The story of a boy who's best friend moves aways and in the process of dealing with his emotions discovers a new friends that only he can see. Inkling gets into a lot of mischief which leads to all kind of funny suspense filled scenes. This was a perfect book to read at night to my 8 year old. It's funny, an easy chapter book read, and has a few good lessons tied in. ( )

The thing about Hank's new friend Inkling is, he's invisible. No, "not" imaginary. Inkling is an invisible bandapat, a creature native to the Peruvian Woods of Mystery. (Or maybe it is the Ukrainian glaciers. Inkling hardly ever gets his stories straight.) Now Inkling has found his way into Hank's apartment on his quest for squash, a bandapat favorite. But Hank has bigger problems than helping Inkling fend off maniac doggies and searching for pumpkins: Bruno Gillicut is a lunch-stealing, dirtbug caveperson and he's got to be stopped. And who better to help stand up to a bully than an invisible friend? ( )

If being a nerd with an over-active imagination was not enough of a problem, Hank's best fried moves away just before the start of 4th grade. Fortunately Inkling, a squash-loving invisible creature shows up and helps Hand through a series of problems especially the one with Gillicut the school bully. Very funny would make a good classroom read-aloud. ( )

Inkling, the invisible truth-stretching bandapat, is quite the character. I hope to meet him again. ( )

My thoughts:
This was a fun, creative story about what it means to be a friend and to have a friend.

It would work well as a read-aloud for elementary students. The theme is friendship, and of course there is a bully! The reader is shown that sometimes there is more to a bully than just the desire to be mean. The author doesn't excuse the bully behavior, but sheds some light on what could be going on "behind the scenes" emotionally for the bully as well as for the bullied. ( )