Invisible Inkling: Dangerous Pumpkins by Emily Jenkins and Henry Bliss is a cute, fun read about a fourth grade boy with an invisible friend. Unlike the typical invisible friendship, however, Hank's companion is a bandapat, a strange creature that hails from the redwood forests of Cameroon. (No, really, they exist!) Bandapats like Inkling--I have an inkling, get it? This joke is likely lost on the target audience, but no matter--needs a particular food for sustenance. One that is in abundance around Halloween, but that often serves as decoration and artwork. What happens to Hank when his furry friend starts in on all of the gorgeous jack o' laterns in the neighborhood?
Hank's situation is pretty unusual, but Jenkins does a great job of not making the fantastic seem too ridiculous. Amidst all the drama with Inkling, Hank is just a regular fourth grade boy trying to handle life's complications--fights with friends, a bossy older sister, parents who don't seem to understand him, if they pay attention at all. A lot of Hank's narration is quite funny (his teacher has "complicated hair" and is "not [his] favorite person"), but he's also sincere without being too mature. Kids will identify with Hank's reliance on his invisible pal, even when he's stirring up trouble that Hank has to deal with himself.
This is the first book in a series, and so far, Hank has not revealed Inkling's existence to anyone. Fantasy frequently involves a confidant or two that accepts the truth of the situation without question. Stay tuned to find out whether Hank lets people in on his secret.
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