Moone Boy: The Blunder Years

O'Dowd, Chris; Murphy, Nick V.

3.83

880 ratings by Goodreads

9781427261335: Moone Boy: The Blunder Years

ISBN 10: 1427261334 ISBN 13: 9781427261335

Publisher: Macmillan Young Listeners, 2015

Martin Moone is eleven and completely fed up with being the only boy in a family of girls. He's desperate for a decent wingman to help him navigate his idiotic life. So when best mate Padraic suggests Martin get an imaginary friend-or "IF" for short-he decides to give it a go.

His first attempt is Loopy Lou, a hyperactive goofball who loves writing rubbish rap songs. But Martin soon gets fed up with Lou's loopiness and decides to trade in his IF for someone a little less wacky. Enter Sean "Caution" Murphy, an imaginary office clerk in a bad suit with a passion for laziness and a head full of dodgy jokes. Sean is full of tips and tricks to guide Martin through the perils of the playground, from dealing with his sisters' pranks to besting the bullying Bonner boys. But getting rid of Lou is not that easy, and having TWO imaginary friends is a recipe for trouble!

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About the Author:

Chris O'Dowd is best known for his roles in Bridesmaids, The IT Crowd, and the HBO show Family Tree. He also starred in the Broadway play Of Mice and Men, for which he received a Tony nomination for Best Leading Actor. He is the creator and star of the Hulu show Moone Boy, which was inspired by his own childhood in a small town in Ireland.

Nick V. Murphy is a writer and producer, best known for his work co-writing Moone Boy with Chris. He lives in Los Angeles with his family.

From School Library Journal:

Gr 4–7—In this novel, based on an acclaimed Irish television show, Martin Moone is an 11-year-old boy with three overbearing older sisters, parents who largely ignore him, and school bullies who regularly torment him. When he decides to apply for an Imaginary Friend (IF), seeking a supportive "wingman," he gets hilarious results. Martin ends up with two competing IFs—obnoxious Loopy Lou and lazy Sean Murphy—and must find a resolution. The audiobook is narrated by the authors with voices that are expressive and distinct. In particular, the over-the-top, needy personality of IF Loopy Lou is perfectly captured. Although the charming illustrations present in the book (Feiwel & Friends, 2015) are missed, the recording makes up for it with its abundance of auditory gifts, especially the raucous voices and singing. The authors' rendering of the footnotes (which explain the meanings of Irish words in comical ways) is amusing but can be distracting. VERDICT Give this to "Wimpy Kid"` fans; tweens will love it.—Julie Paladino, formerly of East Chapel Hill High School, NC

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