A wonderfully told coming-of-age (mid-age, that is) tale. Martin is a one of those not-so-rambunctious boys who have a hard time fitting in. His way of dealing with it is to spend as much time as possible at home, retreating to a make-believe world of model towns, video games and imaginary friends. When his father decides it would be good for both of them if Martin were to spend a month in the wilds of Maine with an older, possibly demented relative (the father, not a stellar character, has an ulterior motive), the boy is forced out of his comfort zone and made to confront his loneliness and, for the first time, to find his own way in the wider world. Trapped on the island, he finds a way to make friends with the older relative (who is only pretending to be senile, in a delightful sub-plot), and also with a wild and very rambunctious island boy, and in the process finds strengths and resources he didn't know he had. ( )