Imaginary Heroes

by Michael Seidelman

His friends may be IMAGINARY… but the danger is REAL!

Twelve-year-old Matthew’s life has been incredibly challenging because of his Tourette Syndrome, a disorder which causes uncontrollable movements and sounds. Isolated and tormented by bullies at school, Matthew finds solace in the company of his lifelong imaginary friends, a lovable purple monster and a tough-as-nails little girl.

On his way home from school one day, as Matthew is pursued by his relentless tormentors, they all crash into a mysterious underground lair. At first, it seems that being trapped with the bullies who make his life miserable is his biggest problem. That is, until he and the others discover that they are not alone.

Hunted by a menacing presence lurking in the depths, Matthew and the bullies must confront a threat to their very existence. Their desperate mission becomes clear: put their differences aside and work together to find a way to safety before they are all consumed by the darkness.

*Although fictional, the book is inspired by the author's own childhood experiences with bullying, loneliness, and Tourette's Syndrome. He set out to craft an engaging story while exploring issues many kids can relate to—told from the perspective of someone who has lived them firsthand.

247 pages, Hardcover

First published April 15, 2025

About the author

When Michael Seidelman was growing up, his passions were reading, watching movies, enjoying nature and creative writing. Not much has changed since then.

Working in Online Marketing for over ten years, Michael felt it was time to pursue his passion and began writing The Garden of Syn trilogy for Young Adult readers.

Beyond the trilogy and his latest novel, Imaginary Heroes, he has more books in the works that he can’t wait to share with the world! Michael was born in Vancouver, BC (Canada) where he continues to reside.

Reviews

[Foxglove · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a lovely children’s novella! Firstly, the writing is easy to understand without feeling far too simple for the target age group. It flows well without feeling too easy, and it keeps you reading more.

Secondly, the plot is engaging. As someone who has experienced a lot of bullying for my own disability (though I do not have Tourette’s Syndrome like Matthew), this feels sensitive and accurate, teaching a lesson whilst still telling a fun story. I remember creating fictional, imaginary versions of people in my head when I needed comfort, and so this was quite hard-hitting.

Finally, the characters feel real. Despite being a children’s book, I didn’t find it particularly difficult to relate to characters and find humanity. I think a lot of children’s writers struggle with that and it was nice to see this done so well.

Overall, I would recommend this and I’d read it to younger siblings if I had them.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Sirah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Matthew would just like the school bullies to stop mocking his tics and leave him and his Tourette's alone, but one day, they chase him until they all find themselves trapped underground. With no better options, they begin to explore, eventually discovering some sinister secrets, including man-eating slime. Learning to work together won't be enough unless the others realize that there's more to Matthew's imaginary friends than pure fiction.

What a wild ride! I love that the protagonist thoughtfully explains Tourette's without breaking the flow of the story. But this book is about so much more than mere representation. It's action-packed from beginning to end, with great characters and a creative premise. I had a lot of fun reading it, and I hope there will be more.

[Smac2011 McWherter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Imaginary Heroes is a captivating and heartwarming read that truly resonated with me. I found myself immersed in the story from beginning to end. This book offers profound insights for children who have Tourette's Syndrome, providing them with a better understanding of their condition while encouraging empathy toward themselves and others. It tackles the challenges they face with sensitivity and hope, making it a valuable resource. I wholeheartedly recommend this book not only to kids with Tourette's but also to parents and children alike, regardless of whether they have any experience with the syndrome. It promotes important lessons about acceptance and compassion in a way that is engaging and relatable.

[Cheryl W · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fun book that shows empathy for a boy named Matthew that has Tourette syndrome. Matthew has been challenged for all 12 years of his life because of his tics, yelps, and random movements and the school bully Declan makes things so much worse. They both end up in an underground alternate world where Declans parents were doing weird, evil experiments. So the two boys teamed up with Matthew's imaginary friends to fight the evil. I really enjoyed the adventure and plot twist.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Marwah A · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was on the edge of my seat waiting to see what would happen next in this story. I loved how much importance the author placed on Tourettes Syndrome, friendship, struggles, and bullying. I've been studying psychology for a while now, and I know awareness is powerful, so I really appreciated Imaginary hero's messaging about empathy and kindness. The chase and adventure was exciting, unexpected and even thrilling at times. I liked this book but it was a little too simple and linear feeling for me, but I guess that's because I'm probably not the target audience. It also seemed a little rushed towards the end. I just love how this book used imaginary friends. It was a unique idea and I also liked how the story didn't demonise children who did think there imaginary friends were real. Overall, Imaginary heroes was a simple, interesting, and fun read for me.