Me, Dead Dad, and Alcatraz -- Chris Lynch

This book is actually only due out in September, but I read the galley.  I hope that they keep the same cover art--it's really super.

This is the third book that Chris Lynch has written about Elvin Bishop, the other two being Extreme Elvin and Slot Machine.  I read Slot Machine ages ago (loved it), haven't gotten to Extreme Elvin yet.  (Which I will read--and will probably like--regardless of how horrified Sarah is).

It's a funny book.  Which I mean literally, as in it made me laugh.  Elvin is a funny guy, in an Elvin way:

The simple questions are always the worst.  If you think you know the answer right off, then for God's sake dive into your laundry hamper.  If you're completely lost, you're probably okay.

or:

I sipped my tea.  I took a bite of my muffin.  I do not like marmalade.  There is a reason people compost orange peels.

The story centers around Elvin, our portly tuba-playing hero, dealing with the discovery that his dead uncle is not actually dead.  And other things, but mostly that.

While I like Elvin a lot, I'm having a hard time thinking of who I would recommend this book to--it isn't funny like Son-of-the-Mob-funny.  I think that it's more adult-looking-back-at-adolescence funny.  Which isn't necessarily funny to actual adolescents. 

It's just so different than most YA lit.  Granted, so was Freewill, which was another one that I thought was great, but...  again, who the heck do you recommend it to, other than to adults?