Imaginalis

November 1, 2010

Gr 4-7-Mehera, an avid fan of the "Imaginalis" books, is anxiously awaiting the next installment. Devastated when she finally learns that the novel has been canceled, she tries to contact the author, to no avail. When she begins to receive strange messages and is eventually transported to Nolandia, the 12-year-old discovers that her long-held belief that Imaginalis is real is, in fact, true. The denizens of this world-including the seer Prognostica, valiant Prince Imagos, and the wise, Ganesh-esque Lord Nossyss-will cease to exist unless she can find the author and convince her to write the rest of the story. Fighting against the youngster and her companions is the villainous Pralaya, who seeks to become a resident of Earth and destroy it as he has long sought to destroy Imaginalis. The underpinnings of DeMatteis's novel are reminiscent of "The Chronicles of Narnia" with its religious parallels (in this case, Hinduism), humans who are responsible for the fate of an imaginary world, and powerful leader who is willing to sacrifice all for the good of his people. Some parts of the plot seem underdeveloped, and Mehera herself is not a particularly engaging character. However, the premise is intriguing and will delight readers who imagine themselves in the pages of their favorite books.-Karen E. Brooks-Reese, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, PA

Copyright 2010 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

May 15, 2010
Grades 5-8 The author of the Oz-tinted Abadazad series creates another alternate worldthis one with Indian/Buddhist/Hindu overtonesthat supposedly exists only in a series of books but turns out to be real. Having been a rabid fan of the Imaginalis books for years, preteen Mehera is devastated to learn that the final volume has been canceled. Then she starts getting strange text messages and experiences a sort of perfect storm of belief and desire that carries her away to interdimensional Nolandia, where the Imaginalians are suspended and about to fade away in the wake of their worlds destruction unless Mehera can build a mystical bridge to a new home. To accomplish this, she must vanquish the villain Pralaya, the embodiment of entropy, and work through some personal issues. In an odd climax, she persuades the books embittered author to join her in a typewriter duet. This wordy but fluently written metafiction features two slam-bang opening scenes and enough action to keep the philosophical underpinnings in their place.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2010, American Library Association.)