Elvin Link, Please Report to the Principal's Office!

by Drew Dernavich

Meet an irrepressible kid doodler-turned-sketch artist, in this breakout illustrated diary fiction mystery from Drew Dernavich, Elvin Link, Please Report to the Principal's Office.

Meet Elvin Link—slacker, notorious doodler, and the only kid in fifth grade who hasn't (yet) received a wedgie from the school bully Peter Zorber. Can Elvin navigate the last few weeks of school without getting into trouble for his incessant doodling? How will he steer clear of the class wedgie-master? And is it possible to turn a hobby into a crime fighting skill and solve a school mystery? Elvin Link is about to find out all the answers, and he'll do it with a flip disc in one hand and a bottle of hot sauce in the other!

Christy Ottaviano Books

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Humor, Realistic Fiction, Childrens

224 pages, Hardcover

First published July 21, 2020

Reviews

[Sandra Lopez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Meet Elvin, a 5th grader that loves to draw…on everything. Lockers, lunch trays, sidewalks, doors, homework, desks, walls, and so on. One day, he was ordered by the principal to stop drawing on stuff until he gets the opportunity to draw a picture of a kid who may have knocked an ice cream cone from someone. This ends up getting his best friend in trouble. From this point forward, these boys just keep getting into more trouble.

Story had wonderful, sketchy illustrations—cool, caricature-style doodles. So dynamic! A fun and funny read! Loved it!

[Hope Hunter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvin Fink spends most of the time in the dream worlds he creates through his doodling and avoiding the school bully, Peter, who is determined to give him a wedgie since he is the only kid who has avoided Peter so far. As Elvin works to avoid Peter and stay out of the principal's office because of his doodling, he finds himself constantly called to the principal's office to sketch witness accounts of people who are causing crimes around the school.

Fun story with lots of illustrations. This is a great book for Diary of a Wimpy Kid or Nate the Great fans.

[Erin Buhr · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a fun middle grade chapter book. It is about Elvin Link who is a bit of slacker, except for in the drawing department. There is enough "boy humor" about wedgies and hot sauce and the like for reluctant boys to get caught up in this book, but there is also plenty of heart. Elvin excels at drawing and I love how his hobby is eventually celebrated and shown to be incredibly useful. Well paced and full of amusing drawings this is easy to read and hard to put down.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvin is a funny character many readers will relate to. He doesn't try to do harm, but his doodling gets out of control and he winds up in the principals office.
When one event forces him to after school detention, his drawing skills come in handy and he helps to solve a theft. This leads to another event that helps Elvin turn his reputation around.
Quick read, humor, friendship.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I liked all of the characters, the plot was good, and it was well-written. There will be art sprinkled liberally throughout the book but unfortunately I didn’t get to see it. I think with the added art I’d like it even more. It was a funny, quick read about school, drawing, and wedgies. I think kids looking for lighthearted fun books will enjoy this. #Netgalley

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Elvin Link just really likes to draw, okay? Drawing makes everything better. He can turn his desk into a rocketship. His teachers disagree and send him to the principal's office. But, maybe his drawing can come in handy and help the principal solve a mystery while avoiding a wedgie from the school's bully. Similar format to Wimpy Kid and Captain Underpants.

[Cara BookShelfMomma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Children’s Publishing for this fun and entertaining middle grade fiction novel. My 9 year old read this and just loved it! It is a well written book about a boy who loves to draw and try’s to evade getting a wedgie. There are some nice drawings throughout

[Andréa]

Note: I accessed a digital review copy of this book through Edelweiss.

[Liam Walsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Clever and funny, by a very talented New Yorker cartoonist, you'll enjoy this one!

[Hoover Public Library Kids and Teens · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meet the irrepressible doodler-turned-sketch artist in this illustrated novel perfect for Wimpy Kid and Origami Yoda fans.

[Melachrinos Family · Rating 5 out of 5]

My 9 year old loves this one!!

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

[Timothy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Turned out to be a fun book. Great for year 3 to 5 and definitely an easy read with lots of cartoons. Not a bad story behind it all.

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 - loved the ending

[Paul Noth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Drew Dernavich’s new middle grade chapter book Elvin Link, Please Report to the Principal’s Office. It's funny, playful, innovative and readable. Kids will love it.