Ask the children to imagine they are playing in a den with a real or imaginary friend. Reread the description of them playing in the den, on p17-18. What do the children think about how Amanda is portrayed here? Why do they think Amanda treats Rudger in this way? Dens and destinationsĪmanda and Rudger enjoy playing in the den at the end of the garden, pretending it is all kinds of different places. Look at the way Amanda treats Rudger after Mr Bunting tries to snatch him during the game of hide and seek. Why do you think Amanda denies treading mud into the carpet? What might this say about her as a character?.That much was clear.” What does it make you think about Amanda when you hear her thoughts about herself? What can you tell about Amanda from the way she behaves here, and the actions she takes to deal with her laces?.Reread the description of Amanda dealing with her knotted laces (p5-8). Even though the story appears to be told from Rudger’s perspective, it’s she who is the central character and the most fully developed. Who do the children think Rudger is, and why is he slipping away? What could the ‘Imaginary’ of the title be? AmandaĪmanda is a complex character. Now read the introduction of the book to the class. What do the children think Rossetti means by ‘the silent land’? Why would Rossetti say that it is better to ‘forget and smile’ than to ‘remember and be sad’? Share this poem with your children and encourage them to draw out some of its meaning. The book starts with ‘Remember’ by Christina Rossetti – a poem about loss and memory. Emily Gravett’s powerful and disturbing illustrations offer the perfect companion to AF Harrold’s story. The Imaginary deals with complex themes around imagination, memory and loss, through a gripping and fast-paced story that will keep your children enthralled. Rudger knows that Amanda won’t imagine him forever, but he knows that he will live on in her memory when he has gone. But Rudger doesn’t belong to just any old child he wants to find his way back to Amanda.Īfter a series of adventures, Amanda and Rudger are finally reunited and, with the help of Amanda’s mum, they manage to destroy Mr Bunting. Luckily, a cat called Zinzan helps him find his way to The Agency – the library where imaginary characters can wait for a child to bring them into being. When Amanda is knocked down by a car, and whisked off to hospital unconscious, Rudger finds himself fading. Mr Bunting needs to feast on imaginaries to keep himself alive, and he plans to eat Rudger if he can possibly catch him… Things start to go wrong for them when the evil Mr Bunting and his imaginary accomplice find them.
The Imaginary tells the story of Amanda and her imaginary friend Rudger.
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