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My Best Friend and Other Illusions
What if your imaginary friend from childhood suddenly reappeared . . . only this time he's no figment of your imagination.
Charlie, a budding acrobat, is desperate to attend a gymnastics camp that will qualify her for a spot in the renowned travelling circus Circo Circo. But her mom can barely make ends meet and Charlie knows she must find a way to earn the money on her own.
The solution seems to come when the perfect gymnastics partner mysteriously appears and they can put on shows. There’s just one small thing though . . . this perfect partner is someone Charlie knows well. He’s Rudy, her imaginary childhood friend ― only this time he’s real. The problem with imaginary friends is that they know things about you . . . things that can jeopardize not only Charlie’s acrobatic dreams, but also threaten to tear her family even farther apart.
This truthful and often funny story is a moving exploration of how to reconcile memory, family, forgiveness and the search for belonging.
Charlie, a budding acrobat, is desperate to attend a gymnastics camp that will qualify her for a spot in the renowned travelling circus Circo Circo. But her mom can barely make ends meet and Charlie knows she must find a way to earn the money on her own.
The solution seems to come when the perfect gymnastics partner mysteriously appears and they can put on shows. There’s just one small thing though . . . this perfect partner is someone Charlie knows well. He’s Rudy, her imaginary childhood friend ― only this time he’s real. The problem with imaginary friends is that they know things about you . . . things that can jeopardize not only Charlie’s acrobatic dreams, but also threaten to tear her family even farther apart.
This truthful and often funny story is a moving exploration of how to reconcile memory, family, forgiveness and the search for belonging.
240 pages, Paperback
Published February 4, 2020
2 people are currently reading
25 people want to read
About the author
Suri Rosen
3 books12 followersSuri Rosen dabbles in many arts but excels in daydreaming. She's a freelance feature writer who has worked as an artist, filmmaker, journalist, and TV producer. She lives in Toronto...ish.
She's the author of My Best Friend & Other Illusions, (Scholastic Canada, 2020), Night Magick (Amazon Audible Original, 2020) and Playing with Matches. (ECW, 2014) More info at https://surirosen.com/
She's the author of My Best Friend & Other Illusions, (Scholastic Canada, 2020), Night Magick (Amazon Audible Original, 2020) and Playing with Matches. (ECW, 2014) More info at https://surirosen.com/
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
February 6, 2020
Suri Rosen’s MY BEST FRIEND AND OTHER ILLUSIONS is a fabulous middle grade novel about friendship, loss, growth, and renewal. Like all great books written for children, it will be enjoyed and treasured by adults as well. Like her previous novel PLAYING WITH MATCHES, the writing in this book is superb. At the same time as being sharp and witty, it is also deeply moving and emotionally rewarding. I highly recommend it for readers of all ages!
February 5, 2021
The premise of this novel is original and clever: A childhood imaginary friend shows up in flesh-and-blood form and embarrasses a teen. The writing is good: A house is described as "pure ghost bait." "His eyes were two black pools of terror." "Miles scared me sometimes, not that I blamed him. He was essentially a fully formed adult, trapped in the body of an eleven-year-old."
Apart from the writing, however, it takes a lot of suspension of disbelief to stay with the plot. There's also some minor stretched logic: If the protagonist doesn't win a money prize for something, her brother will inevitably do something illegal to earn the money -- and nowhere is his problem dealt with. An old babysitter who has moved to the other side of the world conveniently shows up on the internet and helps them out. Then there's the over-coincidental appearance of grandparents at the end. The mother is so stressed and inflexible she verges on unbelievable. Worse, the goal for which the protagonist is desperately striving the entire novel, she suddenly shrugs off in one paragraph near the end, hardly any buildup or explanation for it. As character arcs go, this one fumbled in that paragraph.
Despite all that, the novel is a lively, refreshing read, and anyone able to shrug off the coincidences and enjoy the pure fun of the premise, will like it.
Apart from the writing, however, it takes a lot of suspension of disbelief to stay with the plot. There's also some minor stretched logic: If the protagonist doesn't win a money prize for something, her brother will inevitably do something illegal to earn the money -- and nowhere is his problem dealt with. An old babysitter who has moved to the other side of the world conveniently shows up on the internet and helps them out. Then there's the over-coincidental appearance of grandparents at the end. The mother is so stressed and inflexible she verges on unbelievable. Worse, the goal for which the protagonist is desperately striving the entire novel, she suddenly shrugs off in one paragraph near the end, hardly any buildup or explanation for it. As character arcs go, this one fumbled in that paragraph.
Despite all that, the novel is a lively, refreshing read, and anyone able to shrug off the coincidences and enjoy the pure fun of the premise, will like it.
February 17, 2020
I loved this book! It made me laugh and cry and feel and think.
I really like Charlie. I like that she has a really strong clear dream and moves towards it no matter what.
I like that her little brother is her voice of reason in the catalyst for so much for her- growth, grief, antics and more. Miles rocks.
I was so happy for Charlie when she found her wholeness, her okayness, and found she could let go of her "dream" because she had achieved her dream.
And the bits throughout that were so relatable, because aren't we all just like that (even if we're nothing like that), and other bits that were just plain fun.
Loved it all! Looking forward to the next one!
I really like Charlie. I like that she has a really strong clear dream and moves towards it no matter what.
I like that her little brother is her voice of reason in the catalyst for so much for her- growth, grief, antics and more. Miles rocks.
I was so happy for Charlie when she found her wholeness, her okayness, and found she could let go of her "dream" because she had achieved her dream.
And the bits throughout that were so relatable, because aren't we all just like that (even if we're nothing like that), and other bits that were just plain fun.
Loved it all! Looking forward to the next one!
July 14, 2020
I really enjoyed this book! It has a wonderful fast paced energy and is delightful, charming, and thoroughly entertaining. It is a romp of oh-so-much fun while at the same a journey to a deep place of heartfelt healing. Both whimsical and deeply touching, the author expertly takes us to the world of imagination and magic (with a lot of humour!) while at the same time navigating the realities of life, all with touching poignancy. It’s a book about friends, families, fantasies, fun and renewal. Highly recommend!
June 12, 2020
This book is a must read for anyone in middle grade with an imagination. It is fast paced and endearing; with just enough magic thrown in to keep the reader wondering what on earth will happen next! For all those who have fantasy friends - including those who used to have them - this is a story of the impossible actually feeling possible, complete with the angst and the triumph that goes with having such an extraordinary relationship.
March 15, 2020
A beautiful MG story about how a little girl comes to terms with loneliness, loss, and the magic that helps her get there. Rosen writes an incredibly gripping and deep story that children (and adult readers) will definitely enjoy. Strongly recommend for you children ages 6 to 12.
February 9, 2020
A delightful, witty and gripping book. A must read! I highly recommend.
April 29, 2021
This novel had an incredibly inventive premise. I loved it.
April 2, 2023
This is the cutest, sweetest book I've read in a while! I love the premise and the characters and the writing. It was entertaining and an easy read.
May 27, 2020
Rosen's writing is crisp and her characters are delightful. This heartwarming story is sure to engage middle grade readers. Highly recommended!
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews