Confessions of an Imaginary Friend: A Memoir by Jacques Papier

Gr 3–6—Jacques Papier is going through an existential crisis: nobody seems to acknowledge his presence, not even his own parents, and he begins to doubt that anyone can even see him. The exception is his twin sister, Fleur, his constant companion and advocate. While brooding over his predicament at the park one afternoon, Jacques learns the startling truth: he is Fleur's imaginary friend, not her brother. Reeling from the discovery, Jacques sets out on a journey to find himself and determine what exactly it means to be real. This beautifully written, whimsical story contains enough humor to keep the tone light, despite some very heavy themes of identity and the nature of existence and reality. Fortunately, Jacques is an endearing, charming protagonist who, while not "real" in the sense of the story, feels incredibly real to the audience. Much of this can be attributed to narrator Michael Goldstrom, who brings Jacques's colorful personality to life with his zippy narration and lilting French accent.