Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz [Hardcover]

Chris Lynch (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 20, 2005

Elvin Bishop's uncle is a lot like Elvin's father. They're both dead, for instance. But Elvin's cool with that; it's the way it's been for as long as he can remember.

Then one day it turns out that Uncle Alex isn't exactly dead. He is, instead, sitting on the couch, chewing a scone, and preparing to make up for lost time by fixing his sad-sack nephew before it's too late. Not long out of prison and perhaps not long for this world, Alex embarks on a crash course of tough love designed to turn Elvin into a real Bishop man.

Despite his mighty powers of resistance and denial, Elvin is dragged on an odyssey that introduces him to glam tuba, hellfire-hot food, and the horrors of gym membership. Along the way he finds things he never wanted to look for -- lost relatives, history, roots, regrets, and his own wobbly brand of strength.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 8-10–In this darkly comic follow-up to Slot Machine (1995) and Extreme Elvin (1999, both HarperCollins), Elvin Bishop, 14, must deal with an uncle's return from the dead and unsettling questions about everything from his family history to his own sexuality. This novel can stand alone, but readers already familiar with the chubby, anxious, but kindhearted teen and his friends Mikie and Frankie may have an easier time getting into the story. Elvin, who lives with his widowed mother, is shocked to discover that his uncle--supposedly dead from a plane crash–is alive, well, and sitting on the living-room couch. Uncle Alex is out of prison and determined to make up for his checkered past by becoming a father figure to his nephew. Madcap adventures ensue, the funniest of which may be Elvin's attempt to replicate handsome Frankie's hairstyle. Inevitably, Elvin ends up with a frizzy perm and a color between orange and green. Alex's brief presence in Elvin's life creates chaos but also brings understanding. The teen learns to drop his sarcasm and self-deprecating humor to let his true emotions shine through. Some readers may struggle with his ongoing internal dialogue, which sometimes bogs the story down. Still, most will identify with Elvin's outsider status and enjoy his hilarious missteps on the path to adulthood.–Miranda Doyle, San Francisco Public Library
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From Booklist

Gr. 6-9. Poor Elvin Bishop. Everyone is always trying to improve the portly 14-year-old--even his long-dead uncle Alex. Well, Alex isn't exactly dead, though Elvin has always been told he is. He's actually been in prison, which Elvin's redoubtable mom admits when Uncle Alex shows up on the doorstep. Anxious for redemption, Alex quickly becomes a fixture in Elvin's life, demonstrating by his dubious example that appetites are, indeed, the devil. This is Lynch's third book about the tuba-playing, wisecracking Elvin, his outspoken mom, and his best buddies, Mikie and Frankie, and though they haven't yet worn out their welcome, the humor seems a bit thin, and the rapid-fire dialogue forced. But because Elvin remains the quintessential adolescent male--worried about sex, personal identity, and just about everything--readers, especially boys, will enjoy this generally cheerful look at themselves. Michael Cart
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 12 and up
  
• Hardcover: 240 pages
• Publisher: HarperCollins; 1ST edition (September 20, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060597097
• ISBN-13: 978-0060597092
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.8 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,583,588 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Comedy and sensitive material, October 8, 2005

By 

Gary H. Cassel "Flamingnet Teen Book Reviews" (Baltimore, MD, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz (Library Binding)

Elvin Bishop is a somewhat regular fourteen year old kid, although like every kid, he's a bit different. Along with his widowed mother, Elvin shares a pretty average home. He has two friends, each with their own eccentricities: one has a very parental attitude while the other is so self-absorbed he refuses to use a public restroom. Elvin is enjoying his life until it is thrown into a frenzy by the reappearence of his long believed dead uncle. It isn't a welcome reunion for Elvin. His Uncle Alex's return is a poor attempt to apologize for stealing the Bishop's money. Will Alex be able to win over Elvin to explain why he stole their money? Will Elvin be able to believe him?


Chris Lynch has a very good aspect of a fourteen year old teen. The writing is comical and makes the reader feel as if the main character could be their best friend. Lynch's subtle humor softens the serious nature of the story making it more believable. Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz would make an excellent read aloud book for teachers. It keeps the reader involved with its believablity. I recommend this book to kids who enjoy comedy but caution there is some sensitive material.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

3.0 out of 5 stars Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz, September 1, 2011

By 

Tflores - See all my reviews

This review is from: Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz (Hardcover)

Me, Dead dad, and Alcatraz is a book about a boy who has lost his father. He now is raised by his single mother. He later finds out that his uncle (dad brother) that his mother said to be dead was sitting in his living room very much alive. The uncle spends time trying to get the boy to like him and make up for the time that he wasn't there for.
I would recommend this book to others because anyone can relate to it. It's filled with humor and humanity. The book is very detailed and has a creative mind behind the story. This is a novel about finding yourself and redemption. The only dislike I had about Me, Dead dad and Alcatraz was that the suspense of the story wasn't really there everything just came out knowing it was bound to happen.

5.0 out of 5 stars A humorous novel with an appealing, unassuming, and emotionally honest antihero, September 22, 2005

By 

Teenreads.com (New York, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz (Hardcover)

Fourteen-year-old Elvin Bishop, whom readers previously met in SLOT MACHINE and EXTREME ELVIN, is at peace with his life...sort of. He has two good friends and a supportive mom, he can play a mean tuba (even if he often forgets his instrument on band day), and no one can beat him at bowling. Most of the time he doesn't think (too much) about his weight problem, his lack of popularity, or his dead father.

When Elvin's Uncle Alex shows up, calling his visit "unexpected" would be an understatement. Elvin had always been told that his dad's brother died in a plane crash, but it turns out that Alex had just gone missing after stealing and gambling away all of the money Elvin's dad left his family after his death. Now Alex is back in town, seeking redemption from his nephew.

For Alex, redemption means turning Elvin's life around, taking him to the gym, cooking him healthy (and outrageously spicy) foods, and advising him to form a rock band. For Elvin, Alex's sudden appearance is confusing but not entirely unwelcome; after years of believing that he had no blood relatives on his father's side, Elvin sees his uncle as a link to his dad.

Fans of Chris Lynch's earlier books about Elvin will recognize Elvin's sarcasm and particularly wry sense of humor, often directed at his own weaknesses. Although ME, DEAD DAD, & ALCATRAZ can stand alone, readers meeting Elvin for the first time might have difficulties getting into his head. If they persevere, though, readers will discover an appealing, unassuming antihero whose weaknesses provide not only comic relief but also emotional honesty.

--- Reviewed by Norah Piehl