APA Citation: Look, L. (2008). Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scary things. (L. Pham, Illus.) New York, NY: Random House.
Plot summary: Alvin Ho is your typical second grader… you know, except he is afraid of everything. Probably his biggest fear in speaking at school, but that’s not going to stop Alvin from trying to make friends. Armed with his Personal Disaster Kit (PDK), Alvin is ready to battle his many neuroses.
Relation to other works: For fans of Alvin Ho, this book is actually the first in a series.
Appeal: Alvin is an adorably quirky character whose commentary inspired a number of laugh-out-loud moments. One of the books greatest strengths is its inclusive nature; Alvin sets a good example and tries to make friends with a variety of characters. Alvin Ho makes it clear that it is okay to be different.
Audience or readership: Ages 9-11, or reading level Q-R.
Limitations or weaknesses: Alvin’s voice is, while amusing, almost unbelievable precocious. At times I was actually taken out of the story because I found the comments so bizarre. As a result, the character reads like an adult trying to sound like a child, which I think it something that children will pick up on. It’s just not believable.
Overall assessment: I found the book fun to read, and probably enjoyed it more on a personal level than I did a “professional” level. For my part, I can’t really see children identifying with Alvin, even though he’s a fun character. There are certainly aspects of his character that are more relateable than others, but I’m not sure kids will buy it. For readers who look for action, this also isn’t the book for them. Grade: B-
KIDS LIT FTW! 