Losing Arthur by Paul A. Mendelson is an excellent and exciting read – either for independent readers or for those who love to be read to.
Zack Farmer is quirky and imaginative but is bullied at his school in Hackney, London. He has only one true friend in the world: Arthur. The trouble is, only Zack can see him, and one day Zack's mum gets fed up, grabs Arthur, stuffs the handful of what she thinks is thin air into a box and posts it to Zack's long-departed and vanished Scottish father, Stuart.
In Cape Fury, Scotland, a farmer called Stuart opens the mysterious box. It contains something only his eight-year old girl, Kirstie can see: a befuddled, odd-looking little creature. A shiny green chap with an extra eye in the back of his head. A streetwise, Cockney "lad", calling himself Arthur. But there s one big problem – Arthur, so far from home and Zack, is fading fast.
Quick-thinking Arthur has left a valuable part of himself behind in London. A tiny, green disc – a clue to save his life. So now loner Zack, usually so timid, has to set off on a perilous journey to rescue his imaginary friend before he fades away forever. But there s one massive problem. Someone or something out there is trying to stop Zack...
For me, the best children's and YA literature is equally enjoyed and appreciated by adults and Paul A. Mendelson has certainly ticked all the boxes with this beautifully written and enthralling adventure of an imaginary friend.
PWT rating: ♥♥♥♥♥
Losing Arthur