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Scholastic Biography
All Shook Up: The Life and Death of Elvis Presley
Elvis had parents grumbling, girls screaming and fainting, and boys imitating his style. And his music? It had everyone dancing in the aisles. But what's the real story behind "the King"?
Born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Aaron Presley was destined to rewrite the history of music almost from the moment he picked up a guitar. He played music that was rooted in blues, gospel, country and rockabilly, and he redefined a generation by breaking down the boundaries that separate white from black.
Everyone listened to Elvis. Everyone danced to Elvis. Everyone had an opinion about Elvis. And the fame was nice, but it came so fast. The money. The cars. The screaming fans. Somewhere in all that, the singer from Tupelo got lost-and that's the saddest song of all.
Born on January 8, 1935, in Tupelo, Mississippi, Elvis Aaron Presley was destined to rewrite the history of music almost from the moment he picked up a guitar. He played music that was rooted in blues, gospel, country and rockabilly, and he redefined a generation by breaking down the boundaries that separate white from black.
Everyone listened to Elvis. Everyone danced to Elvis. Everyone had an opinion about Elvis. And the fame was nice, but it came so fast. The money. The cars. The screaming fans. Somewhere in all that, the singer from Tupelo got lost-and that's the saddest song of all.
- GenresNonfictionMusicBiography
192 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
3 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Barry Denenberg
47 books82 followersBarry Denenberg is the critically acclaimed author of non-fiction and historical fiction. His historical fiction includes titles in the Dear America, My Name is America, and Royal Diaries series, many of which have been named NCSS/CBC Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People. His nonfiction books have covered a wide array of topics, from Anne Frank to Elvis Presley. After the publication of An American Hero: The True Story of Charles Lindburgh, Denenberg was interviewed for various documentaries including ABC’s “The Century.”
Denenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived in Long Island, Binghamton, New York, and Palisades Park, New Jersey. “I was a serious reader from an early age and when I attended Boston University in 1968, majoring in history, I worked in a bookstore at night,” he says. “After college I was a book buyer for some fine, independent bookstores, some of the nation’s largest retail book chains and a marketing executive in publishing.
“At the age of forty I came to the startling realization that the glamorous world of power lunches, power politics, and power trips was not for me. I immediately went to work on the Great American Novel (since destroyed) and was rescued when my future wife, Jean Feiwel (then and now publisher of Scholastic Inc.) made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Scholastic had received a biography of John F. Kennedy that they deemed unacceptable: would I like to try and write one?
“The rest is history in more ways than one. I went on to write biographies of Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, J. Edgar Hoover, Nelson Mandela, Elvis Presley and Voices From Vietnam, an oral history of the war.
“Writing some of the first books in the Dear America series was a turning point in my career. Its popularity and the resulting readers’ letters made a great impression on me. This in turn inspired my writing and fueled my research. With my bookstore background and the help of numerous knowledgeable booksellers I am able to assemble an extensive bibliography on each topic I write.
“I think there’s an art to both writing and research. I’m a good writer but a better researcher.”
Something that has added greatly to Denenberg’s perspective on writing for young readers is his volunteer work as Director of Creative Writing and Library Services at the Waterside School in Stamford, Connecticut. Waterside, established in 2001, is an independent school dedicated to educating gifted children of the communities’ low-income families.
Aside from writing and teaching Denenberg’s interests include listening to music, reading (books not related to his research), swimming, practicing yoga and spending time with his family.
Barry Denenberg lives in Bedford, New York with his wife and daughter.
Denenberg was born in Brooklyn, New York and lived in Long Island, Binghamton, New York, and Palisades Park, New Jersey. “I was a serious reader from an early age and when I attended Boston University in 1968, majoring in history, I worked in a bookstore at night,” he says. “After college I was a book buyer for some fine, independent bookstores, some of the nation’s largest retail book chains and a marketing executive in publishing.
“At the age of forty I came to the startling realization that the glamorous world of power lunches, power politics, and power trips was not for me. I immediately went to work on the Great American Novel (since destroyed) and was rescued when my future wife, Jean Feiwel (then and now publisher of Scholastic Inc.) made me an offer I couldn’t refuse. Scholastic had received a biography of John F. Kennedy that they deemed unacceptable: would I like to try and write one?
“The rest is history in more ways than one. I went on to write biographies of Jackie Robinson, Muhammad Ali, J. Edgar Hoover, Nelson Mandela, Elvis Presley and Voices From Vietnam, an oral history of the war.
“Writing some of the first books in the Dear America series was a turning point in my career. Its popularity and the resulting readers’ letters made a great impression on me. This in turn inspired my writing and fueled my research. With my bookstore background and the help of numerous knowledgeable booksellers I am able to assemble an extensive bibliography on each topic I write.
“I think there’s an art to both writing and research. I’m a good writer but a better researcher.”
Something that has added greatly to Denenberg’s perspective on writing for young readers is his volunteer work as Director of Creative Writing and Library Services at the Waterside School in Stamford, Connecticut. Waterside, established in 2001, is an independent school dedicated to educating gifted children of the communities’ low-income families.
Aside from writing and teaching Denenberg’s interests include listening to music, reading (books not related to his research), swimming, practicing yoga and spending time with his family.
Barry Denenberg lives in Bedford, New York with his wife and daughter.
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Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
March 19, 2013
Before I read this book, I knew almost nothing about Elvis. This book was very enlightening about "The King" about his drug addition, fiscal problems, and his many girlfriends. From what I have read he was a coward and let his manager bully him into marrying a girl he didn't love, what movies he could be in ,and what songs he could sing. The book ends with his death and his funeral and how sad a day it was.I think the author also paints the picture to make Elvis look stupid too. I would recommend this book to anyone who loves biographies about famous musicians.
April 11, 2021
Nothing new to me, but well-researhed, short, honest account of The King´s life and death.
October 16, 2014
I read "All Shook Up The Life and Death of Elvis Presley" by Barry Denenberg. The book was full of information and was a very entertaining read. I liked it a lot, because it taught me a lot of things about Elvis that I wouldn't have otherwise known.
The book is a biography of Elvis' life which means it starts with Elvis as a child. His father, Vernon, can't hold down a job and provides little for Elvis and his mother. Elvis' mother, Gladys, is a stay at home mom who centers her whole existence around the happiness and protection of her little boy. Elvis struggles as a young boy, but stumbles upon a young man looking to break the race barrier in the music industry. This man is Sam Phillips. He gives Elvis a start, but does not have the resources to make Elvis a star. Elvis later signs a contract with Colonel Parker, who slowly destroys Elvis' life. Overwhelmed with fame and fortune, Elvis develops horrible spending habits and becomes addicted to drugs. The fall of her little boy leads Gladys to alcoholism. She soon dies from liver failure. For this reason Elvis surrounds himself with lots of people who just want to use him for his money and becomes very unhappy. He begins to gain lots of weight and because of the drugs develops anger problems. He forgets words to his songs, skips performances, and becomes secluded. Finally on the anniversary of his mothers death, he is found face down on his bathroom floor. Biopsy later revealed an overdose on drugs. So ends the life of "The King of Rock and Roll".
The main character in the book are Elvis Presley, Colonel Parker, and Gladys Presley. Elvis was a singer and actor who was nicknamed "The King of Rock and Roll". He experienced many hardships in his life, and his success overwhelmed and eventually killed him. Colonel Parker was an illegal immigrant and a very cruel and greedy man. He became Elvis' manager and treated him very poorly. He became very rich and had complete control over Elvis' life. Gladys was Elvis' mother. She was very protective of Elvis from a young age. People often commented that her relationship at some points was actually scaringly intimate. She struggled with alcoholism as a result of losing her little boy to the world. She died at age 43 due to liver failure.
The book has several settings. Elvis was born in 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Thirteen years later he moved to a "Shotgun Shack" in Memphis. He is sent to Germany for the army in1958. The story also takes place in Elvis' mansion, Graceland. Elvis was alive from 1935 to 1977. This is the time period the book takes place in.
I believe the authors' purpose for writing this book was to expose Elvis for who he really was. I think that he wanted everyone to know that the Elvis that everyone saw was just a mask to hide what was really underneath. It is hard for me to relate to it, just because I have never encountered situations like that in my own life.
Overall I would give "All Shook Up The Life and Death of Elvis Presley" a four out of five stars. The book always kept me wanting to read more and had a simple vocabulary that made it an easy read. I would recommend this book to a slightly older audience just because some of the topics discussed in the book may not be appropriate for a younger age group.
The book is a biography of Elvis' life which means it starts with Elvis as a child. His father, Vernon, can't hold down a job and provides little for Elvis and his mother. Elvis' mother, Gladys, is a stay at home mom who centers her whole existence around the happiness and protection of her little boy. Elvis struggles as a young boy, but stumbles upon a young man looking to break the race barrier in the music industry. This man is Sam Phillips. He gives Elvis a start, but does not have the resources to make Elvis a star. Elvis later signs a contract with Colonel Parker, who slowly destroys Elvis' life. Overwhelmed with fame and fortune, Elvis develops horrible spending habits and becomes addicted to drugs. The fall of her little boy leads Gladys to alcoholism. She soon dies from liver failure. For this reason Elvis surrounds himself with lots of people who just want to use him for his money and becomes very unhappy. He begins to gain lots of weight and because of the drugs develops anger problems. He forgets words to his songs, skips performances, and becomes secluded. Finally on the anniversary of his mothers death, he is found face down on his bathroom floor. Biopsy later revealed an overdose on drugs. So ends the life of "The King of Rock and Roll".
The main character in the book are Elvis Presley, Colonel Parker, and Gladys Presley. Elvis was a singer and actor who was nicknamed "The King of Rock and Roll". He experienced many hardships in his life, and his success overwhelmed and eventually killed him. Colonel Parker was an illegal immigrant and a very cruel and greedy man. He became Elvis' manager and treated him very poorly. He became very rich and had complete control over Elvis' life. Gladys was Elvis' mother. She was very protective of Elvis from a young age. People often commented that her relationship at some points was actually scaringly intimate. She struggled with alcoholism as a result of losing her little boy to the world. She died at age 43 due to liver failure.
The book has several settings. Elvis was born in 1935 in East Tupelo, Mississippi. Thirteen years later he moved to a "Shotgun Shack" in Memphis. He is sent to Germany for the army in1958. The story also takes place in Elvis' mansion, Graceland. Elvis was alive from 1935 to 1977. This is the time period the book takes place in.
I believe the authors' purpose for writing this book was to expose Elvis for who he really was. I think that he wanted everyone to know that the Elvis that everyone saw was just a mask to hide what was really underneath. It is hard for me to relate to it, just because I have never encountered situations like that in my own life.
Overall I would give "All Shook Up The Life and Death of Elvis Presley" a four out of five stars. The book always kept me wanting to read more and had a simple vocabulary that made it an easy read. I would recommend this book to a slightly older audience just because some of the topics discussed in the book may not be appropriate for a younger age group.
March 27, 2015
I really enjoyed “All Shook Up” by Barry Denenberg, because it talked about the life of Elvis from birth to his death.Everyone always loved Elvis and this book shows why. From the girls to parents grumbling. The author did extensive research and has accounts from all different people from Elvis’s life throughout the book.
The life accounts of the book are what I liked most about the books. The accounts gives the reader a peak into what was going through Elvis’s mind and on what happened behind the closed doors of Graceland and in the head of Elvis.
The book is a biography of Elvis being told through second person making Elvis the main character. From the beginning of his life to the end, Elvis changed dramatically. As a teen Elvis was hardworking, taking pride in what he sang and did. However in his late thirty’s he was a heavy drug user and no longer cared about the music he wrote or the money he spent.
The book has several settings from East Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935, to Germany for the army in 1958 and finally Graceland, Elvis’ mansion. Elvis lived from 1935-1977, the years Elvis was alive are the years the book takes place in. The setting made a huge impact to how Elvis was brought up to how Elvis’ clothes and music were so different for that time.
I feel the author wrote this book to show how all of Elvis’s life was a puppet act. From a young age always being controlled by his over protective mother to his managers once he started working. People always told Elvis what to do even at the end of his life, his friends told him what to buy and his manager told him what to sing. This was the most shocking part of the book to see that Elvis always had people telling him what to do and where to go.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Elvis and the life that he lived. I think “All Shook Up” is a great book that an older crowd would like to try and relive their favorite Elvis moments but also toward a high school crowd to learn more about Elvis.
The life accounts of the book are what I liked most about the books. The accounts gives the reader a peak into what was going through Elvis’s mind and on what happened behind the closed doors of Graceland and in the head of Elvis.
The book is a biography of Elvis being told through second person making Elvis the main character. From the beginning of his life to the end, Elvis changed dramatically. As a teen Elvis was hardworking, taking pride in what he sang and did. However in his late thirty’s he was a heavy drug user and no longer cared about the music he wrote or the money he spent.
The book has several settings from East Tupelo, Mississippi in 1935, to Germany for the army in 1958 and finally Graceland, Elvis’ mansion. Elvis lived from 1935-1977, the years Elvis was alive are the years the book takes place in. The setting made a huge impact to how Elvis was brought up to how Elvis’ clothes and music were so different for that time.
I feel the author wrote this book to show how all of Elvis’s life was a puppet act. From a young age always being controlled by his over protective mother to his managers once he started working. People always told Elvis what to do even at the end of his life, his friends told him what to buy and his manager told him what to sing. This was the most shocking part of the book to see that Elvis always had people telling him what to do and where to go.
I would recommend this book to anyone interested in learning more about Elvis and the life that he lived. I think “All Shook Up” is a great book that an older crowd would like to try and relive their favorite Elvis moments but also toward a high school crowd to learn more about Elvis.
August 7, 2020
Quite an interesting little bio of an .icon, and an idol during my childhood and teen years. There was quite a bit of information about his childhood and growing up that I learned. And I found it interesting after looking at his filmography that I had seen all but 2 of them. For such a popular rock and roll star, he really led a very sad life, which led him to drugs, of course, according to him, were taken for medicinal purposes. I was very pleased to see the many b/w photos in the book also. For anyone who enjoyed his performing and songs and movies, this is a great little book to read.
May 16, 2021
Elvis Presley came from very humble beginnings and desired to give his mother all that dreamed of by being a singer and a movie star. Everyone knows Elvis as the King of Rock and Roll, but this account of his life and his death was very insightful and sad.
To the outside world, he had it all, but the truth lie behind the scenes. Elvis may have been the life of the party, but almost everyone in his short life was there because he paid them to be. His own dreams were tampered down by the desires of his "manager" to exploit Elvis's talents for all that they were worth.
To the outside world, he had it all, but the truth lie behind the scenes. Elvis may have been the life of the party, but almost everyone in his short life was there because he paid them to be. His own dreams were tampered down by the desires of his "manager" to exploit Elvis's talents for all that they were worth.
March 22, 2024
It's a very condensed version of Elvis's life and death. There were a lot of untruths and misquotes and just flat out lies but for the most part everything was on point. If you want to get the very condensed version of his life and death then this is a very quick read. But if you know anything about Elvis Presley and you've studied it then you will be able to point out all of the wrongs in this book.
October 28, 2018
Insightful and sad
April 15, 2023
Very insightful informative look into the life and death of the king of rock and roll not a bad read if your an Elvis fan
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 28, 2017
this book is about the life and death of Elvis Presley, as it says on the cover. Barry Denenberg breaks down how Elvis Presley grew up and how he became famous. If you want to know more about the king of rock-and-roll, I definitely recommend this book.
May 27, 2014
I read "All shook Up" which is all about the life of Elvis Presley. A lot of the information in the book was kind of surprising to me because I have always known of Elvis as the king, not some drug-induced monkey who was bossed around by anyone. His manager messed up his career and life because all he cared about was the money that Elvis brought him and nothing else.
The main focus of the book was on Elvis, the King of Rock n' Roll, and how he started as a normal kid doing the best he could and slowly turning into a drug-filled drama queen. Then you have his manager, Parker a sleazy, cheating, pathetic excuse of a man who was also an illegal immigrant who controlled Elvis's life and ran him right into the ground. Elvis's first wife was Pricilla, who he met back in Germany when he was in the army. Elvis dictated her life so badly that she couldn't even leave the house. She was also the mother of Elvis's only child.
The book takes place in the 1930's to the 1970's. Back then no one really seemed to care what you did. Elvis got away with so much just because he was rich and famous. It shows how different life was back then compared to now. Back then people hated his music. They thought it was something from the devil. They also didn't like the way he danced. They said it was too vulgar and something they didn't want their kids to see or even be a part of.
I rate this book five of five stars and recommend it to anyone who has some respect for old music.
The main focus of the book was on Elvis, the King of Rock n' Roll, and how he started as a normal kid doing the best he could and slowly turning into a drug-filled drama queen. Then you have his manager, Parker a sleazy, cheating, pathetic excuse of a man who was also an illegal immigrant who controlled Elvis's life and ran him right into the ground. Elvis's first wife was Pricilla, who he met back in Germany when he was in the army. Elvis dictated her life so badly that she couldn't even leave the house. She was also the mother of Elvis's only child.
The book takes place in the 1930's to the 1970's. Back then no one really seemed to care what you did. Elvis got away with so much just because he was rich and famous. It shows how different life was back then compared to now. Back then people hated his music. They thought it was something from the devil. They also didn't like the way he danced. They said it was too vulgar and something they didn't want their kids to see or even be a part of.
I rate this book five of five stars and recommend it to anyone who has some respect for old music.
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February 4, 2016Booktalk: Elvis Presley was the one man who could make black music accept-able for white folks to listen to. Back when Elvis was a teenager in the 1950s, whites didn't listen to black music unless a white singer sang it. But to Elvis he loved all kinds of music. It didn't matter to him who sang it. He grew up in the South listening to the blues, gos-pel, country, rockabilly, even opera. When he was in high school in Memphis, he would go to a black church just to hear gospel being sung at Sunday services. Elvis had serious attitude, too. He wore his hair longer than the other kids at school. He bought his clothes at a black-owned clothing store. When a teacher told him he couldn't sing, Elvis said that wasn't the problem; she just didn't appreciate his kind of singing. Elvis was loner and he didn't care what people thought about him.Maybe it was his attitude that made him a star. Maybe it was the way he created a new sound based on all the types of music he loved. Maybe it was both. Whatever it was, Elvis' stardom was turning the world upside down in a way that people loved...and hated. read 43-44. And that was how the king of rock and roll got the world ALL SHOOK UP.
October 6, 2011
This is a terrific and very accessible (easy to read and understand) biography about the famous singer and entertainer Elvis Presley. He became perhaps the biggest entertainer in the world, but eventually threw it all away on drugs. A very sad but human story. He was at heart a good man, but he could not handle fame and fortune. His music is still played on the radio every day, but his story is a cautionary tale.
August 19, 2009
My son chose to read this book for his summer reading assignment. I decided to pick it up and read it too. Very nicely written so that younger children can comprehend it. And learned some things about Elvis that I hadn't known. Also thought it was neat that my father saw Elvis perform as his local elementary school most likely at the beginning of his career.
August 5, 2016
A look at the life of a rock-n-roll legend that is geared for younger readers. It gives an overview of the life of the "King", but doesn't go into detail that would be inappropriate for younger readers. A way to hook young music fans into reading nonfiction. There is one instance of profanity in a direct quote, but otherwise a clean book.
May 5, 2013
I learned a lot from this book. I have been an Elvis fan for a while now, so this book stood out to me on the book shelf. I learned things about him that I had no idea about. He truly changed the music industry, and he was such a talented person. I would recommend this book, Elvis fan or not!
December 11, 2008
J 921 Presley Very good bio of Elvis Presley with lots of pictures.
March 28, 2010
Great information, but in an attempt to relate to young readers the author used some cringe-worthy writing.
June 8, 2011
A concise, very readable Elvis biography. It doesn't sugar coat his life, nor does it skip the drug use, but puts things out in an engaging way.
July 19, 2011
I wanted to read this book again since we visited Graceland in June. It truly is a trip to put on your bucket list.
December 5, 2024
This is a very good condensed version of the life and death of Elvis. Highly recommend this book if you just want a short version.
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February 15, 2019 This book is about the life and death of Elvis Presley, who was the the 'King of Rock n Roll'. It talks in depth about the minute Elvis was born to the the minute he died, and everything in between. If you are interested in learning about Elvis Presley this a book you should definitely read!
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews