A Review of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend was written by Matthew Dicks, and it is one of the most heartwrenching novels you will ever read.

Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend features an imaginary friend named Budo, and his friend Max. Max is 8 and created Budo 5 years before. That makes Budo one of the oldest imaginary friends he has ever heard of, which has to do with the fact that Max is not a normal child. Max’s teachers think that he has a mild form of Asperger’s syndrome, which impacts his ability to socialize with other people. Budo is Max’s only friend, and goes with him everywhere he goes. Budo plays with Max, watches helplessly as he is terrorized by a bully named Tommy Swindon, and knows more about Max than anyone else- even Max’s parents.

Even though he is an important part of Max’s life, Budo knows that one day his friend will stop believing in him and he will die. Budo worries about the day that Max begins to grow up and leaves him behind.

However, one of Max’s teachers thinks that Max should be her son and abducts him from the school. Budo searches for Max frantically, knowing that if he doesn’t save his friend his days are numbered as well. The days that follow are full of Budo’s reflections of what he is and what will happen to him when he dies.

This book is a beautiful throwback to a simpler time, when we could create a friend when we needed them the most. Budo’s love for Max and his sacrifices in order to find and save him speak to something deep within us all, showing that unconditional love can save anyone. If you have a heart, you won’t regret reading this novel.