“Gimme back my noodle!”

From Mike Holmes’ My Own World.

Nine-year-old Nathan is excited for summer, but he is especially excited for the chance to spend time around and reconnect with his big brother, Ben. Even though Ben and Nathan aren’t as close as they used to be, Nathan still considers his brother to be his best friend. However, when Nathan overhears his parents telling their friends that Ben is sick, Nathan slips out of the house to avoid officially hearing the news the next day. Walking through the neighboring woods, Nathan discovers the hideout for the local bullies, but when he has to hide to avoid being caught by the dangerous thugs, he stumbles into an amazing world. Following a strange red light, Nathan enters a world where time stands still, glowing red orbs make up everything, and he can create anything that he can imagine. Instantly captivated by the amazing and limitless possibilities the world has to offer, Nathan stays for countless hours, leaving the world only for food. Creating friendly monsters to keep him company in his new world, Nathan is able to play to his imagination’s limit, but as sleep becomes more elusive for Nathan, things begin to unravel and he is forced to return to the real world.

Despite the length of the book, the many wordless panels make for a quick and easy read. Holmes offers a genuine look at the pain of losing someone close and the ability to eventually move past it. While a few of the action-packed scenes seem to lack a bit of detail, My Own World is still a captivating read with the perfect blend of fantasy and realism.