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Nobody Real
The stunning and original new novel of love, sacrifice and the power of the imagination from spoken word artist and acclaimed author of TAPE, Steven Camden. "She's my Marcie. And everyone else can just fall off the earth." Marcie is seventeen and under pressure. Pressure from Mum to go to University. Pressure from Dad to rebel and find her passion. Everyone seems to know what's best for her. Nobody just listens. Not like her imaginary friend Thor Baker used to. When Tara's older brother Morgan comes home from university, Marcie thinks she might have someone who understands. Then Thor Baker shows up. In the real world. Still strong, still handsome, still made to protect her and to love her. But Thor has his own ideas of what love and protection mean. And what Thor wants might not be what's best for Marcie either. As the story builds, seen through Marcie's eyes and Thor's, the stakes continue to grow, until both find themselves having to choose - between what they have always wanted, and what they really need...
432 pages, Paperback
First published September 4, 2018
8 people are currently reading
1285 people want to read
About the author
Steven Camden
14 books101 followersSteven Camden is one of the most acclaimed spoken-word artists in the country. As Polarbear, he has performed extensively around the UK and internationally. He also writes plays, teaches storytelling in schools, and was a lead artist for Ministry of Stories and The Roundhouse poetry collective.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 41 reviews
February 28, 2018
I got sent this book in exchange for a honest review, all my opinions are my own and thank you so much to the publishers for sending me this book!
In this book we follow Maisie as she is struggling with life and who she kinda opens up to his her imaginary friend Thor, who is a boy with Bear Arms.
This story is about losing your childhood and saying goodbye to things that are in the past and moving on with your life.
I fairly enjoyed this book although I don't think it was entirely always entertaining. I really liked the whole plot and the characters were interesting.
I think that the book had such a cool concept and I liked that about it, that we dealt with something that we don't know about. We don't know if Maisie is actually seeing this imaginary friend or she has a mental illness.
The books writing was really lovely and flowed really well and overall it was a good book.
In this book we follow Maisie as she is struggling with life and who she kinda opens up to his her imaginary friend Thor, who is a boy with Bear Arms.
This story is about losing your childhood and saying goodbye to things that are in the past and moving on with your life.
I fairly enjoyed this book although I don't think it was entirely always entertaining. I really liked the whole plot and the characters were interesting.
I think that the book had such a cool concept and I liked that about it, that we dealt with something that we don't know about. We don't know if Maisie is actually seeing this imaginary friend or she has a mental illness.
The books writing was really lovely and flowed really well and overall it was a good book.
May 20, 2018
The author Steve Camden is a spoken word artist and it definitely shows in the poetic narrative style of 'Nobody Real. There are a lot of short, detached words and sentences which have a lyrical sway but which didn't make the book particularly easy to read.
The story is told by teenager Marcie and her imaginary friend Thor, who she cast away several years ago and whose time is now running out for good. We see Marcie struggling with family issues and decisions about her future, as she tries to make up her own mind about the path she wants to follow, rather than just trailing in her friend's footsteps. Marcie is facing choices that many young people have to make which makes the story more relatable to it's contemporary YA audience.
I think this is actually the first book I've read which features an imaginary friend. I've been racking my brains to think of another but nothing has come to mind. The chapters from Thor's perspective were intriguing but I struggled to wrap my head around a part-boy part-bear whose day to day life consists of demolishing buildings.
My main problem with the book was that in theory I liked the idea of the novel but in reality, I found it quite a disjointed and difficult read which I never really connected with. It wasn't my kind of book at all, but I have already passed this onto a friend who I think will love it. Not every book can be everyone's cup of tea and this just wasn't for me.
The story is told by teenager Marcie and her imaginary friend Thor, who she cast away several years ago and whose time is now running out for good. We see Marcie struggling with family issues and decisions about her future, as she tries to make up her own mind about the path she wants to follow, rather than just trailing in her friend's footsteps. Marcie is facing choices that many young people have to make which makes the story more relatable to it's contemporary YA audience.
I think this is actually the first book I've read which features an imaginary friend. I've been racking my brains to think of another but nothing has come to mind. The chapters from Thor's perspective were intriguing but I struggled to wrap my head around a part-boy part-bear whose day to day life consists of demolishing buildings.
My main problem with the book was that in theory I liked the idea of the novel but in reality, I found it quite a disjointed and difficult read which I never really connected with. It wasn't my kind of book at all, but I have already passed this onto a friend who I think will love it. Not every book can be everyone's cup of tea and this just wasn't for me.
May 2, 2021
I absolutely love the concept of having an imaginary friend a “not-real world” or a world for the imagination come to life, and I think I also liked the execution of this part of the book, but the overall plot didn´t interest me that much.
It is a fine story about having to let go of your childhood, of finding your own path and identity but it was just never quite great.
One thing that was great though was the audiobook – It had a lot of different voices which was interesting and sound effects for example when someone was speaking over the phone it sounded more… metallic.. technical? Haha, I don´t really know how to describe it despite it sounding and feeling real which I really liked.
I would recommend this book on the sole reason that the concept is really cool.
It is a fine story about having to let go of your childhood, of finding your own path and identity but it was just never quite great.
One thing that was great though was the audiobook – It had a lot of different voices which was interesting and sound effects for example when someone was speaking over the phone it sounded more… metallic.. technical? Haha, I don´t really know how to describe it despite it sounding and feeling real which I really liked.
I would recommend this book on the sole reason that the concept is really cool.
April 7, 2020
This was a bizarre and magical book. A world where your imaginary friend just may not be as imaginary as you thought. Life gets rough, especially when you're dealing with the physical abandonment of one parent and the mental check out of another. How do you live in this world? Maybe Thor, you're not so imaginary friend can help you learn how to wreck things so you can find yourself amongst the rubble.
"The real us lives in dark corners. If you're not willing to go there, you shouldn't even start. "
"The real us lives in dark corners. If you're not willing to go there, you shouldn't even start. "
August 19, 2018
This book was so powerful and engaging, every single page had me thinking what could possibly come next and wondering what on earth would happen with Marcie and Thor, like, the latter is an imaginary friend of Marcie, a bear, in fact, yet, he felt so real? It was just incredible!
"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry, but why would that mean it's not real?" - Dumbledore.
This quote was pretty much circulating throughout my head whilst reading this book, and I imagine that Steven Camden’s intention was to have the reader reflect about their own imaginary friends? For who didn’t have an array of them, I know I certainly did! And that’s what made me slightly connect with Marcie, I suppose.
But it was the structure of this book, I think, that had me so engaged! The fact that the author writes in dual points of view, from Marcie, or Mars, as she’s fondly known as, and Thor, her imaginary friend.
A perspective told from a non existent character?!
I mean, I was enthralled all the way through! I felt so many emotions throughout his chapters, like, there were times when I felt oddly terrified? I didn’t know what Thor would do next, I mean, I knew he couldn’t do anything but the power of his narration was absolutely epic! I mean, there were scenes where Thor was talking to a Doctor about his reckless behaviour, and possible eventual exit from Marcie’s mind, it was just insane but brilliantly memorizing!
Marcie herself was such a fascinating character, a teenager who read as someone far more older than her years, who always wanted to know what happened with her mother, and who always loved reading and coffee (also relatable, huh?).
What I also loved in this book were the flashbacks, also told in dual Thor and Marcie points of view, which just went to highlight how the two relied on one another through their turbulent times. Yes, I say one another because some Thor focal chapters chronicled his own imagination, which just shows the power of Camden’s writing, and Marcie’s imagination!
I’ll leave it there, but sufficed it to say, I cannot recommend this book enough, and it’s something that will stay in my mind for some time!
"Of course it's happening inside your head, Harry, but why would that mean it's not real?" - Dumbledore.
This quote was pretty much circulating throughout my head whilst reading this book, and I imagine that Steven Camden’s intention was to have the reader reflect about their own imaginary friends? For who didn’t have an array of them, I know I certainly did! And that’s what made me slightly connect with Marcie, I suppose.
But it was the structure of this book, I think, that had me so engaged! The fact that the author writes in dual points of view, from Marcie, or Mars, as she’s fondly known as, and Thor, her imaginary friend.
A perspective told from a non existent character?!
I mean, I was enthralled all the way through! I felt so many emotions throughout his chapters, like, there were times when I felt oddly terrified? I didn’t know what Thor would do next, I mean, I knew he couldn’t do anything but the power of his narration was absolutely epic! I mean, there were scenes where Thor was talking to a Doctor about his reckless behaviour, and possible eventual exit from Marcie’s mind, it was just insane but brilliantly memorizing!
Marcie herself was such a fascinating character, a teenager who read as someone far more older than her years, who always wanted to know what happened with her mother, and who always loved reading and coffee (also relatable, huh?).
What I also loved in this book were the flashbacks, also told in dual Thor and Marcie points of view, which just went to highlight how the two relied on one another through their turbulent times. Yes, I say one another because some Thor focal chapters chronicled his own imagination, which just shows the power of Camden’s writing, and Marcie’s imagination!
I’ll leave it there, but sufficed it to say, I cannot recommend this book enough, and it’s something that will stay in my mind for some time!
July 10, 2019
Synopsis : It's about Marcie, who just finished her school and can't decide what she wants to do next in life. Her Mom abandoned her when she was a kid and she now lives with her aunt Coral and works at her dad's bookstore.
.
It's about Thor Baker, who is Marcie's imaginary friend with bear hands. She drew him when she was 7 and sends him away at 12 when he causes too much trouble .Thor passes the time doing what he does best, demolishing buildings in the imaginary realm. But when Marcie really needs a friend years later Thor becomes part of her life again. It's too late now because he is about to fade in 14 days.
.
Review: This is not a contemporary romance. It's more intense and serious. About our choices and figuring out ourselves. I would categorize it as a mystery. There's twists and turns throughout the whole novel. It'll keep you guessing till the last page and then you'll realise your guesses were all wrong.
It's very thought-provoking and packs a whole load of aspects and issues. Her dad was a very interesting character. A wise and hilarious man whom I learned a lot from.
.
" Nobody knows what'll make them happy. Not until they find it."
.
The plot is very unique, unlike anything I've ever read. It's the kind of book that'll stick with me for a long while.
.
I didn't like the pacing though. It's over 400 pages long and Thor's POV is written in typewriter font which makes it even longer. The only thing that kept me reading was the constant suspense. Trust me, you'll want to finish it if you start it to get all the answers. It's captivating in a weird way.
.
It's about Thor Baker, who is Marcie's imaginary friend with bear hands. She drew him when she was 7 and sends him away at 12 when he causes too much trouble .Thor passes the time doing what he does best, demolishing buildings in the imaginary realm. But when Marcie really needs a friend years later Thor becomes part of her life again. It's too late now because he is about to fade in 14 days.
.
Review: This is not a contemporary romance. It's more intense and serious. About our choices and figuring out ourselves. I would categorize it as a mystery. There's twists and turns throughout the whole novel. It'll keep you guessing till the last page and then you'll realise your guesses were all wrong.
It's very thought-provoking and packs a whole load of aspects and issues. Her dad was a very interesting character. A wise and hilarious man whom I learned a lot from.
.
" Nobody knows what'll make them happy. Not until they find it."
.
The plot is very unique, unlike anything I've ever read. It's the kind of book that'll stick with me for a long while.
.
I didn't like the pacing though. It's over 400 pages long and Thor's POV is written in typewriter font which makes it even longer. The only thing that kept me reading was the constant suspense. Trust me, you'll want to finish it if you start it to get all the answers. It's captivating in a weird way.
April 23, 2024
This book was interesting in theory but I don’t think it did all that it could. “Nobody Real” tried too hard to be smart and didn’t focus enough on making me feel anything.
I really didn’t care about the characters and just kept reading to see how it ended when I could’ve skipped to the end and felt the same way about it.
Also, this book mentions fried chicken too much. It’s almost concerning how fixated this author is with having his characters eat fried chicken.
I really didn’t care about the characters and just kept reading to see how it ended when I could’ve skipped to the end and felt the same way about it.
Also, this book mentions fried chicken too much. It’s almost concerning how fixated this author is with having his characters eat fried chicken.
February 8, 2018
I love stories about imaginary friends and Steven Camden’s new YA book Nobody Real is one of the best. It’s funny, sad and full of imagination.
Thor has the body of a boy but the arms of a bear. He is Marcie’s imaginary friend. Imaginary friends are known for causing trouble but when Thor takes things too far, Marcie sends him away. Thor passes the time doing what he does best, demolishing buildings in the imaginary realm. But when Marcie really needs a friend years later Thor becomes part of her life again. With only days until he fades away, Thor wants to spend as much time with Marcie as he can.
It’s a great story about a teen who is standing on the precipice of the rest of her life with no idea what she wants to do next and her imaginary friend who helps her figure it out.
Thor has the body of a boy but the arms of a bear. He is Marcie’s imaginary friend. Imaginary friends are known for causing trouble but when Thor takes things too far, Marcie sends him away. Thor passes the time doing what he does best, demolishing buildings in the imaginary realm. But when Marcie really needs a friend years later Thor becomes part of her life again. With only days until he fades away, Thor wants to spend as much time with Marcie as he can.
It’s a great story about a teen who is standing on the precipice of the rest of her life with no idea what she wants to do next and her imaginary friend who helps her figure it out.
April 20, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley for sending me this book in return for an honest review. Unfortunately, I couldn't finish this book. I really wanted to enjoy it, the idea of a story written from the perspective of an imaginary friend that is no longer used really appealed to me.
The book is written from the points of view of Thor, a part-boy part-bear imaginary friend and his owner Marcie, who is getting ready to leave for university. The story is about them reconnecting and, whilst I enjoyed reading Marcie's perspective of the story, Thor's narrative I found really dull and lacking in personality.
I've given this book 2 stars just because Marcie's character filled me with a sense of nostalgia and longing to be young again. I really dislike giving up on a book but after reading just over a quarter of it and not feeling a real connection to the story I had to stop.
The book is written from the points of view of Thor, a part-boy part-bear imaginary friend and his owner Marcie, who is getting ready to leave for university. The story is about them reconnecting and, whilst I enjoyed reading Marcie's perspective of the story, Thor's narrative I found really dull and lacking in personality.
I've given this book 2 stars just because Marcie's character filled me with a sense of nostalgia and longing to be young again. I really dislike giving up on a book but after reading just over a quarter of it and not feeling a real connection to the story I had to stop.
May 30, 2018
*I received a free copy of this book via NetGalley. The decision to review and my opinions are my own.*
Nobody Real is a gritty reboot of the imaginary friend, perfectly pitched at teens and young adults.
It is the emotion that is raw and disturbing here, rather than the actions: Steve Camden has perfectly captured the disastrous, swirlingly chaotic importance of the emotional transition from child to adult in a way that is compellingly real. If you needed tissues for Bing Bong (Inside Out) then you’re going to need shares in Kleenex for this one!
I love the imagination and creativity that brought this unique plot and characters alive, and somehow made them so plausible that a boy with bear paws felt as natural a best friend as any other. I also loved the balance of anger and control; mischief and responsibility; joy and despair; grasping to hold on to loved ones and thrusting them viciously away. Marcie and Thor teeter between worlds and states as they try to find a base for themselves and each other.
I did occasionally become confused by whose viewpoint we were inhabiting, despite the use of font and style to distinguish, as it is quite unusual to read a book written in the second person as the characters address each other rather than the ‘audience’. The ‘you’ and ‘your’ combined with character pov shifts and flashbacks to muddy the plot waters, but this actually worked just fine for a story about characters who are muddling their way through events as best they can, and still trying to sort their pasts, presents and futures into something resembling a life.
I confess I guessed completely wrong about the genesis of some of the side characters and was surprised by the denoument; I was completely led down the red herring path the author laid out, which rarely happens and was therefore a pleasing twist. That is despite the fact that the ending provided the only possible satisfying conclusion to the character arcs (I had been wondering how the author was going to write himself out of the corner I thought he was in, but it turns out he just needed to walk through the door that was there all along!).
Overall this was a fascinating and moving exploration of the transition from teen to young adult, whilst dealing with trauma, love, loss and the need to find a path of one’s own.
'Bliss
noun
1. Supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment: the feeling of being left alone in a room full of books on a rainy day with a good coffee and no adults giving you grief.
– Dictionary of Marcie, Oxford Press'
– Steve Camden, Nobody Real
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
Nobody Real is a gritty reboot of the imaginary friend, perfectly pitched at teens and young adults.
It is the emotion that is raw and disturbing here, rather than the actions: Steve Camden has perfectly captured the disastrous, swirlingly chaotic importance of the emotional transition from child to adult in a way that is compellingly real. If you needed tissues for Bing Bong (Inside Out) then you’re going to need shares in Kleenex for this one!
I love the imagination and creativity that brought this unique plot and characters alive, and somehow made them so plausible that a boy with bear paws felt as natural a best friend as any other. I also loved the balance of anger and control; mischief and responsibility; joy and despair; grasping to hold on to loved ones and thrusting them viciously away. Marcie and Thor teeter between worlds and states as they try to find a base for themselves and each other.
I did occasionally become confused by whose viewpoint we were inhabiting, despite the use of font and style to distinguish, as it is quite unusual to read a book written in the second person as the characters address each other rather than the ‘audience’. The ‘you’ and ‘your’ combined with character pov shifts and flashbacks to muddy the plot waters, but this actually worked just fine for a story about characters who are muddling their way through events as best they can, and still trying to sort their pasts, presents and futures into something resembling a life.
I confess I guessed completely wrong about the genesis of some of the side characters and was surprised by the denoument; I was completely led down the red herring path the author laid out, which rarely happens and was therefore a pleasing twist. That is despite the fact that the ending provided the only possible satisfying conclusion to the character arcs (I had been wondering how the author was going to write himself out of the corner I thought he was in, but it turns out he just needed to walk through the door that was there all along!).
Overall this was a fascinating and moving exploration of the transition from teen to young adult, whilst dealing with trauma, love, loss and the need to find a path of one’s own.
'Bliss
noun
1. Supreme happiness; utter joy or contentment: the feeling of being left alone in a room full of books on a rainy day with a good coffee and no adults giving you grief.
– Dictionary of Marcie, Oxford Press'
– Steve Camden, Nobody Real
Review by Steph Warren of Bookshine and Readbows blog
https://bookshineandreadbows.wordpres...
August 10, 2018
This is the first ever book I read by Steven Camden, and honestly, I found the majority of it pretty boring. That saying it starts to pick up the pace the further into the book you get (i.e. the last 1/4 of the book). But, honestly it didn't really do much. The characters weren't developed that well, it was hard to decipher sometimes who was actually talking and characters are introduced that have literally no backstory or no purpose. Its kinda hard to work out which is sad because this story had so much potential!! Alas, this is just my opinion!
January 5, 2020
3/5
This is a book about a girl, Marcie and her imaginary friend, Thor. As she graduates from school, Marcie once again summons Thor, who she banished 6 years before, and who, unbeknownst to her, is reaching the Fade, an arbitrary event that imaginary friends go through after ten years (we were told it severs the connection between imaginary friends and their creators, though apparently not? Not sure what its point was). Together, they must deal with Marcie's life and search for some closure.
- First time I've seen 2nd person used in a book since Choose Your Own Adventure, so that was interesting
- When I first started, Thor's parts really bugged me because of that font, but I understand that the author just wanted each perspective to have a distinguishing feature, but it just made it harder to read
Some things that troubled me included:
- Leyland's suicide–it's portrayed as something peaceful, and I don't see why this character needed to be killed off, especially since it's all Marcie's imagination anyway?
- Why she stopped drawing–did it remind her of Thor too much?
- That twist ending that Fridge City(???) was all just Marcie's imagination, and that no, all those characters telling Thor to live his own life were just a test, and it was right for him to live vicariously through her instead? Also, what's with the Oath–was that just something Marcie thought up in her subconscious?
- The fact that all those characters were just in Marcie's head (I mean, I guess it makes sense, but what about each character's backstory (Blue particularly)? What's the deal with Alan–was he just lying to Thor throughout?
- Wallace: was that just to show how Marcie's real world was affecting her imaginary one?
Okay, let me expand on one of those: the whole "living-vicariously" thing.
Marcie is very independent, in my opinion: as the book begins, she makes a choice to deliberately fail an exam by herself, she can cook for herself, she even single handedly . It's only emotionally that she will fall on Thor, and most of the time she seems just fine without him, in my opinion (she can hold up a conversation all by herself, she only tried using him as support for if she wants to shut down or do something destructive). Thor, on the other hand, devotes his life to Marcie, but is then sent away after his mischief went wrong and hurt somebody. I somewhat recently read the Memoirs of An Imaginary Friend, in which the protagonist, the imaginary being, wants to be needed forever for fear of not existing, though his destiny is to disappear when the job is done. Thor also wants to be needed forever, but that is because he's so attached to Marcie despite her banishing him years before. However, readers are told again and again that the right thing, the destiny of the imaginary friend is to disconnect and live their own lives away from those who created you. He is chided by several characters for not letting go, even losing a potential girlfriend because of it. Yet, in the end, Thor is rewarded for his diligence, going against everything the reader has learned about the unreal world, which really caught me off guard, as you can tell from all the thoughts above.
With this twist ending, Thor is told he has done right, and he can now be a permanent part of Marcie, albeit internally, since the whole of Thor's reality was just Marcie's. I dunno, that just rubbed me the wrong way: through all that individualization (the disconnected lives, and different perspectives), it didn't seem right to me that after being told to move on, Thor's happy ending is just to continue to watch her, though it guess it makes sense. Doesn't make me like it anymore though.
This is a book about a girl, Marcie and her imaginary friend, Thor. As she graduates from school, Marcie once again summons Thor, who she banished 6 years before, and who, unbeknownst to her, is reaching the Fade, an arbitrary event that imaginary friends go through after ten years (we were told it severs the connection between imaginary friends and their creators, though apparently not? Not sure what its point was). Together, they must deal with Marcie's life and search for some closure.
- First time I've seen 2nd person used in a book since Choose Your Own Adventure, so that was interesting
- When I first started, Thor's parts really bugged me because of that font, but I understand that the author just wanted each perspective to have a distinguishing feature, but it just made it harder to read
Some things that troubled me included:
- Leyland's suicide–it's portrayed as something peaceful, and I don't see why this character needed to be killed off, especially since it's all Marcie's imagination anyway?
- Why she stopped drawing–did it remind her of Thor too much?
- That twist ending that Fridge City(???) was all just Marcie's imagination, and that no, all those characters telling Thor to live his own life were just a test, and it was right for him to live vicariously through her instead? Also, what's with the Oath–was that just something Marcie thought up in her subconscious?
- The fact that all those characters were just in Marcie's head (I mean, I guess it makes sense, but what about each character's backstory (Blue particularly)? What's the deal with Alan–was he just lying to Thor throughout?
- Wallace: was that just to show how Marcie's real world was affecting her imaginary one?
Okay, let me expand on one of those: the whole "living-vicariously" thing.
Marcie is very independent, in my opinion: as the book begins, she makes a choice to deliberately fail an exam by herself, she can cook for herself, she even single handedly . It's only emotionally that she will fall on Thor, and most of the time she seems just fine without him, in my opinion (she can hold up a conversation all by herself, she only tried using him as support for if she wants to shut down or do something destructive). Thor, on the other hand, devotes his life to Marcie, but is then sent away after his mischief went wrong and hurt somebody. I somewhat recently read the Memoirs of An Imaginary Friend, in which the protagonist, the imaginary being, wants to be needed forever for fear of not existing, though his destiny is to disappear when the job is done. Thor also wants to be needed forever, but that is because he's so attached to Marcie despite her banishing him years before. However, readers are told again and again that the right thing, the destiny of the imaginary friend is to disconnect and live their own lives away from those who created you. He is chided by several characters for not letting go, even losing a potential girlfriend because of it. Yet, in the end, Thor is rewarded for his diligence, going against everything the reader has learned about the unreal world, which really caught me off guard, as you can tell from all the thoughts above.
With this twist ending, Thor is told he has done right, and he can now be a permanent part of Marcie, albeit internally, since the whole of Thor's reality was just Marcie's. I dunno, that just rubbed me the wrong way: through all that individualization (the disconnected lives, and different perspectives), it didn't seem right to me that after being told to move on, Thor's happy ending is just to continue to watch her, though it guess it makes sense. Doesn't make me like it anymore though.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 24, 2018
Nobody Real My Rating: 4.5/5 stars
ARC kindly provided by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review
Blurring the lines between reality and the imaginary is a dangerous business, but danger doesn’t always have to be a detriment.
The common catch phrase is that ‘we all have problems’ but if you aren’t real yourself, can your problems be?
Nobody Real is a captivating young adult novel that explores modern society and common teen difficulties through two unique character perspectives. Marcie, is a late high school student who has been ghosting along in her best friends’ life for years, but with university and the future coming into view, it’s time to start making some big decisions. Thor is a drawing, a figment of the imagination of 7 year old Marcie who is facing some difficulties of his own.
Both racing against a fast approaching dead line they are going to need all the help they can get.
I thoroughly enjoyed the originality within the narrative structure and content. Nobody Real is an exceptionally unique book that breaks away from the cliché categories of current young adult fiction. If you are looking for something a little bit different and thought provoking then I would highly recommend this novel.
Nobody Real has thrown away the common chapter structure of a book and popped in thought dialogue and perspective changes in some pretty crazy ways. However, Camden has pulled it off beautifully with the books unique sentence and narrative structure adding an atmosphere to the real and the imaginary world’s that keeps you reading for hours.
I also loved the contrasting and diversity within the two protagonists of Marcie and Thor. Their different personalities are really well thought out and create this incredible feeling as you read your way through the novel.
This book is perfect for anyone looking for a stunning read that is a bit different from the norm. I would recommend this novel to both genders at an age range of 12+.
Congratulations to Steven Camden on the publication of this exceptional novel!
ARC kindly provided by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review
Blurring the lines between reality and the imaginary is a dangerous business, but danger doesn’t always have to be a detriment.
The common catch phrase is that ‘we all have problems’ but if you aren’t real yourself, can your problems be?
Nobody Real is a captivating young adult novel that explores modern society and common teen difficulties through two unique character perspectives. Marcie, is a late high school student who has been ghosting along in her best friends’ life for years, but with university and the future coming into view, it’s time to start making some big decisions. Thor is a drawing, a figment of the imagination of 7 year old Marcie who is facing some difficulties of his own.
Both racing against a fast approaching dead line they are going to need all the help they can get.
I thoroughly enjoyed the originality within the narrative structure and content. Nobody Real is an exceptionally unique book that breaks away from the cliché categories of current young adult fiction. If you are looking for something a little bit different and thought provoking then I would highly recommend this novel.
Nobody Real has thrown away the common chapter structure of a book and popped in thought dialogue and perspective changes in some pretty crazy ways. However, Camden has pulled it off beautifully with the books unique sentence and narrative structure adding an atmosphere to the real and the imaginary world’s that keeps you reading for hours.
I also loved the contrasting and diversity within the two protagonists of Marcie and Thor. Their different personalities are really well thought out and create this incredible feeling as you read your way through the novel.
This book is perfect for anyone looking for a stunning read that is a bit different from the norm. I would recommend this novel to both genders at an age range of 12+.
Congratulations to Steven Camden on the publication of this exceptional novel!
June 11, 2018
ARC kindly provided by Harper Collins in exchange for an honest review
“The real us lives in dark corners” was to me, a message that resonated with me throughout Camden’s novel. By blending the playful and quirky world of imaginary friends with the issues that almost-adult Marcie Baker struggles within reality, ‘Nobody Real’ breaks away from stock standard YA novel tropes and compels its readers to search for themselves even in dark and difficult times.
Marcie Baker is a young, talented girl with a straight-forward plan for her future. A girl who follows other people’s dreams and neglects her own. Thor Baker is her imaginary friend who will help her discover what she really wants in life. Together the two navigate her life and discover the real Marcie living in dark corners. The unique approach to young adult fiction was very well done and admirable.
Along with the refreshing plot, the characters in the novel were wonderfully thought out and not only complemented the protagonist’s journey but were equally interesting and full of life as every other aspect of the story.
One thing I did not enjoy as much was the lack of a clear climax or build until the very last chapters. To me, the first part of the book, although well written, was slow and less captivating than the final third of the book. This may have been because of a few unelaborated complications or events in the plot which did not add as much value to the story and drew attention away from the main message of self-acceptance and happiness.
Overall, ‘Nobody Real’ was an enjoyable read with a truly meaningful message. Another unique and wonderful story from Steven Camden.
“The real us lives in dark corners” was to me, a message that resonated with me throughout Camden’s novel. By blending the playful and quirky world of imaginary friends with the issues that almost-adult Marcie Baker struggles within reality, ‘Nobody Real’ breaks away from stock standard YA novel tropes and compels its readers to search for themselves even in dark and difficult times.
Marcie Baker is a young, talented girl with a straight-forward plan for her future. A girl who follows other people’s dreams and neglects her own. Thor Baker is her imaginary friend who will help her discover what she really wants in life. Together the two navigate her life and discover the real Marcie living in dark corners. The unique approach to young adult fiction was very well done and admirable.
Along with the refreshing plot, the characters in the novel were wonderfully thought out and not only complemented the protagonist’s journey but were equally interesting and full of life as every other aspect of the story.
One thing I did not enjoy as much was the lack of a clear climax or build until the very last chapters. To me, the first part of the book, although well written, was slow and less captivating than the final third of the book. This may have been because of a few unelaborated complications or events in the plot which did not add as much value to the story and drew attention away from the main message of self-acceptance and happiness.
Overall, ‘Nobody Real’ was an enjoyable read with a truly meaningful message. Another unique and wonderful story from Steven Camden.
June 14, 2018
Nobody Real is the story of Marcie, a teenager on the edge of adulthood, and her imaginary friend Thor, who Marcie sent away many years ago. Thor is facing the ‘fade’, when he can no longer exist to Marcie. Macie is finishing her last of her exams when Thor reappears in her life, bringing familiarity and chaos.
This is a really imaginative book that deals with common issues of identity, family and friendship. The narration alternates between Marcie and Thor and uses second person where they refer to each other rather than the reader. There is also script-style dialogue between Thor and his counsellor. At first I struggled a little with this narrative style, but once I got used it, it was really effective.
The description of Thor’s world was really interesting, especially his fellow imaginary friends with very human qualities.
I really liked the way Marcie’s relationships were portrayed; with her dad, her aunt, her best friend from school, and of course, Thor. Marcie is not exciting or very special, but a likeable and relatable character. She is at a troubled time in her life and I liked the exploration of how she is helped by her imaginary friend. I found the ending quite unexpected but satisfying.
This is a really imaginative book that deals with common issues of identity, family and friendship. The narration alternates between Marcie and Thor and uses second person where they refer to each other rather than the reader. There is also script-style dialogue between Thor and his counsellor. At first I struggled a little with this narrative style, but once I got used it, it was really effective.
The description of Thor’s world was really interesting, especially his fellow imaginary friends with very human qualities.
I really liked the way Marcie’s relationships were portrayed; with her dad, her aunt, her best friend from school, and of course, Thor. Marcie is not exciting or very special, but a likeable and relatable character. She is at a troubled time in her life and I liked the exploration of how she is helped by her imaginary friend. I found the ending quite unexpected but satisfying.
March 17, 2018
Marcie and Thor are a team or so it seems to Marcie. The trouble is, she's real and Thor isn't. Abandoned by her mum and pulling away from her dad who grows distant, Marcie finds herself seeking friendship and comfort and that comes from her old imaginary though up friend Thor, a boy with bear arms, arms of comfort and warmth it seems.
I am unsure whether Marcie is suffering with her own mental health alike her dad whom seems depressed throughout the novel. Marcie does talk with others around her but seems to never allow herself to get close to anyone which seems likely to the factor of her mother not being in her life now.
This is a book anyone can relate to as I'm sure we all yearn at some point to be a carefree child again needing to be taken care of and not have to face all life's responsibilities thrust our way.
Many thanks to the publishers for her allowing me to review this book for them!
I am unsure whether Marcie is suffering with her own mental health alike her dad whom seems depressed throughout the novel. Marcie does talk with others around her but seems to never allow herself to get close to anyone which seems likely to the factor of her mother not being in her life now.
This is a book anyone can relate to as I'm sure we all yearn at some point to be a carefree child again needing to be taken care of and not have to face all life's responsibilities thrust our way.
Many thanks to the publishers for her allowing me to review this book for them!
August 18, 2018
I truly enjoyed this book, it brought back a sense of innocence we all have as a kid, through creating a imaginary friend. I found the plot itself easy to follow and got choked up at some of the events Marcie struggled with as I feel like some young teens can completely relate to her life and her feelings. I admired the moving and uplifting quotes and sections of speech that we’re in the book which only compelled me further to read on. I enjoyed the ending where it became clear that all of Thor’s world was a creation of Marcies imagination and that he lived on in her memory.
I found especially lovely at the end when Thor had to leave and Marcie didn’t believe she could go on without him and he explained that he was created by her in time she needed strength and that she had found the strength she needed in herself and that’s all he was.
Highly recommend.
Loved every page of it
I found especially lovely at the end when Thor had to leave and Marcie didn’t believe she could go on without him and he explained that he was created by her in time she needed strength and that she had found the strength she needed in herself and that’s all he was.
Highly recommend.
Loved every page of it
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 16, 2018
2.75* stars
This was an okay read for me. I was expecting much more and was glad I didn't go into it with high expectations, because I seriously would've been let down.
I haven't read anything by Steven Camden before, and picked this up on a whim because I heard he would by YALC this year. Sadly, this did not do it for me.
The writing was okay. The plot was all over the place. I couldn't really connect to any of the characters. I liked the diversity in the book. Marcie's sexuality was subtle and threaded into the story, but I'm glad the narrative didn't just focus on that and make it the main plot of the story. It was viewed as normal, and I liked that.
Overall, slow paced but I'm glad I read it.
This was an okay read for me. I was expecting much more and was glad I didn't go into it with high expectations, because I seriously would've been let down.
I haven't read anything by Steven Camden before, and picked this up on a whim because I heard he would by YALC this year. Sadly, this did not do it for me.
The writing was okay. The plot was all over the place. I couldn't really connect to any of the characters. I liked the diversity in the book. Marcie's sexuality was subtle and threaded into the story, but I'm glad the narrative didn't just focus on that and make it the main plot of the story. It was viewed as normal, and I liked that.
Overall, slow paced but I'm glad I read it.
November 2, 2018
The premise of this book was great but it just didn't live up to it, sadly. It's told switching between two first person perspectives both of which address the other character in the second person, and that literary device just doesn't work - it ends up being confusing. And it has the thing I haaaate of a first person narrator being unreliable by just not thinking about a crucial bit of knowledge they have so it gets saved as a 'twist' for the reader. But that is just a personal bugbear of mine.
March 31, 2019
"Nobody Real" was a very interesting novel. At first, I thought the whole concept was a little weird because of Thor, the imaginary friend. This book doesn't tell you the setting or the scenario in which the characters are really going through. You as the reader get to find out these things along the way. New, exciting, unexpected pieces of the story unravel throughout the entire book, even until the very last page.
The plot was simple but very intriguing. I enjoyed the characters and creativeness in this book. Overall, "Nobody Real" was an interesting, great read.
The plot was simple but very intriguing. I enjoyed the characters and creativeness in this book. Overall, "Nobody Real" was an interesting, great read.
September 15, 2018
The situation/setting of this novel is intriguing __ an imaginary friend and his creator recross paths after many years. The psychological counseling sessions for Thor, who is about to fade, were a nice touch. Nevertheless, I was not interested by Marcie or Thor or the plot line. Katherine Applegate's CRENSHAW ( a story with some similarities but for middle-graders ) packed more emotional power.
December 19, 2018
Steven Camden has a really interesting writing style. You can tell he was a poet first. I'm not sure if I mean that as a compliment or a criticism - when it works, it works well, but it can make it a little hard to keep track of characters and events (I kept getting confused between Cara and Coral).
September 7, 2023
What a beautiful, original, interesting story! I enjoyed it immensely. So glad that I found it on Libby. Listened to the audiobook version. Sometimes the female narrator was a bit hard to understand due to her thick accent, but it was a very good book and well worth listening to.
May come back later to write a better review.
May come back later to write a better review.
May 20, 2024
This is the worst book I've read in a while, I just read another book and gave it 1 star but I'm changing it to 2 because it's not as bad as this one.
It's boring, plain, pointless and a completely waste of a very interesting idea. The passive narrator is plain, the story is never giving something else that partial drama and it's not that long but I just wanted to stop reading.
It's boring, plain, pointless and a completely waste of a very interesting idea. The passive narrator is plain, the story is never giving something else that partial drama and it's not that long but I just wanted to stop reading.
May 20, 2018
It was a great book, something I wouldn't normally read but I loved how differently it was written to normal texts. It included problems without explicitly mentioning them and bought the reader into the world of an 18 year old with their future ahead of them.
October 10, 2018
received this in a book box. i've never heard of this book before, so i was pretty much going in blind. blew me away. the words have a way of stealing into you, and you don't realise it until you are crying for the things you've had to let go.
May 8, 2020
Not a lot happened in this story really and there were some gaps left behind - why didn't Marcie's auntie believe she flooded the house accidentally? Is Thor actually in Marcie's head or is he real? It was an "okay" read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 29, 2018
A lackluster novel. The writing and prose was beautiful, but the plot line and actual story was cliched and tropey (not in a good way).
November 5, 2018
Disappointing. The plot was weak and way too slow. I didn’t connect with the characters, either. The ending was moving, but there was no buildup and I had stopped caring by that point.
December 16, 2018
So wonderful. I wish I had someone like Thor as I was growing up.
Reminded me of the beauty of imagination and the power of myself. Just loved it.
Reminded me of the beauty of imagination and the power of myself. Just loved it.
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