The Imaginary (novel)

The Imaginary is a 2014 British children's novel written by A. F. Harrold and illustrated by Emily Gravett. It is about a small girl, Amanda, and her imaginary friend, Rudger. An anime film adaptation by Studio Ponoc has been announced. Initially set for a Q3 2022 release,^[1][2] it was later delayed to 15 December 2023 due to production issues.^[3][4]

The Imaginary

First edition (UK)
Author	A. F. Harrold
Illustrator	Emily Gravett
Cover artist	Emily Gravett
Language	English
Genre	Children's novel
Published	October 2014 (Bloomsbury)
Publication place	England
Media type	Print (hardback)
Pages	220
ISBN	9781408852460
OCLC	887936791

Reception

A review in the Booklist of The Imaginary wrote "Though not quite as innovative as it might be, this is nevertheless a winningly whimsical celebration of the imagination, beautifully enhanced by both black-and-white and full-color illustrations by Kate Greenaway Medal-winning Gravett."^[5] and, in a starred review, Kirkus Reviews found it "Wonderfully entertaining."^[6]

The Imaginary has also been reviewed by The New York Times,^[7] the School Library Journal,^[8] The Horn Book Magazine,^[9] Publishers Weekly,^[10] Library Media Connection,^[11] Common Sense Media,^[12] Reading Time,^[13] The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,^[14] the Financial Times,^[15] and The Guardian (child review).^[16]

It was nominated for the 2016 Carnegie Medal,^[17] the 2016 Kate Greenaway Medal,^[18] and won the 2015 British Book Design and Production Awards Children's Trade Book Award,^[19] and the 2015 British Book Design and Production Awards Book of the Year Award.^[19]

References

1. "Studio Ponoc Unveils The Imaginary Anime Film Based on A.F. Harrold's Novel". Anime News Network. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 8 December 2021.
2. "Studio Ponoc's The Imaginary Film Delayed From Summer Release". Anime News Network. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
3. "Studio Ponoc's The Imaginary Film Opens in Winter 2023". Anime News Network. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 December 2022.
4. "Studio Ponoc's The Imaginary Film Opens in Japan on December 15". Anime News Network. 14 July 2023. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
5. "The Imaginary". Booklist. American Library Association. 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
6. "The Imaginary". Kirkus Reviews. Kirkus Media LLC. 10 January 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
7. Renee Dale (29 May 2015). "Children's Books: 'Moone Boy: The Blunder Years' and 'The Imaginary'". The New York Times. Retrieved 9 October 2019. For all its flirtations with danger, "The Imaginary" is most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships..
8. "The Imaginary". School Library Journal. Media Source Inc. Retrieved 9 October 2019. The premise of the Imaginaries is unveiled nicely .. Gravett's illustrations provide excellent support for the story..
9. "The Imaginary". Horn Book Guides. Media Source Inc. Retrieved 9 October 2019. Harrold turns a gimmicky premise into a nuanced exploration of the relationship between imagination and memory..
10. "The Imaginary". Publishers Weekly. PWxyz LLC. 19 January 2015. Retrieved 9 October 2019. Part horror story, part gentle parable, Harrold's story moves along at a steady clip, thanks to some very tense sequences and Gravett's typically polished illustrations, which feature spikes of lurid color and haunting imagery.
11. "The Imaginary". Library Media Connection. Linworth Publications. 2010. Retrieved 9 October 2019. Harold [sic] and Gravett, British author and illustrator, tell a charming story through descriptive language and vivid artwork.
12. Kate Pavao. "The Imaginary". www.commonsensemedia.org. Common Sense Media Inc. Retrieved 9 October 2019. This is truly a one-of-a-kind adventure that will captivate kids -- and remind parents of the importance of free time for imaginative play.
13. Liz Derouet (2 February 2016). "The Imaginary". Reading Time. Children's Book Council of Australia. Retrieved 9 October 2019. This book is a perfect package, with Gravett's illustrations and Harrold's rich language. Highly recommended.
14. April Spisak (July 2015). "Harrold, A. F. The Imaginary". The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books. 68 (11). Johns Hopkins University Press: 547. doi:10.1353/bcc.2015.0546. S2CID 141904317. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
15. James Lovegrove (8 November 2014). "Books: 'The Imaginary', by AF Harrold". Financial Times. Retrieved 9 October 2019. By turns scary and funny, touching without being sentimental, and beautifully illustrated by Emily Gravett, The Imaginary is a delight from start to finish.
16. "Children's Books: The Imaginary by A. F. Harrold and Emily Gravett – review". The Guardian. 19 January 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2019. When reading Imaginary, I found it was scary at parts but the story shows a real friendship between a girl and her imagination.
17. "Carnegie medal 2016 longlist - in pictures". The Guardian. 16 February 2016. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
18. Michelle Pauli (16 February 2016). "Kate Greenaway Medal 2016 longlist - in pictures". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
19. "2015 Winners, The 2015 British Book Design and Production Awards Shortlist". britishbookawards2015.co.uk. British Book Design & Production Awards. Retrieved 9 October 2019.

External links

• Children's literature portal

Library holdings of The Imaginary