Gr 4-7 This inventive mix of humor and suspense starts with the amusing appearance of Amanda's imaginary friend, Rudger. Their summer of make-believe adventures quickly darkens, though, when Mr. Bunting shows up. He's a grown-up who can not only see "Imaginaries" like Rudger, but also eats them to prolong his own life. After a narrow escape from Bunting and his creepy sidekick, a girl who's also an Imaginary, the narrative shifts from Amanda to Rudger. The boy discovers a secret library full of other imaginary people and creatures, then finds his way back to Amanda for a final confrontation with Bunting. The premise of the Imaginaries is unveiled nicely, with a plot that's never predictable. The author is equally adept at depicting lighthearted characterizations and scenes that are truly scary. Gravett's illustrations provide excellent support for the story, ranging from black-and-white spot art to full-page images, along with several full-color spreads. Some are fun, while others are chilling, such as the series of images that uses alternating all-black pages to lead into a harrowing portrait of the evil Imaginary girl, staring right at Amanda as she tries to hide. The eerie moments never overwhelm the larger story, though, and questions about the power and limits of imagination provide some food for thought amid the action. VERDICT A great choice for readers who like fantastic tales with a dose of true scariness. Steven Engelfried, Wilsonville Public Library, OR

One day Amanda opens her wardrobe to find a boy standing in it. His name is Rudger, and Amanda quickly realizes that he is her imaginary friend aginary but nevertheless quite real . . . to her, anyway. So far, so good, but then a peculiar man with a large red mustache shows up, ostensibly taking a survey, and a strange spectral girl makes an unsettling appearance during a storm. Is that why Amanda is then seriously injured in an accident and Rudger, left alone, begins to fade? In the nick of time, he encounters a talking cat named Zinzan and finds himself in a safe place. No more fading, and that's good, but is it too late to be reunited with Amanda and what surprises still await? Though not quite as innovative as it might be, this is nevertheless a winningly whimsical celebration of the imagination, beautifully enhanced by both black-and-white and full-color illustrations by Kate Greenaway Medal winning Gravett. Together, the text and pictures make this a very real treat.

Mr. Bunting, who eats "imaginaries" to stay alive, sets his sights on Amanda's imaginary friend, Rudger. While Amanda and Rudger run away, Amanda is hit by a car; Rudger, forgotten by his unconscious creator, begins to "Fade." Illustrations indicate how real characters are to each other using transparency and opacity, color and black-and-white. A nuanced exploration of imagination and memory.