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I love book club because sometimes I am pushed to read a book I never would have ever pulled off the shelf, and then I get the joy of reading something unexpectedly great! This book was one of those times.
"Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He's been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age, and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.
Max is different from other children. Some people say that he has Asperger's Syndrome, but most just say he's "on the spectrum." None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can't protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, the woman who works with Max in the Learning Center and who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy."
- from Storygraph
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What was most impactful about this book was the way a very real – and very dark – story could be told through a somewhat ignorant and childlike narrator, adding a tender softness to it. I loved getting a whole new world of lore for imaginary friends, explanations for why they look a certain way or can and can't do certain things. It was a way to create unique plot elements without them feeling forced. The beginning was a little bit slow, but once things took a turn I was absolutely sucked in. Definitely glad to have a reason to check out this book!
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Content Warnings: Kidnapping, Child Abuse
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