I think this story is perfect for kids, especially dealing with grief. After the main character lost his father, he created an imaginary friend named Shovel. Shovel in a way protects our main character Zach from feeling the hurt of losing his dad at a young age. However as the story unfolds, he branches out and makes friends, and slowly shovel starts to fade, and he learns how to cope, and move on while still remembering his dad.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for giving me a free advanced copy of this book to read and review.

Imaginary by Lee Bacon is a fantastic book, dealing with a rather heavy subject matter, namely the loss of a parent. Our 11-year old protagonist deals with that loss with the help of his imaginary friend Shovel.
This is a really well crafted story, perfectly composed for the targeted audience.

I really enjoyed this book! I liked the viewpoint and the way the story was told. The plot was also funny and I liked the illustrations too. It was a great read!

I love this concept of a story told from the imaginary friend's perspective. I think this will be a hit with middle grade readers.

This was a fun middle grade book about grief and how we deal with it. We hear the story of Zach as told my his imaginary friend Shovel. Zach is dealing with some grief and as a now middle schooler is facing life along side Shovel even though most kids would think he is too old for an imaginary friend. This is a book about changing friendships, grief, jealousy, bullying, and middle school life. I enjoyed it and would recommend it to kids in the target age range.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy in return for an honest review.

I really liked the premise of this book...a story about grief narrated by the imaginary friend. Zach's dad passed away when he was 6 and he's struggled to manage the grief in the five years since then.. So he's kept his imaginary friend, Shovel, around long past the age when most kids abandon their imaginary friends.

I think this book is a great discussion starter for the tools we use to navigate grief, and how that can look different for everyone. I also think this book can be used as a discussion starter for conversations about bullying.

This a tale of grief narrated by the imaginary friend of an 11 year old who lost his dad to an illness when he was very young. It's a story of love, friendship, family and growing up. I think kids will love it - especially those that have lost a parent to COVID in the last year or so. I cried my face off. It's like reading a really good Pixar movie. For ages 8-12 and reluctant readers.

When Zach's father dies when he was younger, he relied on his imaginary friend (Shovel) to get him through the loss. Yet, as Zach grows up, Shovel never leaves. Now Zach is 11 and in middle school, and has Shovel around to help him and be his best friend. But, shouldn't it be time that Shovel goes on to someone else? Can Zach figure out how to make real friends, and stand up to bullies?

Wow! Where to start…
This is such a moving middle grade story about an imaginary friend and his boy, who’s lost his dad. The story is told through the imaginary friend’s perspective.
Sometimes when you start to read a story, you just know this is going to be one you’ll never forget, one you want on your bookshelf to share with friends.
I highly recommend this feel-good story, especially for any family dealing with loss. In a way it reminded me of Toy Story. It’s just hard to grow up….
Soo GOOD!
Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.

Thanks to Netgalley and Amulet Books for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

This was a super cute middle grade story about loss, growing up, bullying, friendship and imagination from the viewpoint of an imaginary friend. Zach is 11, and his imaginary friend, Shovel should be a thing he’s outgrown, and he knows that. Shovel knows he’s lasted well past his expiration date, he’d started to fade once before, but after Zach’s Dad died he’d returned to his former opaque self. Zach is having a rough time at school after being caught laughing at nothing by a group of bullies, one of whom is his former best-friend. I think literature is a great way for kids to grapple with hard topics in a safe manner, and this book was no exception.

Only some of the final art was included in this ARC, and it was cute! I can’t wait to see the final product when the book is released.

I absolutely, positively LOVED this book!!! This is one of the most adorable books I have read. Loved the story line, loved the characters, loved Shovel. I will be buying this book for my elementary library and really talking this one up with the students.

An excellent story to help bridge the conversation with children about losing the people we love....even if they are imaginary friends ;)

I often struggle with imaginary friend books. But I was drawn in by the beautiful cover (yes, this is how we judge books) and I'm so, so glad I gave IMAGINARY a chance! Lee Bacon has written a tender, subtle novel about grief, growing up, and letting go, and Shovel will forever have a place in my heart.

See, by middle school, most kids have outgrown their imaginary friends. But after his father died, Zach clings to Shovel (his imaginary friend) with renewed desperation, escaping to a fantasy world whenever reality gets too tough ... even when it snags the attention of a best-friend-turned-bully at his new school.

Bacon has NAILED the perfect balance of humor and heart in his writing. The illustrations are lovely, the tone is extremely accessible, and despite a healthy smattering of ~shenanigans~, IMAGINARY also sparks an extremely poignant conversation about coping with grief and facing up to tough realities. This book is going to mean a lot to many kids for many different reasons, and I'm grateful for the opportunity to have shared Zach & Shovel's world for a little while. 4/5.

I never thought a story about an imaginary friend would make me emotional. The author did a remarkable job in telling the story. I feel a reader of any age would enjoy this tale, as it conveys topics such as bullying, loss of a family member, and making new friends.

The story’s highlight is the characters, and the author did a fantastic job in depicting them. My heart went out to Zach. He loses his self-confidence and shuts away everyone when he cannot cope with the loss of his father. I thought the author portrayed him wonderfully. Similarly, Anni is terrific! I loved the scenes where she attacks the Matts to help Zach. I was also surprised at Ryan. When the story started, I didn’t like him much at all. But it surprised me when the author spoke about his perspective as well, which made me understand why he did what he did. Likewise, even Shovel had me going through various feelings. At times, I hated him for controlling Zach, but at other times I thought he was adorable.

Speaking of Shovel, I also thought the author did a marvelous job narrating the story from Shovel’s perspective. It gave the plot a different angle and made it entertaining to read. The story reminded me a lot of the movie “The Breakfast Club” when the three characters spend time in detention.

Overall, “Imaginary” will make you laugh at places and also make you emotional with tears in others. It is an adorable middle-grade novel that I thoroughly enjoyed.

At age 11, most imaginary friends have disappeared by now. But after Zach's father died, his friendship with his imaginary friend grew stronger. The story is told from the point of view of Shovel, the imaginary friend. Zach learns to navigate missing his dad, classmates teasing him, and growing up.

I loved this story! It was super cute and told from the point of view of Zach's imaginary friend. I felt like this book dealt with grief and bullying very well. I can't wait to see a finished copy of the book because the illustrations so far were super adorable. I think this will be a big hit with middle schoolers. It was a quick easy read and fast paced with no slow spots. I really liked all the characters and thought it was very well written. It was funny and the writing wasn't dumbed down like middle grade books can be sometimes. I really enjoyed this story and defiantly recommend it!

This was a moving tale about a boy's retreat deep into his imagination after the death of his father. What a brilliant idea to have the imaginary friend tell the story from his point of view. The book manages to be both funny and heartbreaking, while delivering an important message about grief and relationships, all wrapped up in an enchanting read. I loved it. A same-sex couple appears a few times towards the end of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amulet Books for access to this arc.

At 11 and entering middle school, Zach knows he is too old for an imaginary friend. But after his dad died 5 years ago, Zach needed a friend and an imaginary world to escape to when the real world got to be too much. And now that he is dealing with the adjustment to middle school, with a former best friend who won't associate with him and the popular kids picking on him, Zach needs Shovel to help him escape into the imaginary world.
This book is incredible. It is such a poignant story of friendship, loss and growing up. While it takes a bit to get used to a story told from the perspective of an imaginary friend, once you do you will be immersed in the story. I believe every kid should read this book to help them gain a better understanding of the kids who have lost someone they love.