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Elvin #3
Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz
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.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2013
7 people are currently reading
38 people want to read
About the author
Chris Lynch
61 books162 followersChris Lynch is the Printz Honor Award-winning author of several highly acclaimed young adult novels, including KILL SWITCH, ANGRY YOUNG MAN, and INEXCUSABLE, which was a National Book Award finalist and the recipient of six starred reviews. He is also the author of FREEWILL, GOLD DUST, ICEMAN, GYPSY DAVY, and SHADOWBOXER, all ALA Best Books for Young Adults; EXTREME ELVIN WHITECHURCH, and ALL THE OLD HAUNTS.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
He holds an M.A. from the writing program at Emerson College. He mentors aspiring writers and continues to work on new literary projects. He lives in Boston and in Scotland.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
January 21, 2011
A fellow blogger told me that she had been unimpressed with Lynch's latest works, but heard great things about this author for his earlier books. This book I got from the secondhand bookshop in the mall nearby, and I did not read the first pages initially, I just based on the synopsis which was pretty interesting.
I should not have skipped on reading a few pages first.
I'm not saying that I shouldn't have picked this up, it's just that had I read a few pages at first, I wouldn't have placed too high an expectation on this book just because the synopsis sounded totally intriguing. I say this because when I began reading, I got bored and irritated by the first chapters. Elvin as a narrator was like reading through a biased account of events. He was very self-centered, weak, and a sense of humor that was meant to be self-deprecating but came off as more 'inversely-conceited'. I could not sympathize with him, could not appreciate his humor, could not laugh at his jokes. Even his sarcasm - and I love me a dose of sarcasm - was a bit forced. While reading, I tried to learn some more about this book online and found that this was the third book in a series, the first books including Slot Machine and Extreme Elvin. This surprised me, because if this was the third (last?) book, some semblance of character improvement would have happened already, right? But Elvin seemed averse to change, in fact, he admitted it himself and that's one of the major themes in this third book. That Elvin was a fourteen-year-old boy who could not easily adapt to change but sometimes makes very adult - if warped - observations of what's happening to him I think is a bit inconsistent, and that's another flaw I found in Elvin's character.
And another thing, my imagination was sort of restrained because this book was written without actually presenting a vivid setting of the story. We just know that this happens in a town with a Thai Restaurant, a gym, a barber shop owned by a psychedelic barber named Nardo, another barber shop by an old barber named Sal, a school, a church, and not much else. I was even confused as to whether Elvin was in the UK or US, but I later assumed he's in US because he mentioned United States Penitentiary and the Wild West. This is not the first time I ever encountered the 'white room syndrome,' where the setting is not described and readers have no idea where the characters are, but in other books, that has not limited my imagination, and was still able to picture them in a particular place doing what they're doing in the book. In this story, though, it bugged me a bit.
On to the better parts, this book found redemption in the middle to the last chapters. Elvin's subtle maturity development - or his knack for rolling with the punches - helped him cope with his uncle's presence, and in the end, not only did his uncle found acceptance from one family he wronged, he was able to understand the Bishop way of things: he understood the father he lost, he understood his bloodline, which was like a mystical thing to him before his uncle came into the picture. He understood the concept of family, of being a part of a family.
Despite what I mentioned in the first few paragraphs, I enjoyed this book once I got past the boring and irritating parts. This book had too much dialogue, but I think that's because the story happens more within Elvin's mind as he struggled to grasp the changes that went with the reappearance of his uncle, so that's forgivable. Apart from the sometimes 'unfunny-funny' Elvin, the other characters were very 'out there' and real. I genuinely loved Uncle Alex, and would find myself shaking my head or grinning over Elvin's mom's actions which sort of remind me of my own mother. However, because I was really rooting for Uncle Alex, I was kind of disappointed with the ending, although it was very comical, the way the story finished.
Overall, the book was fine and I am glad I was able to read this. It was a bit disappointing that the book would come revving up on the middle to the last parts, I mean, why can't that happen after the first few chapters right? But hopefully other readers would find it more amusing and interesting than I did, especially the younger readers to whom this book is directed at.
I should not have skipped on reading a few pages first.
I'm not saying that I shouldn't have picked this up, it's just that had I read a few pages at first, I wouldn't have placed too high an expectation on this book just because the synopsis sounded totally intriguing. I say this because when I began reading, I got bored and irritated by the first chapters. Elvin as a narrator was like reading through a biased account of events. He was very self-centered, weak, and a sense of humor that was meant to be self-deprecating but came off as more 'inversely-conceited'. I could not sympathize with him, could not appreciate his humor, could not laugh at his jokes. Even his sarcasm - and I love me a dose of sarcasm - was a bit forced. While reading, I tried to learn some more about this book online and found that this was the third book in a series, the first books including Slot Machine and Extreme Elvin. This surprised me, because if this was the third (last?) book, some semblance of character improvement would have happened already, right? But Elvin seemed averse to change, in fact, he admitted it himself and that's one of the major themes in this third book. That Elvin was a fourteen-year-old boy who could not easily adapt to change but sometimes makes very adult - if warped - observations of what's happening to him I think is a bit inconsistent, and that's another flaw I found in Elvin's character.
And another thing, my imagination was sort of restrained because this book was written without actually presenting a vivid setting of the story. We just know that this happens in a town with a Thai Restaurant, a gym, a barber shop owned by a psychedelic barber named Nardo, another barber shop by an old barber named Sal, a school, a church, and not much else. I was even confused as to whether Elvin was in the UK or US, but I later assumed he's in US because he mentioned United States Penitentiary and the Wild West. This is not the first time I ever encountered the 'white room syndrome,' where the setting is not described and readers have no idea where the characters are, but in other books, that has not limited my imagination, and was still able to picture them in a particular place doing what they're doing in the book. In this story, though, it bugged me a bit.
On to the better parts, this book found redemption in the middle to the last chapters. Elvin's subtle maturity development - or his knack for rolling with the punches - helped him cope with his uncle's presence, and in the end, not only did his uncle found acceptance from one family he wronged, he was able to understand the Bishop way of things: he understood the father he lost, he understood his bloodline, which was like a mystical thing to him before his uncle came into the picture. He understood the concept of family, of being a part of a family.
Despite what I mentioned in the first few paragraphs, I enjoyed this book once I got past the boring and irritating parts. This book had too much dialogue, but I think that's because the story happens more within Elvin's mind as he struggled to grasp the changes that went with the reappearance of his uncle, so that's forgivable. Apart from the sometimes 'unfunny-funny' Elvin, the other characters were very 'out there' and real. I genuinely loved Uncle Alex, and would find myself shaking my head or grinning over Elvin's mom's actions which sort of remind me of my own mother. However, because I was really rooting for Uncle Alex, I was kind of disappointed with the ending, although it was very comical, the way the story finished.
Overall, the book was fine and I am glad I was able to read this. It was a bit disappointing that the book would come revving up on the middle to the last parts, I mean, why can't that happen after the first few chapters right? But hopefully other readers would find it more amusing and interesting than I did, especially the younger readers to whom this book is directed at.
January 11, 2009
I was about halfway through this YA novel before looking it up on Goodreads and Amazon and discovering that it was the final book in a trilogy about Elvin Bishop. This was odd to me, as it was hard to imagine that his character had gone through two bookworthy experiences and still wound up as the surly-yet-pushover, tuba-playing mama's boy that he is at the beginning of Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz. If I'm low on reading material in the future, I might have to hunt down the first two books in the trilogy to see if Elvin was negative-two-books worth of character evolution at the beginning of the trilogy, or if he stays the same throughout. He's a hard character to like and to sympathize with, but if I get past page 1 of a book, then I'm in for the long haul.
Anyway. In the first chapter of this novel, we discover that Elvin's dead Uncle Alex is not actually dead, and that he's come back to see Elvin and his mother in an attempt to find redemption. Redemption for what, we catch in glimpses throughout the story. Elvin's feelings for his uncle shoot back and forth among contempt, awe, and pity throughout the rest of the story. As one might expect, the redemption goes both ways -- Elvin needs a bit of it himself, too. Between hair-related disasters and revelations about family and the past, there's a lot of humor and pathos to be mined here. I'd say the highlight of this book, though, was the relationship between Elvin and his mother. I loved their witty conversations and their reliance on each other for basic companionship and sympathy.
This book is heavy on dialogue and very light on description. Pretty much all we get about Elvin's town is that there's a school, a Thai restaurant, a gym, a lot of sidewalks, and a train station. If you want local color and verisimilitude, look elsewhere.
Elvin's voice is a weird combination of naive kid and hard-boiled comic detective. Or something. Here's a representative quote:
Elvin, to his mother, about his uncle, from Chapter 1:
"You? I don't know what you're capable of at all. Maybe he is a killer. Maybe you're a killer. You did kill my uncle before bringing him back to life. I don't think I know you at all anymore, that's what I think. Who are you, lady?"
And another, also from Chapter 1:
"Indiscretions? What're indiscretions? I am guilty of indiscretions. Grog is guilty of indiscretions. But bringing a doggy bag to an all-you-can-eat restaurant is not something you want to be erased from history for, and neither is getting a hedgehog tied to your nose. So what is the deal here?"
Anyway. In the first chapter of this novel, we discover that Elvin's dead Uncle Alex is not actually dead, and that he's come back to see Elvin and his mother in an attempt to find redemption. Redemption for what, we catch in glimpses throughout the story. Elvin's feelings for his uncle shoot back and forth among contempt, awe, and pity throughout the rest of the story. As one might expect, the redemption goes both ways -- Elvin needs a bit of it himself, too. Between hair-related disasters and revelations about family and the past, there's a lot of humor and pathos to be mined here. I'd say the highlight of this book, though, was the relationship between Elvin and his mother. I loved their witty conversations and their reliance on each other for basic companionship and sympathy.
This book is heavy on dialogue and very light on description. Pretty much all we get about Elvin's town is that there's a school, a Thai restaurant, a gym, a lot of sidewalks, and a train station. If you want local color and verisimilitude, look elsewhere.
Elvin's voice is a weird combination of naive kid and hard-boiled comic detective. Or something. Here's a representative quote:
Elvin, to his mother, about his uncle, from Chapter 1:
"You? I don't know what you're capable of at all. Maybe he is a killer. Maybe you're a killer. You did kill my uncle before bringing him back to life. I don't think I know you at all anymore, that's what I think. Who are you, lady?"
And another, also from Chapter 1:
"Indiscretions? What're indiscretions? I am guilty of indiscretions. Grog is guilty of indiscretions. But bringing a doggy bag to an all-you-can-eat restaurant is not something you want to be erased from history for, and neither is getting a hedgehog tied to your nose. So what is the deal here?"
November 18, 2009
I told no less than four people that I was about to put this book down. At page 100 of 227, I was about to give up, when I figured, "Hey, why not? I've read longer and worse books."
I'm glad I followed through. The last 60 pages of this novel made the entire ride worth it for me--even if I couldn't stand the protagonist for the majority of the book. Lynch suddenly shifts gears from this being an odd/slightly boring typical story of an awkward teen to punching you in the gut. Repeatedly. I'm still thinking about this book--and I figured it'd be one I'd force from my mind.
However, I will admit that the last 60 pages saving a book is rather lame, especially when the book is so short. So, honestly, I can't recommend that you go out and read this. For me though, it made for a pleasant surprise and kept an annoying book from becoming a horrible one. It's not often a book can make this shift, so I give Mr. Lynch his dues, but, man, those first 100+ pages... The kid, Elivin, seriously needs a punch in the face.
I'm glad I followed through. The last 60 pages of this novel made the entire ride worth it for me--even if I couldn't stand the protagonist for the majority of the book. Lynch suddenly shifts gears from this being an odd/slightly boring typical story of an awkward teen to punching you in the gut. Repeatedly. I'm still thinking about this book--and I figured it'd be one I'd force from my mind.
However, I will admit that the last 60 pages saving a book is rather lame, especially when the book is so short. So, honestly, I can't recommend that you go out and read this. For me though, it made for a pleasant surprise and kept an annoying book from becoming a horrible one. It's not often a book can make this shift, so I give Mr. Lynch his dues, but, man, those first 100+ pages... The kid, Elivin, seriously needs a punch in the face.
February 14, 2023
I rate it a 3, but I put 4 because I don't want to bring the ratings down.
Anyways, this was a very true and real representation of a kid with trauma and how he behaves, family, and the importance of taking care of yourself.
Anyways, this was a very true and real representation of a kid with trauma and how he behaves, family, and the importance of taking care of yourself.
May 7, 2025
Barely finishable. Maybe spend more time setting the scene than just talking? Felt like a screenplay. No sense of plot or conflict or resolution. I cannot imagine trying to read this as a kid or teen, the literacy demands would be too great
October 8, 2023
This was chaotic, nonsensical, and overly wordy. Wasted time on this one.
November 14, 2008
First of all, I have absolutely no idea why Alcatraz is mentioned in the title, as it is not so much as even referenced in the text, but the title is so catchy I can overlook it. Elvin Bishop is a 14-year-old, self-conscious, fat kid who lives alone with his mother. He comes downstairs one morning to find his uncle Alex, whom Elvin had always been told died in a plane crash years before, very much alive and lying on his livingroom couch. Alex has come out of hiding, seeking redemption from those he hurt. He's done a lot of terrible things but he wants to do right by his nephew. He does this by completely disrupting Elvin's life for a few days through gym membership, casting doubt on the intentions of his two best friends, and exposing him to spicy food. The narration in this book, which is from Elvin's point of view, is quite clever and often gave me an out-loud chuckle. There was a bit of white room syndrome (where you can't tell where the characters are because there's no description), but I've come to expect that from YA fiction. (As this was an advanced reader copy I can also forgive the constant misspelling of "yeah" as "ya.") The plot was interesting but didn't seem to be heading anywhere specific. I enjoyed the little episodic adventures but the ending was abrupt and unexpectedly preachy. I like Elvin as a character but he would do better in wacky comedies than the coming-of-age drama this book tries to be.
May 29, 2013
First off, I did not know that this was the 3rd book of a series, so maybe if I had read the other books, this book would make more sense and I would have liked it more.
I liked the humor in this book. Elvin is witty and has a funny way of looking at life that kind of remind me of myself. He just lets mean things slide off of him and treats it with humor. The plot was not interesting. It was basically following Elvin around his normal life that was changed a little bit by his "thought to be dead" uncle. Elvin does grow in the story and start to change his life. He was fine with the way his life was, with just him and his mom and his 2 friends. I did like however how he was learning to stand up to his friends that tease him a lot.
I would recommend this book mostly to males that are 12-16 years old that are just looking to laugh. They might learn that it is good to take care of yourself and that it is nice to have people around that do care a lot about you. Elvin never really had any emotional connections to people, so maybe this would help some teenagers appreciate what loving relationships that they have in their lives.
Warnings
Violence: There is a fight scene but its pretty weak
Language: hardly any
Sex: none
drugs: none
I liked the humor in this book. Elvin is witty and has a funny way of looking at life that kind of remind me of myself. He just lets mean things slide off of him and treats it with humor. The plot was not interesting. It was basically following Elvin around his normal life that was changed a little bit by his "thought to be dead" uncle. Elvin does grow in the story and start to change his life. He was fine with the way his life was, with just him and his mom and his 2 friends. I did like however how he was learning to stand up to his friends that tease him a lot.
I would recommend this book mostly to males that are 12-16 years old that are just looking to laugh. They might learn that it is good to take care of yourself and that it is nice to have people around that do care a lot about you. Elvin never really had any emotional connections to people, so maybe this would help some teenagers appreciate what loving relationships that they have in their lives.
Warnings
Violence: There is a fight scene but its pretty weak
Language: hardly any
Sex: none
drugs: none
June 16, 2010
This is the story of Elvin, a young obese boy and his single mother. Everything is "fine" at their house until one day his dead uncle shows up and tries to change everything. First it is the cooking, then it is the gym, and then it is talking about all the mistakes he has made and Elvin's problems. Elvin learns to reevaluate his family, friendships, and perception of himself.
I honestly was annoyed with the narrator the majority of the time. I know that it is written in a style that some people can really enjoy (it reminded me of Catcher in the Rye) however I am just irritated by it. There were a lot of issues presented in the book (through exploration of puberty and sexual orientation) that were not dealt with in an explicit manner... but was not the most tasteful approach either. I just found myself getting frustrated with the book the majority of the time and would not have finished it if it was not by a required author.
I honestly was annoyed with the narrator the majority of the time. I know that it is written in a style that some people can really enjoy (it reminded me of Catcher in the Rye) however I am just irritated by it. There were a lot of issues presented in the book (through exploration of puberty and sexual orientation) that were not dealt with in an explicit manner... but was not the most tasteful approach either. I just found myself getting frustrated with the book the majority of the time and would not have finished it if it was not by a required author.
July 18, 2013
I liked this quirky book! I am pretty guilty of judging books by their covers... and I gotta say, I was not expecting much from this. But I really enjoyed Elvin and his journey of becoming comfortable in his own skin. He has to figure himself out and admit a few things to himself. I really liked the style of writing too.
I think this would be determined a boy book--but I think 8th-10th graders (both genders) would like it. Elvin's quick wit and sarcasm would win them over in a heart beat.
Warnings:
Some uncomfortable subject matter-homosexuality and death
Language: mild
I think this would be determined a boy book--but I think 8th-10th graders (both genders) would like it. Elvin's quick wit and sarcasm would win them over in a heart beat.
Warnings:
Some uncomfortable subject matter-homosexuality and death
Language: mild
August 18, 2009
This book was laugh out loud funny in parts but the dialogue and humor seemed way to old for the teenager protagonist. It is about an overweight boy whose father is dead and who lives with his mother. His uncle, whom he was told died in a plane crash but was in fact in jail, shows up to try to give him life lessons. Funny with endearing characters but the ending was abrupt and somewhat lame.
March 17, 2014
This book is about a boy whose father died and was told his uncle died. But one day he wakes up and his uncle in on their couch. His uncle is always wanting to have bonding time with him.
This book was pretty anticlimactic because it feels like the game general idea is happening many times. Some of the things that happen are funnier than others so overall it was okay.
This book was pretty anticlimactic because it feels like the game general idea is happening many times. Some of the things that happen are funnier than others so overall it was okay.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews