Imaginalis [Hardcover]

I truly loved this book. I just finished it and can't seem to wipe the smile off my face. This is the story of Mehara, a 12 year old 7th grader who is in love with a series of books based in a land called Imaginalis. Much to the chagrin of her father and all her friends, she continues to be wrapped up in this book series even at the ripe old age of 12. Her friends and father tell her it's time to grow up, but Mehera persists in her devotion, eagerly awaiting the release of the latest book in the series. She is devasted to learn that publication of the next book has been cancelled and wonders what this means for the characters that she considers her friends. After receiving some mysterious computer messages, and deciding that just for once she is going to believe in the unbelievable, she actually finds out that the stories she has been reading are real, and that the real land of Imaginalis is in terrible jeopardy and it is up to her and the book's author to save it. The ensuing action adventure is non-stop fun and a testament to great storytelling and the utter power of story itself.

The writing is seamless and the book moves along at a fast pace that will surely keep readers glued to the page. I was concerned when I read the Booklist review that mentioned the Buddhist philosophy. I thought that perhaps the author might overburden his tale with things that would pass by the average fifth grader. Fortunately, that is not the case. The philosophical elements are expertly integrated into the story and add to the general feel good message that is truly inspirational. I found the book to be very uplifting in its message of compassion over violence, equal treatment for all, and the power of imagination and belief to truly conquer all. All of this was achieved without sacrificing the non-stop action and the wonder to be found in this story.

The character of Mehara is fantastic. The author did an incredible job in capturing a young girl just on the edge of growing up. Any avid reader of fantasy novels will see themselves in this girl. Adults and children alike will remember the despair they felt when they got to the end of that fantasy series that they had been consumed with, only to be left wondering What Now? Just like Mehara says in the book, nobody understands. Except maybe now they do.

This is a solid recommend to any avid fantasy reader you know - especially grades 5 to 8. I guarantee they will bond with this story and these characters instantly. The writing is superb, and I look forward to this author's next foray into children's fiction. I'm still smiling!

If you're a fan of children's fantasy written in the vein of C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling, you might want to give J.M. DeMatteis' Imaginalis a look.

Here's why I think it works:

1) The Concept. I'll admit I'm not especially familiar with the young adult market these days, but Imaginalis strikes me as pretty unique at the conceptual level. It's the story of Mehera Crosby, a young girl crushed when her favorite fantasy series is canceled midstream. She is so distressed, in fact, that it begins to strain her personal relationships. Her cynical best friend and doting father both think it's time for her to move on, but she just can't. She even goes so far as to tell her father that the Imaginalians and their world are as real as he is. Of course when that turns out to be truer than even Mehera suspected, things get interesting.

The Imaginalians are trapped in limbo, fading into shadow and out of existence forever. Mehera's faith in their universe is their last, desperate hope for salvation, because she's the only one with her foot in both worlds. Well, there is one other, but I don't want to say too much here. Suffice to say this is a concept that has broad literary, philosophical, and spiritual applications.

But more than that, it makes for interesting reading.

2)The Characters. I like Mehera. When you're writing a story about a girl who can't let go of fictional worlds, you definitely run the risk she'll come across like a self-absorbed snot (even if she is right). In DeMatteis' sensitive hands, though, her biggest flaw is also her saving grace. Mehera is a delightfully self-aware girl who knows the risk she's running. What that amounts to is this: when Mehera struggles to balance her faith in IMAGINALIS with her personal relationships, you'll root for her to make it work.

The other characters are engaging, too, from Mehera's inner circle to the Imaginalians. DeMatteis injects their backstories with elegant details, like when we discover that Celeste is the product of a union between an atheist and an interfaith minister. "I just can't figure out how that works," Mehera muses. Though it's never picked up again, it's an interesting detail that lends itself well to a recurring theme in the book: How do you make an 'impossible' relationship work?

That question manifests in a multitude of 'impossible' relationships: the cynic and the enthusiast, the fan and the recluse, the real and the imagined. It all comes down to the idea that the 'small' conflicts are every bit as important as the larger ones, and the choice is always ours what to make of them.

3)The Poetry. It's been said before, but DeMatteis' musical training lends itself to a rhythmic kind of prose-poetry. But it's the type of poetry that isn't afraid to let the characters speak in alternating high and low tides. Mehera can praise a stirring line from the books, "into the hope of night," or compare the villain Prayala's true form to an overflowing toilet. The result is something sometimes beautiful and always authentic.

I highly recommend Imaginalis, a fun read with a message of faith, hope and love.

The book was awesome! It was one of those books where the story is the one that you want to happen to yourself. Mehera was an amazing character and she inspired me to dream big no matter how impossible or ridiculous it seems. This book is one that mixes fantasy with the truth that no matter how far you are into life, something can always change.

Note: My 10 year old daughter Zoe wrote the above but could not publish it under her name...