Alvin Ho. 1, Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	J Fiction / Look, Lenore	4-week checkout	Due 05-19-2024

A young boy in Concord, Massachusetts, who loves superheroes and comes from a long line of brave Chinese farmer-warriors, wants to make friends, but first he must overcome his fear of everything.

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Funny, Realistic Novel submitted by skcramer on July 15, 2013, 9:09pm At home Alvin Ho is a typical seven-year-old boy, quarrelling with his siblings and donning a cape to play superheroes, but at school his anxiety over “girls, school and other scary things” keeps him from speaking or making friends with his classmates. Even children who do not suffer from an anxiety disorder or selective mutism will be able to relate to Alvin’s wish for a friend, and while some readers (particularly parents) may be put off by how this chapter book handles these subjects with a light, humorous tone, other readers will find this tone makes for a more sympathetic portrayal of Alvin’s condition. Alvin’s Chinese-American heritage is another unique feature of the book, and it is refreshing to see multicultural literature where race is not the focus. Indeed, the book seems to push against stereotypes with a grandfather who sews and a Chinese-American father who delights in Shakespearean insults. The illustrations, black-and-white line drawings, add to the light, humorous tone with expressive faces and poses that perfectly capture Alvin’s emotions.

Delightful! submitted by emjane on August 9, 2013, 9:05am Though he’s happy at home, Alvin Ho is so afraid at school that he can’t even talk. Unfortunately, his troubles don’t end there, since he has a girl as his desk partner, a bully to try to impress, and the consequences of breaking his father’s toy to face.

Instantly likeable, Alvin is relatable, endearing, and, above-all, funny. LeUyen Pham’s black-and-white illustrations only serve to highlight the already full descriptions found in the text—their cartoonish style fit perfectly with the casual tone of Alvin’s narration. Most young readers will understand Alvin’s shyness and his desire to fit in, and will find themselves rooting for him throughout the book. An excellent choice for transitional readers, as its short chapters with a few illustrations make it easy to take breaks and find stopping points—however, it’s unlikely that kids will want to put the book down.

Highly recommended.