Publishers Weekly
Ten-year-old Benji Wendell Barns-worth is constantly in and out of the hospital with a smattering of illnesses and allergies; he faints often, and he recently had an epileptic seizure. Getting a therapy dog—a gigantic, talking, Doritos-eating Newfoundland named Parker Elvis Pembroke IV—spares Benji the humiliation of wearing a safety helmet at all times. Elvis, as Benji dubs him, is confident and very well-spoken, and his influence helps Benji assert himself around his well-meaning but suffocating mother, as well as seek adventure with his new friends: Taisy, the pressured daughter of a celebrity athlete, and Alexander, a new student with a “total recall brain.” This children’s book debut from Lee, a writer and producer on Disney’s Shake It Up sitcom (and clearly a dog lover), is suffused with optimism, despite Benji’s many health problems. Benji comes across as down-to-earth and sympathetic—without being pitiable—and the underlying theme about strength found in companionship gives the story just enough gravity. Light contributes b&w digital spot cartoons, not all seen by PW. Ages 8–12. Author’s agent: Sally Woffard-Girand, Union Literary. Illustrator’s agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. (May)
From the Publisher
A lighthearted enjoyable read.” — School Library Journal (starred review)
“A funny, unabashedly feel-good boy-and-dog story. . . . This crowd-pleasing debut is definitely ready for prime time.” — Booklist (starred review)
“This children’s book debut from Lee, a writer and producer on Disney’s ‘Shake It Up’ sitcom (and clearly a dog lover), is suffused with optimism.” — Publishers Weekly
“That Elvis is a dog of dogs: the smartest, the bravest, the funniest. Also, the biggest. No wonder Benji’s adventures with him are hilarious and action-packed! Such a very fun read.” — Emily Jenkins, author of INVISIBLE INKLING and TOYS GO OUT
“It’s impossible not to fall in love with Elvis and Benji. And here I thought I was the only person who actually had conversations with his dog…” — Chris Rylander, author of THE FOURTH STALL
Emily Jenkins
That Elvis is a dog of dogs: the smartest, the bravest, the funniest. Also, the biggest. No wonder Benji’s adventures with him are hilarious and action-packed! Such a very fun read.
Chris Rylander
It’s impossible not to fall in love with Elvis and Benji. And here I thought I was the only person who actually had conversations with his dog…
Booklist (starred review)
A funny, unabashedly feel-good boy-and-dog story. . . . This crowd-pleasing debut is definitely ready for prime time.
Kirkus Reviews
Lee's debut novel, a quirky if formulaic take on bullying and friendship, falls short in its description of the partnership between Benji, the narrator, and Elvis, his talking service dog. Benji Barnsworth suffers from a host of ailments and faints under stress--which happens often, since he's Billy Thompson's favorite bullying target. When Benji has a seizure, he trades his new helmet for a service dog: a huge Newfoundland with a smart mouth. Elvis isn't exactly man's best friend, but his presence allows Benji to befriend Taisy, an overwhelmed athlete with an ex–football pro father, and Alexander, a "human GPS" with a photographic memory. Benji's witty, slightly cynical voice and close family support are the most believable aspects of an otherwise implausible book. His friends are caring but stereotypical; Asian-American Alexander's intellect borders on caricature, and Taisy's relationship with her father follows sitcom formula. The service-dog aspect reads like an afterthought. Even Benji's doctor uses "service dog" and "therapy dog" interchangeably despite their different functions, and Benji is unable to say what training Elvis received, which seems remarkably incurious, given their relationship. Elvis' job is so unclear that he could just as easily be an ordinary dog dispensing tough love. Ultimately, the thin plot is far-fetched, even for a story about a talking dog, and readers aware of the true role of service animals will be annoyed by the inaccurate portrayal. (Fiction. 8-12)
