Imaginalis

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