My Ex-Imaginary Friend
My Ex-Imaginary Friend
Select a format:
Publisher's Hardcover ©2021--
To purchase this item, you must first login or register for a new account.
Lerner Publications
Annotation: Told from alternating points of view, this humorous and heartrending adventure is about being there for friends in need, believing in yourself as well as others, and redefining what "growing up" looks like
 
Reviews: 2
Catalog Number: #281167
Format: Publisher's Hardcover
Copyright Date: 2021
Edition Date: 2021 Release Date: 02/02/21
Pages: 290 pages
ISBN: 1-541-59699-4
ISBN 13: 978-1-541-59699-3
Dewey: Fic
LCCN: 2019034440
Dimensions: 20 cm.
Language: English
Reviews:
Kirkus Reviews

Ten-year-old Jack's father has left the family, and his mother struggles with bipolar disorder; George, his part-human/part-walrus imaginary friend, comes and goes from his life.One day Jack's mother drops him on the road near his aunt's house, leaving him to be taken in by his aunt, uncle, and cousins. In a story narrated in alternating first-person chapters from Jack's and George's points of view, readers follow along as George and Jack navigate what it means to be seen. As Jack's situation changes, George faces his own challenge: He finds that he is physically disappearing as Jack needs him less. Magic and imagination come into play as George and Jack each realize their strengths and gain a sense of being believed in. This book addresses difficult topics, including mental health crises, family tumult, divorce, and forgiveness. Emphasizing that all people cope in different ways, the story leaves room for a range of strong feelings as readers follow George and Jack on their adventures. For some readers, extremely painful scenes of child abandonment and parents in crisis may need to be mediated by a trusted adult. The writing style, with its repetitive cliffhangers and complex dialogue, could be confusing for some readers. Human characters default to White.Complicated emotions and difficult family conversations are bracketed with kindness in this unusual book. (discussion questions) (Fiction. 9-12)

School Library Journal (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)

Gr 4-6 Jack's imaginary friend George is quite unique. He is part walrus, part human, and a fabulous magician. He is also disappearing. That is what happens when your human gets older and doesn't have as much time for you. Jack doesn't need an imaginary friend anymore (or so he thinks). Then Jack's life gets turned upside down when his mom, who has bipolar disorder and is experiencing a manic episode, unexpectedly leaves him with his aunt, uncle, and cousins to go find herself. Jack then turns to his faithful friend George for help. Jack and George team up to help the boy figure out how to get his mom to come back, or to find his dad that left their lives months ago. Armed only with an emergency cell phone and a pack of playing cards, the friends run away to find a family that may not want to be found after all. With frank talk surrounding mental illness and what it really means to be a family, this is a story about a boy and his imaginary friend who are desperate to figure out where they belong. VERDICT A poignant, multilayered story that will appeal to those looking for a heartfelt family drama. Jayna Ramsey, Douglas County Libraries in Parker, CO

Reviewing Agencies: - Find Other Reviewed Titles
Kirkus Reviews
School Library Journal (Tue Dec 01 00:00:00 CST 2020)
Reading Level: 4.0
Interest Level: 4-7
Lexile: 650L
Guided Reading Level: V
Fountas & Pinnell: V

Eleven-year-old Jack thought he had outgrown his imaginary friend, Georgeuntil his dad also disappears from his life. His mom's bipolar disorder isn't being properly treated, so while in the throes of a manic episode, she ditches Jack with his aunt, uncle, and cousins. Jack decides that only George can help him figure out where people go when others stop believing in themand how Jack can put his family back together.

Meanwhile, the imaginary Georgehalf-walrus, half-human, all magichas a problem of his own: with nobody to believe in him, he is slowly disappearing. Rejoining Jack is his only hope for survival. Or is it?


*Prices subject to change without notice and listed in US dollars.
Perma-Bound bindings are unconditionally guaranteed (excludes textbook rebinding).
Paperbacks are not guaranteed.
Please Note: All Digital Material Sales Final.