Summer is an awfully dull season for the schoolboy with no imagination. Eleven-year-old Martin Moone, younger brother of three terrifying sisters, would do just about anything for some male companionship. Unfortunately, his best (and only) friend is tied up for the summer, so he suggests Martin get himself an imaginary friend. For those lacking the imagination to imagine their own, there's a catalog: Martin lands himself first with the disastrous Loopy Lou and then the somewhat dishonestly obtained Sean Murphy. But now his summer takes a turn for the better as he and Sean face down sisters and bullies alike, all while dodging the increasingly desperate Loopy Lou. Based on the Irish sitcom (also written by and starring O'Dowd), this is peppered with Irish colloquialisms, though tongue-in-cheek footnotes explain these to American readers. The wacky doodles and preteen humor (think fart jokes) makes this an entertaining read for the middle-grade set.

Marvin Moone wants a wingman, but the small town of Boyle, Ireland, lacks prospects.á His best friend, Padraic, suggests he get an imaginary friend. Marvin's lack of inventiveness prompts him to order an imaginary friend, Loopy Lou, from a catalog.áAlmost immediately, their relationship strains under Lou's unrelenting slapstick routines.áMarvin solicits the help of an imaginary office worker, Customer Service Representative 263749, and the two become fast friends.áThroughout it all, Moone blunders along in a story that revels in the absurdities of life.áThe two Irish authors fill this origin story of Moone Boy, of the eponymous TV show, with oddball humor and clever observations. A description for Margaret Thatcher lists her as one of the witches from Roald Dahl, and the definition of an acquaintance reads as "a stranger you haven't yet made." A plot arc on bullying handles the topic with humor.áThe Moone family also deserves special recognition for their realistic portrayal of sibling fights and teen angst.á For fans of the absurd and hilarious, look no further than this goofy lovechild of The Absolutely True Story of a Part Time Indianá(Little, Brown 2007/VOYA June 2008) and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoonsá(Amulet, 2007/VOYAáApril 2007).Jessica Atherton.