Jimmy's elbow

K-Gr 4--Jimmy is a serious kid, which you can tell by the tie he wears, as he constantly reminds us. But when he hits his elbow hard on a table, his elbow comes to life. Or dies and becomes a ghost? Who knows! It's weird, and that's the point! It's perhaps unhelpful to compare anything to the "Dog Man" series, but kids who enjoy the absurdist, if random, humor of those books will definitely enjoy this one. A lack of action or story might dissuade some readers, but that's arguably part of the joke. Even Jimmy seems to abandon the plot of the book by playing with Soupy Boy Action Man, an action figure that ironically can't bend his elbows. But having no elbows makes him unbendable, much like the American spirit, as Jimmy also likes to remind readers. It's random, it's odd, and it's hilarious. Kochalka's art style matches the off-kilter story, with chunky outlining and bright colors with minimal backgrounds to add to the humor. Simple word choice might make this a favorite of reluctant readers. VERDICT This graphic novel is undeniably unique and worth young readers' time.--Peter Blenski

The exciting adventures of a boy and his talking elbow. Taking a daffy premise and running with it in notably surreal directions, Kochalka's episodic comic features a very serious boy ("I wear a tie. See?"), an elbow that develops a mind of its own following a painful bump, breakfast cereal superhero Soupy Boy Action Man, and a toy truck that is evil…or maybe not. "I'm more like the true ESSENCE of your elbow," explains the disembodied joint, floating in front of the bewildered lad's face. "My punches are action packed. America is so proud of me," boasts the plastic action figure. "HONK HONK," beeps the truck enigmatically. A few freakouts at home and school, followed by a quick dive into the Backpack of Solitude to escape a visit with the principal, lead the bendy lad into and out of escalating calamities culminating in a multi-joint surprise ending. If Jimmy's grave observation that "every boy needs an elbow" seems at first glance to be the takeaway, readers primed for nothing but laffs may be in for a surprise, as the author folds quick takes on "silly" vs. "serious"--not to mention life, death, spiritual apotheosis, and what it means to be "made in America"--into the manic proceedings. Jimmy, his elbow, and his action figure ("Made in Hong Kong. But I'm 100% American now") are pink-skinned. Hits smack on the funny bone. (Graphic fiction. 6-8) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.