1. “I am not imaginary,” says Budo. Do you believe him?

2. Max’s mother wants desperately to understand what is wrong with Max, while his father wants desperately to believe that there is nothing wrong. Who do you side with?

3. Budo seems to watch a lot of television. How do his viewing habits shape his perception of the world?

4. Budo straddles many worlds: child and adult; real and imaginary. Could the same be said for other characters in this book?

5. Mrs. Patterson did a terrible thing. But is there any way in which her actions may have been beneficial to Max?

6. What does Budo fear most? Why does he think that Max’s mom and dad are his biggest danger?

7. The author, Matthew Dicks, is an elementary school teacher. In what ways can you see the influence of this “day job” on his writing?

8. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child, and if so, which imaginary friend from the book most resembles your imaginary friend? If you didn’t have an imaginary friend, do you wish you had one? Who from the book would you have chosen to be your imaginary friend?

9. What is your interpretation of the epilogue of the book?

10. Did you ever have a teacher as important to you as Mrs. Gosk is to Max and Budo? Who was your Mrs. Gosk?

11. Mrs. Gosk is an actual teacher in the school where Matthew Dicks also teaches. What do you think about the idea that the author used an actual person in the novel?

12. How did you feel about Mrs. Patterson? Did you see her as a villain? Did you feel empathy for her?

13. Excluding Budo, which of the imaginary friends in the book was your favorite and why?

14. Budo describe Max as the bravest person on the planet because he has to go out into the world every day being himself even though no one likes him. Do you agree?

15. If the book is adapted for film, how do you think the role of Budo should be cast? By an actor (and if so, whom?) or through some form of animation?