Book Review: "Imaginary Enemy" by Julie Gonzalez

"Imaginary Enemy" by Julie Gonzalez is published by Delacorte Press, an imprint of Random House Children's Books in New York in 2008. The hardback version has 241 pages.

As I looked through the new books at the library the title "Imaginary Enemy" struck my fancy. I've heard of kids having imaginary friends, but I hadn't heard of an imaginary enemy. So I picked the book up and read the back and I was hooked. "My time-tested recipe for survival served me well - a measure of slackerism, a dash of sarcasm, and a pinch of insolence. Stir thoroughly. Sprinkle in a little denial and irresponsibility. Serving size determined according to appetite."

If I knew this person I probably would be frustrated with her. Look at her attitude: she does as little as possible, she has the nerve to have a smart mouth and she is too ready to blame others for her own problems. I had the urge to read "Imaginary Enemy" because Julie Gonzalez made the character self-aware and humorous at the same time. Based on the title and the back cover blurb I checked this book out.

When I got it home and started reading it I realized it was a book for young adults. Which is okay with me, but I wasn't expecting it somehow. The main character is Jane Venezuela White or Plain Jane as she refers to herself. She has a younger brother named Lysander, who for good reason goes by the name Zander and a younger sister named Carmella, who having won the name lottery of the family goes by Carmella. Jane also has an older half brother named Luke, who she greatly admires.

Jane's imaginary enemy shows up on page one; she calls him Bubba short for Beelzebub. She picks this name because it is another name for the devil and to her way of thinking there couldn't be a better name for an imaginary enemy. Jane starts writing to Bubba in the second grade and signing her notes Gabriel. She only uses the name Gabriel in her notes to Bubba. Why doesn't she sign her true and proper name? In "Imaginary Enemy" Jane says, "No point in being overly familiar with an enemy, especially an imaginary one." How could you not love the little smart alert?

Jane's sense of humor and creativity is her saving grace. This book covers her life from second grade to when she is sixteen years old. She spends most of her time blaming all her problems and her mistakes on Bubba. Jane saved all her notes to Bubba in a folder and her life was going good until Bubba writes back. Yes that's right the imaginary enemy starts writing Jane notes, which throws her for a loop.

This is a great book for adults and young adults alike. Jane is an interesting character and it is fun to read about her life. I didn't even talk about her neighbors; they too are an interesting bunch of people. The father is a music professor who collects sounds from nature. The kid's names are Chord, Sharp, Jazz and Harmony, the first three are boys and the fourth kid is a girl.

I don't want to tell you much more because I might give away too much information. Go get this highly entertaining book and read it for yourself.

Other Book Reviews by Genie Walker:

Nonfiction:
"How to Retire Happy" by Stan Hinden
"Living Gluten Free for Dummies" by Danna Korn
"Medical Myths That Can Kill You: And the 101 Truths That Will Save, Extend, and Improve Your Life" by Nancy L. Snyderman, M.D.
"More Than Enough: The 10 Keys to Changing Your Financial Destiny" by Dave Ramsey
"The Real Meaning of Life" edited by David Seaman
"Three Weeks With My Brother" by Nicholas Sparks and Micah Sparks

Fiction:
"At First Sight" by Nicholas Sparks
"Blow Out" by Catherine Coulter
"Darkfever" by Karen Marie Moning
"the five people you meet in heaven" by Mitch Albom
"The Husband" by Dean Koontz
" Metro Girl" by Janet Evanovich
"The Mulberry Tree" by Jude Deveraux
"Murder on a Bad Hair Day" by Anne George
"Odd Thomas" by Dean Koontz
"One" by Richard Bach
"The Remains of the Dead" by Wendy Roberts
"Sam's Letters to Jennifer" by James Patterson