Matthew Dicks – författare

A heartwarming tale of an extraordinary friendship that transcends the boundaries of realityBudo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He''s been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age, and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.Max is different from other children. Some people say that he has Asperger''s Syndrome, but most just say he''s "on the spectrum." None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can''t protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, the woman who works with Max in the Learning Center and who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable and kidnaps Max, it is up to Budo and a team of imaginary friends to save him—and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max''s happiness or Budo''s very existence.Narrated by Budo, a character with a unique ability to have a foot in many worlds—imaginary, real, child, and adult— Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming . . . and heartbreaking conclusion. This thought-provoking novel sheds light on the struggles of growing up with autism, highlighting the power of imagination and the unbreakable bonds of friendship.

I am not imaginary...Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He's been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.Max is different from other children. Some people say he has Asperger's, but most just say he's "on the spectrum." None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max unconditionally and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can't protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, a teacher in the Learning Center who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable, it is up to Budo and a team of imaginary friends to save Max—and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max's happiness or his own existence. Matthew Dicks' Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend is a triumph of courage and imagination that touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming . . . and heartbreaking conclusion.

From Matthew Dicks, the beloved author of Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend, comes The Other Mother, a novel about a teenage boy coping with the rupture of his family by viewing his mother in an unusual light. The one he loves most, is the one he knows least.Thirteen-year-old Michael Parsons is dealing with a lot. His father''s sudden death; his mother''s new husband, Glen, who he loathes; his two younger siblings, who he looks after more and more now that his mother works extra shifts.And then one day, Michael wakes up and his mother is gone. In her place is an exact, duplicate mother. The ''other mother''. No one else seems to notice the real version is missing. His brother, his sister, and even Glen act as if everything''s normal. But Michael knows in his heart that this mother is not his. And he begins to panic.What follows is a big-hearted coming-of-age story of a boy struggling with an unusual disorder that poses unparalleled challenges—but also, as he discovers, offers him unique opportunities.

DEAR MR. HENSHAW meets DEAD END IN NORVELT in this sharply humorous and nostalgic epistolary middle grade debut from Matthew Dicks, about navigating life's challenges and finding your place in the world.Eleven-year-old Jack Mandeville's life is complicated. Between dealing with his parents' divorce and new (annoying) stepdad, and looking after his siblings, a lot's been changing as he heads into a new school year.When Jack gets a school assignment to send letters to an astronaut, he realizes that he's writing to someone who's not weighed down by the same kind of earthly troubles. But as the year goes on and he keeps writing the letters, he discovers that perhaps 'complicated' isn't such a bad thing. Maybe, it's what makes us all human.Beloved Moth storyteller Matthew Dicks makes his middle grade debut with this funny and heartfelt epistolary novel following a spectacular year in the life of an eleven-year-old growing up in the 1980s.

Imaginary friend Budo narrates this heartwarming story of love, loyalty, and the power of the imagination—the perfect read for anyone who has ever had a friend . . . real or otherwise.Budo is lucky as imaginary friends go. He''s been alive for more than five years, which is positively ancient in the world of imaginary friends. But Budo feels his age, and thinks constantly of the day when eight-year-old Max Delaney will stop believing in him. When that happens, Budo will disappear.Max is different from other children. Some people say that he has Asperger''s Syndrome, but most just say he''s "on the spectrum." None of this matters to Budo, who loves Max and is charged with protecting him from the class bully, from awkward situations in the cafeteria, and even in the bathroom stalls. But he can''t protect Max from Mrs. Patterson, the woman who works with Max in the Learning Center and who believes that she alone is qualified to care for this young boy.When Mrs. Patterson does the unthinkable and kidnaps Max, it is up to Budo and a team of imaginary friends to save him—and Budo must ultimately decide which is more important: Max''s happiness or Budo''s very existence. Narrated by Budo, a character with a unique ability to have a foot in many worlds—imaginary, real, child, and adult— Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend touches on the truths of life, love, and friendship as it races to a heartwarming . . . and heartbreaking conclusion.