All Shook Up

By Shelley Pearsall

Book Overview

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

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 044042139X
• ISBN13: 9780440421399
• Release Date: October 2009
• Publisher: Random House Children's Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.1" x 7.5"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Student Review - All Shook Up

[...] You have probably heard the superstition before that 13 is an unlucky number. Most people, like me, think this is crazy, but for 13-year-old Josh in All Shook Up it isn't. When Josh turns 13 his Grandma, who lives in Florida, breaks her hip by falling down the stairs and he has to move to his dad's house in Chicago for four whole months. Why? Because his mom decides to go live with his grandma in Florida until her ribs are healed. Josh isn't allowed to go with his mom because the schools near his grandma aren't all that great. When he arrives at his dad's house he finds out that his dad had turned into Elvis, side burns and all. This isn't even the worst part, Josh's dad has a girlfriend who has a daughter named Ivory and they both dress like they are living in the 60's! As if all of this isn't enough, Josh's dad wants to perform at his new school for the 50's concert. This causes a major problem for Josh because he is finally starting to become popular at school and, if anyone knows that Josh's dad is an Elvis impersonator, then no one will want to be his friend and he will have to sit at the garbage can seats at lunch. The garbage can seats are for losers who have no friends. Will Josh come up with a way to scheme his dad into not going or will he be embarrassed in front of the whole school? All Shook Up was the funniest book I have ever read. The author added so much detail that at times you felt like you were in the book and actually knew Josh. At some points in the book I wanted to yell at Josh and tell him what to do. After reading this book, it made me realize that what my parents do to me in public that is sometimes embarrassing is nothing. It could be a lot worse. After reading All Shook Up you are sure to feel the same way. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves reading suspenseful books with a pinch of humor. This book definitely deserves a five out of five!

Hilarious! Made me laugh out loud.

A great book with a ton of humor and heart. I recommend it highly!

You think you have an embarrassing parent?

In this book, Pearsall takes on the bane of all teens: a parent who embarrasses you! Hey, it doesn't get any worse than a semi-normal dad changing careers to become an Elvis impersonator. You can't help cracking up (and being glad it's not you) as Josh--the main character--has to deal with everything from his dad's new sideburns to his "gigs" around town while Josh is trying to fit in at a new school. Other interesting characters abound in this book from bizarro chic Ivory (possible girlfriend?) to dog collar-wearing Digger to old lady neighbor Gladys--all who want to befriend Josh as he desperately tries not to draw attention to himself! The book is a fast and good read--I think of Deliver Us from Normal by Kate Klise or Al Capone Does My Shirts by Choldenko as comparable books. It's funny, sometimes painful to read as Josh tries to cope, and ultimately rewarding in the end (I won't tell--you'll have to read it yourself!)