scan barcode
jmschnepp's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend follows the experiences of Budo and his real life boy, Max. Max is a high-functioning autistic 3rd grader. Budo spends a lot of time focusing on what that means and looks like for Max and the people in his life. Part way through the book, Budo gets separated from Max. While Budo is certain he knows where Max is and what is happening, as an imaginary friend, he can't tell anyone what he thinks he knows.
Budo shares some similarities with Max's personality. If I hadn't had experiences with ASD and a variety of students on the spectrum, I think that the idea of Budo being more grown up than most 3rd graders are would have made me uncomfortable. That being said, I think that the book is well written and the cast of characters are believable, even the imaginary friends. Matthew Dicks also did a fantastic job of creating guidelines that dictate how imaginary friends arrived at our sides, why they look and act the way they do, and how and why they go away.
Budo shares some similarities with Max's personality. If I hadn't had experiences with ASD and a variety of students on the spectrum, I think that the idea of Budo being more grown up than most 3rd graders are would have made me uncomfortable. That being said, I think that the book is well written and the cast of characters are believable, even the imaginary friends. Matthew Dicks also did a fantastic job of creating guidelines that dictate how imaginary friends arrived at our sides, why they look and act the way they do, and how and why they go away.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Emotional abuse, Kidnapping, Mental illness, Bullying, Child death, and Confinement
haorey's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Chronic illness, and Kidnapping
Moderate: Medical content, Ableism, Death, and Excrement
Minor: Self harm, Confinement, Vomit, Bullying, Forced institutionalization, and Panic attacks/disorders
More...