Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

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 show more 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. show less

Alvin Ho is afraid of...everything. And I love that there is no one ah-ha moment or panacea, he makes small inroads with therapy etc. which feels honest and natural, all wrapped up in good humor and a moment where he stands up for himself in a relationship. Rather, when he tells Pinky, the boy he tried to impress, that Pinky wasn't a good choice to be Alvin's friend. Deft and humorous.

One of my favorite reviewers isn't raving about this because she doesn't feel that Alvin is authentic. I have to admit that she probably knows more second-graders than I do. But to me he felt very real. Not to mention adorable.

His parents, now... they're not realistic. How can they be so patient, so understanding? It helps that there are grandparents around, I guess, but still. I mean, who but Alvin would believe a whispered remark, heard for the very first time as the boy is headed to piano lessons, that the piano teacher is a witch?

Anyway, I loved the whole family. And I loved the world-building of what it's like to live in Concord Mass. "The best thing about history, as everyone knows, is that you can play it at recess."

I do wonder show more who reads this. Is it at a second-grade reading level? Good for family read-alouds. I bet a lot of teachers read it to their classes, because they can share ideas prompted about bullies, siblings, anxiety, being a gentleman, etc.... and then they can turn their students loose on the sequels. Well, I'm going to look for the sequels, too; one book was just not enough for me. show less

Ages 7-10.

Second grader Alvin Ho loves putting on a cape and imagining he is the superhero Firecracker man. Alvin has one problem: he’s afraid of just about everything. At school, Alvin just can’t seem to speak, no matter how hard he tries. With the help of his Dad and big brother, Alvin decides to overcome his fears and find friends.

Look’s story balances a compassion for Alvin’s social anxiety with humor. Readers feel sympathy for Alvin’s problem, but also see that Alvin’s unique perspective gives him a marvelous imagination. He doodles escape routes and flies with Johnny Astro. He even hurls mild Shakespearean insults at his psychotherapist, which Dad explains is not appropriate.

Readers with some transitional chapter book show more experience will feel successful with Alvin Ho. Chapter titles hint at what is coming next. A maximum of 22 lines per page, and lines with 1.5 spacing between them, allow readers to take in the text with ease. A glossary in Alvin’s voice includes the names famous authors from Alvin’s hometown Concord, MA, the Chinese names of his grandparents, and tricky vocabulary.

The book’s ending is hopeful for Alvin, yet realistic and believable. Fortunately for readers, Alvin Ho has sequels in store. Recommended. show less

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 show more 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. Recommended for readers age 6 to 8, particularly for boy readers for whom there are few realistic chapter books. show less

A humorous story about a second grader negotiating life with his PDK (Personal Disaster Kit). The first-person narrative about Alvin’s neuroses, accompanied by humorous illustrations, makes for a wonderful read aloud. Alvin Ho’s Woeful Glossary.

I was actually kind of disappointed in this. I thought the way therapy was portrayed isn't helpful. There were quite a few instances where Alvin's world view, while it's obvious to an adult reader the author is being tongue in cheek, would certainly lead some kids down the wrong understanding and there's no follow-up where Alvin learns or understands. Positives include the strong family and sibling connections, Flea, and the fact that Jules' gender was ambiguous and the text made it clear that Alvin couldn't figure it out, but also equally clear that he didn't care.