08/30/2021
When Zach loses his father at age six, the boy reacts by burying some of his dad’s things deep in the backyard, saving only a knight with a green sword, the result of a memorable afternoon the two spent together. To help cope with his father’s death, Zach also maintains a relationship with fuzzy purple imaginary friend Shovel, shown cartoonishly cute in b&w art by Wu (Sylvia’s Bookshop ). Five years later, middle school looms large and uncomfortable for the now-11-year-old, who must navigate his lingering heartache as well as endure bullying from former best friend Ryan, the only other person who knows about Shovel. When a fight between the assumed-white former friends lands them in detention along with Zach’s new compatriot Anni, cued as being Asian American, the three reluctant companions find themselves struggling to determine whether Zach and Ryan’s relationship is salvageable. Employing Shovel’s narration, which is directed at Zach, Bacon (The Last Human ) tells a familiar story of deep loss and friendship that combines gentle humor and ardent wistfulness, making the themes of trauma suppression and the reluctance to move on feel both personal and universal. Ages 8–12. Agent: Sarah Burne, the Gernert Company. (Oct.)
"This is a delicate, accessible story about a grief so sharp that it bleeds joy from reality. . .Shovel’s second-person narration has a subtle complexity depending on readerly interpretation of him as either a coping mechanism or a true element of fantasy, but in the end he’s an effective model for youngsters with friends in pain."
The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"This touching book will help children understand the many changes that come with growing up. Wu's illustrations help bring Shovel and his imaginary world to life."
**STARRED REVIEW** "Spot art depicts a charmingly appealing Shovel and a racially diverse human cast. . .A witty, heartfelt, and sophisticated story about the consequences of grief." —Kirkus Reviews **STARRED REVIEW** "With Shovel as narrator, familiar middle grade topics (death of a parent, friends-turned-enemies, bullying), become completely unique and fresh. Tender, laced with sly humor, and full of complex emotion, this novel explores the line between unpredictable reality and controlled imagination." —School Library Journal "This is a delicate, accessible story about a grief so sharp that it bleeds joy from reality. . .Shovel’s second-person narration has a subtle complexity depending on readerly interpretation of him as either a coping mechanism or a true element of fantasy, but in the end he’s an effective model for youngsters with friends in pain." —The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books "Bacon tells a familiar story of deep loss and friendship that combines gentle humor and ardent wistfulness, making the themes of trauma suppression and the reluctance to move on feel both personal and universal." —Publishers Weekly "This touching book will help children understand the many changes that come with growing up. Wu's illustrations help bring Shovel and his imaginary world to life." —Booklist
★ 10/01/2021
Gr 3–7— When blue-eyed Zach's dad died when Zach was six, his world split into "before" and "after." Before, his imaginary friend, a purple fuzzball called Shovel, was beginning to fade; after, Zach retreats into the fantasy world in his own head, pushing away his real-world best friend Ryan. Now, Zach is 11, and Shovel—who narrates in first person, addressing Zach in second person—realizes he is "long past the usual expiration date." In the first week of middle school, Ryan and "the Matts" make fun of Zach, drawing Zach and his new friend, spy-obsessed Anni Lai, into a fight; as a result, Principal Carter gives Ryan, Anni, and Zach (and Shovel) a week of detention, together. Short sentences and chapters make this title accessible without sacrificing emotional depth; Wu's illustrations throughout spotlight the most humorous aspects of the story (e.g., Zach as a knight in armor talking to his mom on a cell phone in front of a stop sign). But as Zach becomes more interested in the real world, what will happen to Shovel? As Anni says, every story should have a big twist ending, and this delivers, à la Toy Story 3. VERDICT With Shovel as narrator, familiar middle grade topics (death of a parent, friends-turned-enemies, bullying), become completely unique and fresh. Tender, laced with sly humor, and full of complex emotion, this novel explores the line between unpredictable reality and controlled imagination. Highly recommended for all youth collections.—Jenny Arch, Lilly Lib., Florence, MA
★ 2021-09-01 What happens when an imaginary elementary school friend stays around when you’re in middle school?
As a small child, Zach Belvin began his friendship with an imaginary furry purple friend he names Shovel. Zach shared his imagination and bright blue eyes with his dad. But when Zach was just 6, his father fell ill and died. After this devastating loss, Zach escaped with Shovel into fantasy worlds filled with magic and knights and danger. “These places might’ve seemed scary, but we both knew….Reality could be so much scarier.” With Shovel as a narrator—hilarious, despite the seriousness of the subject matter—readers experience Zach’s loneliness up close. On the first day of middle school, Zach is bullied by some boys—including his former best friend, Ryan. Shovel inspires Zach to fight back, and new student Anni joins in to help, resulting in both of them being placed in detention with Ryan for a week, a situation that leads to social and emotional growth and real-life problem-solving. Even as Zach learns to deal with his grief and Shovel begins to fade away, the purple furball protects the heart of this vulnerable boy with humor and love. Spot art depicts a charmingly appealing Shovel and a racially diverse human cast: Zach and his family present White, Anni is cued as East Asian, and some supporting characters read as Black.
A witty, heartfelt, and sophisticated story about the consequences of grief. (author's note) (Fiction. 8-12)
Narrator Ramon de Ocampo draws listeners into this bittersweet story with his gentle handling of adolescent fears and the challenges of growing up and letting go. Shovel has been Zack’s large, purple, furry imaginary friend since he was 5. Shovel was there to help Zack escape the grief of losing his father and the loneliness that followed. Now, six years later, Shovel helps him with the anxiety of middle school, including coping with bullies and making new friends. But their fantasy world of knights and magic is fading away, as is Shovel’s dwindling connection with this boy too old for make-believe. De Ocampo captures the humor that lightens this narrative and creates relatable voices for each of the characters. His portrayal of Shovel—whose very existence depends on believability—is particularly engaging. S.A.A. © AudioFile 2021, Portland, Maine
DECEMBER 2021 - AudioFile