Yvonne Prinz

Enter the world of almost-13-year-old Clare and her best friend Elsa. Clare and Elsa are opposites: Clare's idea of style is a Superman T-shirt and torn jeans, while Elsa sports outfits with matching accessories. Clare is a long-distance runner who can't always find the right words, while Elsa walks slowly but talks fast. Clare's sense of humour is dark and ironic, Elsa's is bright and witty. But the most unusual thing about Clare and Elsa is the fact that Elsa is imaginary. Clare invented her years ago, when she was the lonely daughter of two career-track lawyers. Now, as Clare turns 13, her mother has quit her job to become a stay-at-home parent ("I think she follows other mothers around the supermarket and buys whatever they buy," scoffs Clare). Clare decides that it's finally time to try life without Elsa. But will Elsa let her go?