Title Elvis and the underdogs / Jenny Lee ; illustrations by Kelly Light.

Elvis and the Underdogs offers middle graders a little bit of everything: sly humor, a school story complete with bullies, a bit of fantasy, a heroic dog, and a happy ending! Fans of Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid will likely tear into this book by Jenny Lee. This is the story of Benji Barnsworth, an underdeveloped ten year old whose many health problems prevent him from fitting in with his peers. After Benji’s latest epileptic fainting episode, his family reluctantly agrees to get a Therapy Dog to help keep him safe. The dog turns out to be larger than life: he is a 200 pound Newfoundland named Parker Elvis Pembroke IV! Amazingly, “Elvis” can talk, although ONLY to Benji! The child/dog team overcomes many obstacles, some with hilarious results. Even though they must part at the end, each of their lives has been enriched by the other. This is a winner! Grades 4-6. (CJE)