All Shook Up
  • Published: 15 December 2009
  • ISBN: 9780440421399
  • Imprint: RHUS Children's Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 272
  • RRP: $16.99

All Shook Up

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Shelley Pearsall, author of the award-winning Crooked River and Trouble Don't Last, demonstrates her talent and versatility with this contemporary story about a boy who discovers--to his horror--that his dad has become an Elvis impersonator. This is laugh-out-loud funny (with heart), and the boy voice has a friendly and comic-embarrassed tone, akin to Louis Sachar's The Boy Who Lost His Face and Sue Stauffacher's Donuthead. A former teacher, Shelley presents at schools and writers' conferences throughout the year and maintains an extensive and professional website for fans and teachers at www.shelleypearsall.com. In her research for this book, she interviewed dozens of Elvis impersonators--and attended their shows!--in order to strike just the right note with the father character.

The King of Rock ’n’ Roll lives! And he’s Josh’s dad.

When 13-year-old Josh finds out that he has to stay with his dad in Chicago for a few months, he’s not too thrilled. But when he arrives at the airport, he’s simply devastated. His father—who used to be a scatterbrained but pretty normal shoe salesman—has become . . . Elvis. Well, a sideburnwearing, hip-twisting, utterly-embarrassing Elvis impersonator.

Josh is determined to keep his dad’s identity a secret, but on his very first day at his new school, a note appears on his locker. It’s signed Elvisly Yours, and instead of a name, a sneering purple smiley face. The secret is out, and when his dad is invited to perform at a special 50s concert at his school, Josh is forced to take drastic action. From award-winning author Shelley Pearsall comes a hilarious novel about discovering the important (and sometimes painful) difference between who you want to be—and who you really are.

“Alternately wry, silly, thoughtful and laugh-out-loud funny.”—BookPage
  • Published: 15 December 2009
  • ISBN: 9780440421399
  • Imprint: RHUS Children's Books
  • Format: Paperback
  • Pages: 272
  • RRP: $16.99
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The Seventh Most Important Thing
Jump Into The Sky
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Praise for All Shook Up

  • "Funny, realistic and slightly sarcastic, and the eventual changes in Josh's relationship with his dad are both believable and well-handled. Boys especially will identify with Josh's struggle to escape the stigma of an embarrassing parent."--Kirkus Reviews
  • "Through a wonderful and believable process of discovery orchestrated partially by Ivory and her mom, father and son come to understand one another. Pearsall has given Josh an authentic voice, and his first-person narrative is engaging throughout."--School Library Journal
  • "This affecting story... is also a very funny tale told by a terrifically engaging young narrator.... It is one of those rare, humor-filled books that will appeal to middle school readers regardless of gender."--VOYA