คำสารภาพของเพื่อนในจินตนาการ

by Michelle Cuevas, พรพยงค์ นำธวัช (Translator)

ใช่ว่าทุกคนจะมีเพื่อนในจินตนาการ แต่ทุกคนย่อมมีจินตนาการ เด็ก ๆ อาจจินตนาการให้ตุ๊กตามีชีวิต ให้สัตว์พูดได้ ฝันถึงสิ่งที่ตนอยากเป็นในอนาคต ส่วนคนโต ๆ ผู้รู้ดีแล้วว่า ตุ๊กตาไม่มีชีวิต และสัตว์พูดไม่ได้ ก็อาจนึกจินตนาการถึงชีวิตที่ดีงามต่าง ๆ นานา จินตนาการบวกดังกล่าวมักหล่อเลี้ยงจิตใจมนุษย์ได้เสมอ เพื่อนในจินตนาการของเด็กอาจทำให้วันที่ทะเลาะกับเพื่อนที่โรงเรียนเป็นวันที่ดีขึ้นมาได้ อาจทำให้ตอนเย็นวันที่ไม่มีเพื่อนเล่นไม่เหงาเกินไปนัก แต่ก็นั่นแหละ ไม่มีใครอยู่ในโลกจินตนาการได้ตลอดเวลา "คำสารภาพของเพื่อนในจินตนาการ" จึงเกิดขึ้นเพื่อเล่าเรื่องราวจากอีกฝ่าย

"คำสารภาพของเพื่อนในจินตนาการ" วรรณกรรมเยาวชนจาก "มิเชลล์ คูวาส" เล่มล่าสุดนี้ ยังคงมีกลิ่นอายของเรื่อง "งานศิลป์ชิ้นใหญ่ของช้างจิตรกร" อยู่ นั่นคือแม้จะเล่าเรื่องเด็ก ให้เด็กได้อ่านเพลิดเพลิน แต่ทุกตัวหนังสือของเธิยังจับใจผู้ใหญ่ได้อยู่หมัดเช่นเคย และทันทีที่คุณอ่านจบ ปิดหนังสือเล่มนี้ลงแล้ว ประตูคุ้นตาบานหนึ่งของทุกคนอาจเปิดออก พร้อมเสียงคุ้นหูดังขึ้นเบา ๆ "ยินดีต้อนรับกลับบ้าน" นะ

Genres: Middle Grade, Fantasy, Fiction, Childrens, Humor, Young Adult, Juvenile

166 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2017

About the author

Michelle Cuevas is an award-winning author of children’s literature. She graduated from Williams College and holds a Master of Fine Arts degree in creative writing from the University of Virginia, where she received the Henry Hoyns Fellowship.

Cuevas is the author of eight books for young people, most recently the 2023 Indie-List Bestseller, The Dreamatics. Her other books include Massachusetts Book Award-winning novel, The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole, national best seller  The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles illustrated by Caldecott medalist Erin E. Stead, and international best seller  Confessions of an Imaginary Friend. Her books have been named best of the year by Time, People, The Boston Globe, and School Library Journal, and have been translated into over twenty languages as well as various theatrical productions.

Her other titles include:  Beyond the Laughing Sky illustrated by Julie Morstad, Smoot: A Rebellious Shadow illustrated by Sydney Smith,  The Masterwork of a Painting Elephant illustrated by Ed Young, and The Town of Turtle illustrated by Cátia Chien.

Her 2017 title The Care and Feeding of a Pet Black Hole is in production with Matt Reeves through his 6th and Idaho banner, and her 2015 title Confessions of an Imaginary Friend is being developed into an animated feature film by Fox. Cuevas has freelanced as a creative consultant for Fox Animation, and is the writer of "Follow Your Heart," which qualified for the animated shorts category of the 2018 Academy Awards, as well as the STEM short Happy Birthday, Ada, commissioned by Google, which won 1st place at the 47th ASIFA-East Animation Awards.

Michelle lives and works in the Berkshires in Massachusetts with her husband and two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Fable and Indy.

Reviews

[Sana]

همه‌ی ما دل‌مان می‌خواهد یک نفر را پیدا کنیم که واقعا بشناسدمان،آن یک نفر که همه‌ی عادت های عجیب و غریب مان را بداند و باز هم مارا بفهمد.شما تاحالا کسی را داشته اید که اینجوری ببیندتان؟واقعا،ته دل‌تان را،آن جایی را ببیند که هیچ‌کس دیگر توی دنیا ازش خبر ندارد؟
امیدوارم داشته باشید‌.

چه پایان قشنگی داشت،خیلی دوستش داشتم
خیلی دوست دارم بیشتر کتاب‌های کودک و نوجوان بخونم حس خوبی منتقل میکنن😍💖📚

[Rana Heshmati]

خیلی موضوع خاصی داشت. (یک دوست خیالی، داره خاطراتش رو می‌نویسه. دیگه خودتون تا تهش برید!) و بنظرم مفهوم‌های خیلی عمیقی رو سعی کرده بود درنهایت سادگی بیان کنه. ما کی هستیم، چی هستیم، تداوم خودِ وجودیمون چطور امکان پذیره، تخیل چه نقشی تو زندگیمون داره و چی باعث می‌شه ما واقعاً «باشیم»، وجود داشته باشیم..
خیلی دوستش داشتم. پر از جمله‌های قشنگ بود. به فکر فرو بردم.

[Nazin]

ژاک پاپیه هشت ساله با یک مشکل بزرگ رو به رو شده؛ هیچ کس دوستش نداره و بدتر از اون، حتی جوابش رو هم نمی‌دن، گاهی فراموش میکنن براش بشقاب بذارن و هر روز نادیده گرفته میشه! شاید هم واقعا دیده نمیشه!؟

«اعترافات یک دوست خیالی» از اون کتاب‌هایی هست که هم دوست‌داشتنیه و هم حرفی برای گفتن داره. فقط شاید تنها ایرادش (که البته ایراد از ماست!) این باشه که تا حدی ایجاد حسرت می‌کنه.

فایل صوتیش رو برای بچه (یا شاید نوجوان!) دوازده ساله‌ای فرستادم و گفت خیلی دوست داشته و خیلی خندیده، اما آخرش گفت: «منم یه بار بچه بودم گفتم دوست خیالی دارم و بابام گفت "از پس سرت تو گوشی بوده دیوونه شدی" و دو هفته گوشی رو ازم گرفتن!».
واقعیت خودمم به این فکر می‌کردم که چه خانواده‌ی فوق‌العاده‌ای در داستان هست و چقدر به قوه‌ی تخیل و خلاقیت فرزندشون اهمیت می‌دن، اما فکر نمی‌کردم بچه‌ها هم به همچین چیزی فکر می‌کنن! نظام آموزشی و سبک تعلیم و تربیت در کشور ما به حد کافی خلاقیت‌کش هست و باید خود ما بیشتر حواسمون به بال و پر دادن به تخیل کودکان باشه.

شنبه 15 فروردین 405, APR 4, روز سی و ششم جنگ

[Grace (LovingDemBooks) Z.]

Buy this book on: | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Audible | BookDepository (FREE WORLDWIDESHIPPING) |

3 out of 5 stars. Please read my rating system further below. SUCH A CUTE BOOK. I CAN'T STOP SMILING!!!

My rating system: (I do use half stars.)
5 - I do not use the 5 star. Not because a book might not be worthy, but because a book is never perfect.
4 - I loved it! There weren't too many flaws, and I had no trouble getting through it. (A 4 star rating is the highest rating I've ever given a book.)
3 - I enjoyed the book, but there we're flaws that made me enjoy it less.
2 - I finished the book, but there were too many flaws for me to enjoy it.
1 - I could not finish the book, and I probably did not finish it....

[Miss Ravi]

جهان‌های وسیع و پهناوری که می‌شود در کتابهای کودک و نوجوان پیدا کرد، چه غریب و صمیمی و ساده‌اند. دنیاهایی که هنوز مرزهایشان با واقعیت ادغام نشده؛ روح آدم را تروتازه می‌کند. اتفاقاً این داستانها دنبال درس دادن به خواننده‌شان هم نیستند. راه خودشان را می‌روند و در نهایت به نقطه‌ای می‌رسند که شگفت‌زده می‌شوی. آن اوایل کتابهای کودک و نوجوان را برای تقویت زبان انگلیسی‌ام می‌خواندم. اما حالا فکر می‌کنم هر کتابی دارد جایی در ذهنم باز می‌کند و تبدیل می‌شود به فکرهایی ادامه‌دار. این‌که کتابهایی برای کودک و نوجوان این قدرت عجیب را دارند که خواننده بزرگسالی مثل من را تکان بدهند، معنی‌اش شاید این باشد که این کتابها لزوماً برای بچه‌ها نوشته نشده‌اند. هر چند از نظر ویژگی‌ها و فرم و زبان، مناسب بچه‌هایند اما معنی‌اش این نیست که بقیه نمی‌توانند ازش لذت ببرند. آن لحظه‌هایی که راوی داستان، ژاکوب در تقلا برای جا دادن خودش در دنیای واقعی آدمها بود، با سرسختی سعی می‌کرد، چیزی که بود را انکار کند، خیلی ساده می‌شد با او همذات‌پنداری کرد. فارغ از اینکه چه موجودیتی داشت.

[L.R.W. Lee]

An Endearing Tale of What it Means to Be

What a beautiful and exceedingly deep tale. What does it mean to be real? What can our imaginations free us to think and become? Who are we really? What is the essence of us?

This is certainly a story both young and old will enjoy...

[Tijana]

Pristojna ali neizrazita knjižica odlične premise: radi se o dečaku Žaku Papijeu koji shvati da zapravo nije brat svoje sestre već njen imaginarni prijatelj i, prirodno, zapadne u egzistencijalnu krizu. Mišel Kuevas svog junaka sprovodi kroz ciklus imaginarnoprijateljskih reinkarnacija tako da sa svakim detetom i to dete, i Žak, i čitaoci, shvate nešto novo o smislu života, tako da se početna svežina i dosetljivost negde usput malo istroše. Ali za decu koja se prvi put susreću sa ovim konceptom - biće super.

[Melika Khoraman]

خیلی دوسش داشتم و به نظرم خیلی خلاقانه و نو بود.

[Reyhane]

این کتاب به تازگی نشان نقره لاک‌پشت پرنده راگرفته. (اسفند۹۹)
دیدم دخترم نخونده تو کتابخونه‌‌ش داردش.
نشستیم دوتایی با هم و به‌نوبت برای هم خوندیمش؛ لذت بردیم، خندیدیم، قلبمون فشره شد و گریه کردیم... اون آروم و من بلند و بی‌پروا...
تفکرات فلسفی و روان‌شناختی‌ای که پس کتاب هست در نهایت ظرافت و زیبایی مسیرش را در جای‌جای قصه بازمیکنه.
و چه ترجمه‌ی خوبی.
در مجموع برای ما که عالی بود!

[Cititoare Calatoare]

Jaques Papier se credea un baietel normal, cu o sora geamana pe nume Fleur si un caine cam ciudatel. Asta, pana intr-o zi cand afla de la mama, ca sora lui are un prieten imaginar.
Simtindu-se tradat, deoarece credea ca el este cel mai bun prieten a ei, hotaraste sa isi inventeze si el un prieten.
Pana acum nimic neobisnuit, insa fapta lui creeaza o reactie in lant si isi da singur lumea peste cap afland ca nimic nu este asa cum credea. Pana si realitatea este cu totul alta, iar el nu face parte din aceasta.
"Cine mai esti cand tot ce stiai despre tine s-a facut nevazut?"

Gasiti intreaga recenzie pe pagina mea de instagram @reading_on_my_way

[🥀 Rose 🥀]

It's lines like this that make this simply beautiful

"The truth is, that's all anyone wants, to be known that way, to be seen. I don't mean our hair or our clothes, I mean seen for who we really are. We all want to find that one person who knows the real us, all our quirks, and still understands. Have you ever had anyone see you? Really, truly, the deepest part that seems invisible to the rest of the world?"

This is a story about an imaginary friend who discovers he's not real and seeks out to find himself and what it means to be him.

I cannot express the love I have for this beautiful, enlightening and very very funny, charming little book.

A kids book? Yes. However a must read for everyone. Especially those of us who had that very special imaginary friend.

[lucky little cat]

A young girl's imaginary friend has an existential crisis after getting his own imaginary friend. I'm sure Amazon would let you buy your copy with imaginary money.


Better.

[Ghazaal B.]

کتاب پر از جزییات خلاقه‌ست. در نقش خواننده‌ی بزرگسال با ظرافتهاش عشق کردم و بسیار دوستش داشتم.

[Jon]

Seen at Bookish Antics!
I didn’t know what this book was about when I first picked it up other than the fact that it’s being adapted into an animated film and was being compared to Toy Story. I was mentally unprepared for Confessions and it turned out to be one of the most clever and emotional reads I’ve read in so long. Jacques’s memoir will make readers of all ages turn into emotional mushes and is something so precious. Confessions Of An Imaginary Friend is such a special book and is bound to be cherished by everyone who comes into contact with it.

What happens when your imaginary friend doesn’t realize that he’s not real? Jacques thinks that everyone hates him except for his best friend Fleur and can’t understand why he’s always ignored by the world. When he comes into contact with another imaginary friend, he finds out that he can be set free and that’s when Jacques’s world turns upside down.

Jacques is such a wonderful narrator and his voice is so innocent, sweet, honest and captivating. Right off the bat I knew that this was a character that I would care deeply about and I couldn’t have been more right. I didn’t think I would care about an imaginary friend so much, but Jacques is such a real character with such noble intentions. His attempt to find himself is both heartwarming and heartbreaking simultaneously, this “coming-of-age” tale is wholly original.

Though this novel has been compared to Toy Story, I truly think that this tale shares more in common with Inside Out. Confessions has that same tender, true feel to it that’s present in Inside Out and shows growing up and childhood in the most interesting and unconventional light. I found myself smiling like a Cheshire cat on one page and just a few pages later, I was tearing up and I had to walk away from this book in fear that I would turn into an emotional trainwreck. Michelle Cuevas has poured an immeasurable amount of heart and soul into this novel and the results are absolutely magical.

Confessions Of An Imaginary Friend isn’t your average memoir and it’s sure to create waves in the literary world. I truly hope the movie comes into fruition because this book would be incredibly adorable on screen and deserves the most exposure possible. I can’t wait to read Cuevas’s other novels and I just hope they’ll have a huge impact on me in the same way that Confessions did.

[Anita Vela]

Reseña completa: http://anitavelabooks.blogspot.com.es...

Confesiones de un amigo imaginario es una historia principalmente para los niños, pero también para los no tan niños, que contiene un mensaje muy bueno e importante para todos: conocerse y valorase a uno mismo. Muy recomendada, sobre todo para niños y niñas entre 9-14 años. Os cuento más en el blog :)

[Juan Manuel Sarmiento]

Confesiones de un amigo imaginario es una lectura perfecta para niños y para el niño interior que todos seguimos llevando dentro.
Reseña completa en THE BEST READ YET BLOG

[Alexis Steven]

Confesiones de un amigo imaginario ha sido más de lo que esperaba. Es un libro corto con una gran letra que invita a conocer a un personaje que existe pero no existe, que es pero no sabe qué es y que quiere saber.

Confesiones de un amigo imaginario logró mostrarme más de lo que esperaba. Es un libro perfecto para los niños de la casa, y tal vez para los no tan niños. Es tierno, emotivo y gracioso, logró sacarme unas cuantas risas y sonrisas.

Nunca se debe dejar de lado el poder de la imaginación.

[lilac]

“I filled the home inside myself with furniture; with laughter and light, with love and a family. I imagined I could soar there through a sky full of Autumn Mist, and when I arrived, I would know I was home, finally, after so much time spent far, far away.“
می‌شه من به این کتاب بیشتر از پنج ستاره بدم؟

[ستایش]

بعد خوندنش آدم دلش یه دوست خیالی می‌خواد :)

بخش‌هایی از کتاب:

خیالی باشی یا واقعی، دیده شدن یا نشدنت بستگی به خودت داره.

اگر گوشه‌های پنهان هر آدمی را ببینید، همان بخش‌هایی که هیچ‌کس دیگر نمی‌تواند ببیند، حتما شگفت زده می‌شوید.

تک تک آدم‌ها، همهٔ آن‌ها، شگفت‌انگیزند.

به گمانم باید از همه‌چیز دور باشی تا قدر هر چیز را بدانی.

شاید ما هم از همان چیزی ساخته شده‌ایم که ستاره‌ها ساخته شده‌اند و ستاره‌ها هم از همان چیزی ساخته شده‌اند که ما را از آن درست کرده‌اند.

وقتی تو یه حیوون سوسیسی بودی من شناختمت، نه؟ خیلی هم سخت نیست. فقط باید اون ور ظاهر رو ببینی. هیچ‌ دقت کردی که آدم‌های واقعی هم همین‌جورین؟ ممکنه هفتاد سال عمر کنن اما باز‌هم می‌شه شناخت‌شون. رازش توی چشم‌هاست.

[Masoome]

خیلی خیلی شیرین بود، و همونطور که از عنوانش پیداست راوی داستان یه دوست خیالیه :) یه دوست خیالی که یهو متوجه می‌شه واقعی نیست و تصمیم می‌گیره آزاد بشه.

برای بچه‌هایی که اعتماد به نفس پایینی دارن یا دوست خیالی‌ای دارن که خیلی براشون جدیه و توی زندگیشون نقش زیادی داره، بسیار مناسبه. برای آدم‌هایی که با بچه‌ها سر و کار دارن هم البته مناسبه.

[زهرا]

لطیف
زیبا
کاش می‌تونستم با دوستای کوچولوم تو اوسنه بخونمش.

[ดินสอ สีไม้]

อ่านสนุก ซาบซึ้ง และน่ารัก
เราเชื่อว่าถ้าเราได้อ่านเล่มนี้ตั้งแต่เด็ก
นี่จะเป็นหนึ่งในหนังสือรักของเราอย่างแน่นอน :)

[Patryx]

Immaginari o no, si è invisibili solo nella misura in cui si sente di esserlo.

La vita degli amici immaginari non è certo facile: nessuno li vede e il loro aspetto dipende dall'immaginazione di chi li ha evocati; anche il ruolo non è per nulla semplice dato che devono trovare il delicato equilibrio tra i loro bisogni e quelli dei bambini che li chiamano. E se ti trovi sotto una forma che non ti piace o se il tuo bambino è un matto che cerca di farti fuori? Niente paura perché c'è l'efficientissimo ufficio per la riassegnazione, sempre che si riesca a districarsi tra la burocrazia (purtroppo neanche il mondo immaginario ne è immune!)
Un libro apparentemente per bambini ma in realtà per tutti, anzi lo consiglio a tutti gli adulti che hanno voglia di commuoversi e di riflettere sull'importanza che ciascuno di noi può avere nella vita degli altri.

Ma che cosa c'è di speciale in me? mi sono chiesto. Presumo che non sia sempre possibile individuare queste cose in noi stessi. Forse perché da vicino è difficile vedere, come un fiore che si china a guardarsi e crede di essere soltanto uno stelo. Credo che la cosa sia avere fiducia in ciò che si è. Tu sei speciale. E le persone intorno a te lo colgono in molti più modi di quanto non potrai mai, mai, fare tu.

[Kaethe]

In the way that any sentimental book about childhood and becoming real (cf., Peter Pan, Pinocchio, The Velveteen Rabbit) is much more appealing to an adult audience than a young one, I wouldn't actually recommend this to any kids. I enjoyed it, and I really empathized with Jacques' dilemma. And of course the ending brings it all together in a meaningful way. But I think kids are going to read this and think Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends*, and wonder "why bother?"

*Feel free to substitute some other, less dated reference, that I don't get because I am already too old.

Library copy

[Fonfoniny]

คำสารภาพของเพื่อนในจินตนาการ

"เราไร้คนมองเห็นแค่เท่าที่ตัวเราเองรู้สึก ไม่ว่าเราจะเป็นจินตนาการหรือไม่ก็ตาม"

สุดยอดของวรรณกรรมเยาวชนจริงๆ ไม่คิดว่าจะน้ำตาซึมให้กับหนังสือบางเล่มนี้ สมแล้วที่ได้เป็น 1ใน10วรรณกรรมเยาวชนที่ดีที่สุดของปี 2015 ดีมากจริงๆๆ
วรรณกรรมไม่ได้ให้เฉพาะเด็กๆอ่านเท่านั้น ทุกเพศทุกวัยอ่านได้หมด เล่มนี้เล่าเกี่ยวกับเพื่อนในจินตนาการของเรา เล่าจากมุมมองของเพื่อนในจินตนาการเหล่านั้นที่เด็กๆสร้างขึ้นมา เพื่อนในจินตนาการเป็นคู่หู เป็นพี่น้อง เป็นผู้ช่วย เป็นทุกสิ่งอย่างของเด็กๆ เมื่อวันหนึ่งเด็กเหล่านั้นเติบโตขึ้น เพื่อนในจินตนาการก็จะจากไปหาเด็กๆคนใหม่

"ที่ฉันชอบหมา เพราะหมาไม่แคร์ว่าเราจะอยู่ไม่สุข หรือหน้าตาประหลาด หรือเป็นคนที่คูณเลขได้โง่ที่สุดในชั้นเรียน มันไม่แคร์ว่าเราจะทำชุดกระโปรงตัวเองเปื้อนโคลน ปล่อยมุกตลกไม่ได้เรื่อง หรือเป็นเด็กที่เพื่อนน้อยที่สุดในเกรดสาม ยังไงหมาก็จะรอให้เรากลับบ้านทุกวัน และจะดีอกดีใจเสมอที่เห็นเรา หมาดีๆคิดว่าเราเป็นคนที่ยอดเยี่ยมที่สุดในโลก หมาที่ยอดเยี่ยมที่สุด คือหมาที่ทำให้เรารู้สึกว่าตัวเราจะทำอะไรก็ได้ทั้งนั้น ฉันหมายความว่า ในโลกนี้จะมีกี่คนที่เชื่อมั่นในตัวเราอย่างนั้น ที่เห็นบางอย่างในตัวเรา และทำให้เรารู้สึกพิเศษน่ะ" บทที่สี่สิบสี่ หมาที่ยอดเยี่ยมที่สุด

[Jade Moore]

Opening line:

“Yes, world, I am writing my memoir, and I have titled the first chapter simply this: EVERYONE HATES JACQUES PAPIER.”

First of all, this book is for younger readers, and could also be suitable for a parent to read to their child. The chapters are short, and the book is filled with illustrations throughout. It’s an easy-going, fun, entertaining and touching story.

I read it for two main reasons:

I love stories about Imaginary friends
I’m currently working on my Creative Writing Dissertation in which my main character is fictional and real at the same time.
Let’s assume that we live in a world where imaginary friends are real. There are a few books about them (more on this later) and they must have come from somewhere. Children do have imaginary friends. Even I had one. She was a dog, and I had her because I wanted a real dog, and I wanted to prove that I could take care of one and be responsible enough. I even made one of those ‘invisible dog leads’ to make it seem like she was even more real. Obviously, I couldn’t see her, but in this book, and others that I have read, imaginary friends are seen by their human friends.

This book is told from the perspective of Jacques Papier, and he thinks that everyone hates him. This is because everyone ignores him, and he never seems to get noticed. This is because he is imaginary. But he doesn’t know that. He thinks he is Fleur’s brother, and that her parents are his parents.

Parents in these kind of stories don’t like thier children having imaginary friends. They think it is somehow unhealthy, whereas I’d argue that it is a good thing. Okay, it might mean that they feel lonely, but at least they have a creative mind. As far as I know, we don’t grow into adulthood still claiming to have an imaginary friend, but the magic of them is that the idea of them never really leaves us, and this is the lasting message of this story, and one that I think young children can really benefit from reading.

Jacques goes through quite a lot of anxiety, panic, and upset, but he is determined, and he learns a lot about himself and his identity, as well as learning vital life-lessons which help to set him free to continue living and to know that he has made a difference.

In the beginning, he thinks he’s hated.

In the end, he knows he is loved.

It’s a fun, entertaining and at times amusing story, and I think that both children and adults alike will enjoy this.

Favourite Quotes:

“Maybe we’re made of the same things as stars, and stars are made of the same stuff as us. Made from all the things that are lost, and all the things that don’t belong.”

“I suppose it had its comforts, not existing. Like being airy, drifting along, being able to go in and out of a place, unnoticed. Having no friends, and therefore nobody to ever lose.”

Other books about imaginary friends:

If You Could See Me Now by Cecelia Ahern

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend by Matthew Dicks

[Amy-Jo Conant]

Audio Book (speaker uses a heavy french accent for effect)
Lexile 700
Accelerated Reader 4.8

I picked this up purely by accident and couldn't have been happier. I read the cover very quickly and saw memoir. Since I am always on the hunt for new memoirs I grabbed it quickly. It turns out I was very wrong. This is a fictional book about an imaginary friend. This book is a nice break from the heavy books one usually finds this age group.

I love that the concept of this book is very different. I sometimes get tired of the same genres and plots. This story is pure fun, I am considering buying it and using it as a read aloud. Jacques is definitely a character who would lend well to a read aloud. He is full of life, ironic, but yes it's true. Jacques has an adult sense of humor that uses a large vocabulary and lots of wit with a touch of sarcasm.

My notes:
Words that describe this book: cute, funny, ironic, different

Who would like it: This book is a good fit for higher readers because it has many layers. Readers need to be able to understand real versus imaginary and it can get a little confusing at times. You can take this book at face value for fun or you can dig deeper. With some guidance, you can probably lead a fairly philosophical discussion about what it means to be "real".

I have to believe this book is a fairly high level, perhaps W. This guess is based on the vocabulary you can find in the book: odiferous, existential, unethical, invasive, metaphorical.

Some memorable moments that might give teachers pause but will likely not make a student blink.
One example is when Jacques go to Imaginary Anonymous. "Hi, I'm Jacques and I just found out I'm imaginary."

The scene where the little girl goes to the psychiatrist at her parents' request because of her overactive imagination is laugh out loud funny. Perhaps it's my adult perspective at such a preposterous event. "Sure, your imaginary friend's imaginary friend can come in." Where does it stop!

Another funny scene is when Jacques calls the imagination office of reassignment. He listens to the phone prompts. Press 1 if you have been imagines as a trademark character and are worried about legal action. Press 2 if you have been imagined as food and are about to be eaten. If you don't laugh out loud at this stuff then I'm not sure what to think.

Enjoy!




Jacques is an imaginary friend but he acts and sounds quite real. His character is funny, witty and has a sarcastic sense of humor.

[Addisyn W]

This book was so different then any book I have ever read. It’s a memoir but in the perspective of an imaginary friend. I loved this book because it’s about an Jacques Papier who finds out he’s an imaginary friend. This book would be perfect for 5th graders and up. If you liked this book you would like the book Beyond the Laughing Sky. This book is about an imaginary friend who find out he’s not real and that the girl’s (the girl is the one with the imaginary friend) parents don’t like how she has an imaginary friend. Will she give up him? Read this book to find out.

[Javad]

این کتاب موضوع بسیار خاص و جذابی داره
داستان در مورد شخصیت نوجوانی به نام ژاک پاپیه هست که احساس میکنه هیچ کس حتی پدر و مادرش اونو دوست ندارند و فقط خواهر دوقلوش هست که به حرف هاش توجه میکنه و بهش علاقه داره.
ژاک پاپیه کم کم متوجه میشه که اصلا یه بچه واقعی نیست و در واقع دوست خیالی خواهرشه و اینجاست که با بحران هویت مواجه میشه و شروع میکنه به فکر کردن در مورد وجود خودش و معنای واقعی و دلیل وجود داشتن و ...
با این که کتاب برای مخاطب نوجوان نوشته شده ولی نکات و جزئیات فلسفی و روان شناسی زیادی در داستان هست که خوندنش رو برای مخاطب بزرگسال هم جذاب میکنه.
از خوندنش خیلی لذت بردم :)

[Meli]

Lindo libro. Muy middle grade y no del todo original, pero tierno y emotivo.