This week’s column was submitted by David Whittingham of the Des Plaines Public Library.

Do you believe in magic? What about ghosts, monsters, miracles, unicorns and Bigfoot?

I don’t believe Bigfoot exists, but I watch the television show “Finding Bigfoot” with my son, who loves Bigfoot. During the commercials I ask if he thinks they’ll find him, and my son always says — “maybe.”

I was discussing the show with a friend the other day who also watches it, but from a completely different perspective. I find the show funny and entertaining, but unbelievable.

My friend said if I needed proof to be convinced then I’m a skeptic. My friend said he would need proof that Bigfoot does not exist before he would stop believing. The ironic thing is that I would absolutely love to believe like that, but my mind won’t let me. That is likely why I have a hard time reading more far-out fantasy and science fiction novels.

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A book that incorporates unreal, unseen or unbelievable elements needs to get me with a hook. I need to be invested first before I start breaking down all the fantastic elements, and that is precisely what has happened with “The Mostly True Story of Jack,” the debut children’s book of author Kelly Regan Barnhill (2011).

Jack is a teen who feels invisible, and when his parents divorce they send him to stay with relatives in a small Iowa town. But in this town, all is not as it appears. When reality starts getting all wobbly and elements of magic start appearing, I am already invested in Jack.

Jack too is a skeptic. I side with him as he disbelieves in what is happening around him. The rest of the story made it all worthwhile, even if I don’t believe it.

Another new book that hit close to home in a similar way was the young adult novel, “A Monster Calls” by Patrick Ness (2011). In it a boy, whose mother is fighting cancer, starts getting nightly visits from a monster. The story is so heart wrenching, while also life-affirming, it makes me appreciate life and all of the wonderful, terrible and unbelievable things in it. And even if I don’t believe in monsters and magic, I am really glad they’re there.

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