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Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz
 | Me, Dead Dad, & Alcatraz Lynch, Chris Date: 20 September, 2005 — $10.87 — Book Rating: |
Elvin Bishop, first introduced in Slot Machine and Extreme Elvin, is startled to discover that his Uncle Alex did not actually die in a plane crash, despite being told that. Not only is Alex very much alive, he is, in fact, sitting in Elvin's living room, announcing that he wants a relationship with Elvin and his mother. Alex, the brother of Elvin's deceased father, was ashamed of past trangressions, and asked Elvin's mother to invent his demise. Now, he tries to make up for lost time with a skeptical Elvin. Elvin is simulteanously in awe and wary of his new found relative. Alex takes it upon himself to better Elvin, taking him to the gym, and encouraging him to stand up to his friends. However, Alex does have his problems, sometimes not showing up for appointments with Elvin, and not taking care of his health problems. Through his dealings with Alex, Elvin learns more about himself, and his relationships with his friends and his mother.
I fell in love with Elvin when I read Slot Machine five years ago. He's such a likeable teenage boy, with a bit of a sarcastic and self deprecating side. He's not popular, but seems content with his friendships with Mikie and Frankie. He does suffer from self confidence problems, but doesn't wallow in self pity like some teen protaganists. Elvin's personality is what makes this book an enjoyable read. I could read a "How to Manual" featuring Elvin Bishop and I would be entertained. The plot involving Uncle Alex is interesting but falls apart at the end. A definite must for fans of Elvin and his friends. The plot does stand alone, but young adults new to these books are better off reading Slot Machine, as it's the strongest book in the series.
