The Imaginary (novel)

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."{{cite magazine|title=The Imaginary |url=https://kcls.bibliocommons.com/item/show/1455409082 |magazine=Booklist |publisher=American Library Association|year=2015 |accessdate=9 October 2019}} and, in a starred review, Kirkus Reviews found it "Wonderfully entertaining."{{cite web |url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/f-harrold/the-imaginary/ |title=The Imaginary |date=10 January 2015 |website=Kirkus Reviews |publisher=Kirkus Media LLC |accessdate=9 October 2019}}

The Imaginary has also been reviewed by The New York Times,{{cite news |author=Renee Dale |date=29 May 2015 |title=Children's Books: 'Moone Boy: The Blunder Years' and 'The Imaginary' |quote=For all its flirtations with danger, “The Imaginary” is most affecting and lovely when describing powerful relationships.. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/31/books/review/moone-boy-the-blunder-years-and-the-imaginary.html |newspaper=The New York Times |access-date=9 October 2019}} the School Library Journal,{{cite magazine|title=The Imaginary |quote=The premise of the Imaginaries is unveiled nicely .. Gravett's illustrations provide excellent support for the story.. |url=https://catalog.wccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.6&pos=1 |magazine=School Library Journal |publisher=Media Source Inc. |accessdate=9 October 2019}} The Horn Book Magazine,{{cite magazine|title=The Imaginary |quote=Harrold turns a gimmicky premise into a nuanced exploration of the relationship between imagination and memory.. |url=https://catalog.wccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.6&pos=1 |magazine=Horn Book Guides |publisher=Media Source Inc. |accessdate=9 October 2019}} Publishers Weekly,{{cite web |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/978-0-8027-3811-0 |title=The Imaginary |quote=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. |date=19 January 2015 |website=Publishers Weekly |publisher=PWxyz LLC|accessdate=9 October 2019}} Library Media Connection,{{cite magazine|title=The Imaginary |quote=Harold [sic] and Gravett, British author and illustrator, tell a charming story through descriptive language and vivid artwork. |url=https://catalog.wccls.org/polaris/search/title.aspx?ctx=1.1033.0.0.6&pos=1 |magazine=Library Media Connection |publisher=Linworth Publications |year=2010 |accessdate=9 October 2019}} Common Sense Media,{{cite web |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-imaginary |title=The Imaginary |author=Kate Pavao |quote=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. |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |publisher=Common Sense Media Inc |accessdate=9 October 2019}} Reading Time,{{cite journal |date=2 February 2016 |title=The Imaginary |url=http://readingtime.com.au/the-imaginary/ |author=Liz Derouet |quote=This book is a perfect package, with Gravett’s illustrations and Harrold’s rich language. Highly recommended. |journal=Reading Time |publisher=Children's Book Council of Australia |accessdate=9 October 2019}} The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books,{{cite journal |date=July 2015 |title=Harrold, A. F. The Imaginary |author=April Spisak |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/584690/pdf |journal=The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books |publisher=Johns Hopkins University Press |volume=68 |issue=11 |page=547 |doi=10.1353/bcc.2015.0546 |s2cid=141904317 |accessdate=9 October 2019}} the Financial Times,{{cite news |date=8 November 2014 |title=Books: 'The Imaginary', by AF Harrold |author=James Lovegrove |quote=By turns scary and funny, touching without being sentimental, and beautifully illustrated by Emily Gravett, The Imaginary is a delight from start to finish.|url=https://www.ft.com/content/b55fc92c-6356-11e4-9a79-00144feabdc0 |newspaper=Financial Times |accessdate=9 October 2019}} and The Guardian (child review).{{cite news |date=19 January 2016 |title=Children's Books: The Imaginary by A. F. Harrold and Emily Gravett – review |quote=When reading Imaginary, I found it was scary at parts but the story shows a real friendship between a girl and her imagination. |url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/2016/jan/19/the-imaginary-a-f-harrold-emily-gravett-review |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=9 October 2019}}

It was nominated for the 2016 Carnegie Medal,{{cite news |date=16 February 2016 |title=Carnegie medal 2016 longlist - in pictures |url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2016/feb/16/carnegie-medal-2016-longlist-in-pictures |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=9 October 2019}} the 2016 Kate Greenaway Medal,{{cite news |date=16 February 2016 |title=Kate Greenaway Medal 2016 longlist - in pictures |author=Michelle Pauli|url=https://www.theguardian.com/childrens-books-site/gallery/2016/feb/16/kate-greenaway-medal-longlist-2016-in-pictures |newspaper=The Guardian |accessdate=9 October 2019}} and won the 2015 British Book Design and Production Awards Children's Trade Book Award, and the 2015 British Book Design and Production Awards Book of the Year Award.{{cite web |url=http://www.britishbookawards2015.co.uk/shortlist-winners-2015/ |title=2015 Winners, The 2015 British Book Design and Production Awards Shortlist |website=britishbookawards2015.co.uk |publisher=British Book Design & Production Awards |accessdate=9 October 2019}}

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{{Portal|Children's literature}}

:[https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/887936791 Library holdings of The Imaginary]

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Category:2014 British novels

Category:British children's novels

Category:Bloomsbury Publishing books