Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend

Budo is Max’s imaginary friend. He’s always there to lend a supportive ear when Max is feeling down or protect him when he’s feeling spooked. But unlike most imaginary friends, Budo hasn’t disappeared because Max—who is different from other children—has never stopped believing in him. And luckily for Max, Budo—and a cadre of other imaginary friends—are there to save him when the young boy is kidnapped. Sadly, this audio edition of Dicks’s memorable novel falls flat. Narrator Matthew Brown delivers an uninspired performance: his pacing is slow and his tone overly childish—at times he sounds as if he’s reading to a kindergarten class. As such, the story loses some of its intensity in favor of a stubborn cuteness that many listeners may find off-putting. A St. Martin’s hardcover. (Aug.)