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smitchy's review against another edition
5.0
A great Junior fiction story about identity and belonging that asks some quite big questions (who am I if no one sees me?, what is my purpose?) in an amusing and engaging way. Will highly recommend to schools as a senior primary reader. A totally lovely story.
ace_writes_words's review against another edition
3.0
Very sweet, quick read, about an imaginary friend who didn't know he was imaginary.
sasha_in_a_box's review against another edition
4.0
Have you ever had an imaginary friend? I sure did, until I was way too old! (About 11). And I didn't have one or two imaginary friends, but the entire cast of [b:Two Years' Vacation|21339881|Two Years' Vacation|Jules Verne|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1394324616s/21339881.jpg|32980]. I left out a couple of the underdeveloped characters, but still had a sizeable posse following me around and entertaining me. Those were the days! And boy, did I wish I was shipwrecked on a deserted island... There's a lot to unpack here.
So what happens to imaginary friends when you outgrow them? Or if they ask you to let them go free? Why, there is a whole bureaucratic system for that, with a support group and everything! And our hero, Jacques Papier, twin brother of Fleur Papier, finds out all the ins and outs of being an imaginary friend who also gets unimagined. And re-imagined. It's really great.
I love the stories that give plausible explanations to ridiculous themes. It's like an origin myth, but a lot better, and you get to follow through on what happens next. Jacques is spunky and kind of high-maintenance, but that made it really fun! I had the best time reading this and reliving my own childhood brain. I wish I could find out how my buddies turned out after they left my life...
So what happens to imaginary friends when you outgrow them? Or if they ask you to let them go free? Why, there is a whole bureaucratic system for that, with a support group and everything! And our hero, Jacques Papier, twin brother of Fleur Papier, finds out all the ins and outs of being an imaginary friend who also gets unimagined. And re-imagined. It's really great.
I love the stories that give plausible explanations to ridiculous themes. It's like an origin myth, but a lot better, and you get to follow through on what happens next. Jacques is spunky and kind of high-maintenance, but that made it really fun! I had the best time reading this and reliving my own childhood brain. I wish I could find out how my buddies turned out after they left my life...
gic4br0mb's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
emthielen's review against another edition
4.0
such a cute story & really lovely writing!
read it over a day or so, and just loved how precious it was :)
read it over a day or so, and just loved how precious it was :)
meganac's review against another edition
5.0
To tell the truth, I was beginning to think you would be in awe of anyone if you saw the parts of them that no one else gets to see. If you could watch them making up little songs, and doing funny faces in the mirror; if you saw them high-fiving a leaf on a tree, or stopping to watch a green inchworm hanging midair from an invisible thread, or just being really different and lonely and crying sometimes at night. Seeing them, the real them, you couldn't help but think that anyone and everyone is amazing.
This book, all 168 pages of it, reminiscent of The Little Prince , speaks to my little INFJ heart.
Jacques Papier, as is obvious by the title, is an imaginary friend. The only problem is...he doesn't know he's imaginary. He believes himself to be real -- after all, his parents always set a place for him at the table, provide him with books for school, and tell him good night right along with Fleur, his twin (and real) sister. It doesn't make sense to him why he's ignored at school, almost stepped on in public, and why his parents don't seem to hear his jokes. Until his awakening.
While it would seem that a book about an imaginary friend going through an identity crisis would be boring and a bit psycho, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend really isn't. Instead, we are shown, through fantasy, exactly what we ourselves go through as we learn how to live on our blue planet. Who am I? What's my purpose? Why am I here? What really matters? All of these questions are asked and answered in this little book.
I especially loved that the message really isn't a selfish one, as our culture is touting today. Instead, we learn that no one is invisible, all are unique, and the greatest impact we can make is the impact we make on others. That there is good in us, even if we don't see it.
Another little thing I loved was how Jacques took on qualities of his children's characters while he was with them. Excellent work, Cuevas.
This book is clean and wholesome. I'd recommend it to anyone, from children to adults.
This book, all 168 pages of it, reminiscent of The Little Prince , speaks to my little INFJ heart.
Jacques Papier, as is obvious by the title, is an imaginary friend. The only problem is...he doesn't know he's imaginary. He believes himself to be real -- after all, his parents always set a place for him at the table, provide him with books for school, and tell him good night right along with Fleur, his twin (and real) sister. It doesn't make sense to him why he's ignored at school, almost stepped on in public, and why his parents don't seem to hear his jokes. Until his awakening.
While it would seem that a book about an imaginary friend going through an identity crisis would be boring and a bit psycho, Confessions of an Imaginary Friend really isn't. Instead, we are shown, through fantasy, exactly what we ourselves go through as we learn how to live on our blue planet. Who am I? What's my purpose? Why am I here? What really matters? All of these questions are asked and answered in this little book.
I especially loved that the message really isn't a selfish one, as our culture is touting today. Instead, we learn that no one is invisible, all are unique, and the greatest impact we can make is the impact we make on others. That there is good in us, even if we don't see it.
Another little thing I loved was how Jacques took on qualities of his children's characters while he was with them. Excellent work, Cuevas.
This book is clean and wholesome. I'd recommend it to anyone, from children to adults.
lizzybug's review against another edition
5.0
This is a really remarkable book. It's a children's book, but has a wry sensibility and psychological depth that makes it valuable reading for adults. It's commonplace knowledge that children often have imaginary friends, but this book made me realize we don't usually take seriously the grave meaning to children of their imaginary creations.
sleeveless_heart's review against another edition
5.0
Yet another rec from one of my favourite people in college. This was such a pretty book! Some of these passages will stay with me for a long, long time to come - the way the words flow together to paint a very calming picture...I am in love.
persempremente's review against another edition
«La verità è che» ha risposto «immaginari o no, si è invisibili solo nella misura in cui si sente di esserlo.»
xielianisliterallyme's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75