Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School and Other Scary Things. by Lenore Look. (2008). 172p. New York: Random House Books.
Awards and Honors: none
Review:
Alvin Ho is an eight-year-old antihero of sorts; he's terrified of most things, he goes mute in school, and he has a terribly hard time making friends. Consequently, everyday life is pretty hard for Alvin, but he is nonetheless determined to make friends and to become a "gentleman". At home Alvin is the middle child, stuck between cool older brother Calvin, and sassy little sister Anibelly. The book details Alvin's adventures, from taking piano lessons to seeing a psychologist. LeUyen Pham's pen and ink illustrations add additional levity to his trials and tribulations.
Alvin Ho is an eight-year-old antihero of sorts; he's terrified of most things, he goes mute in school, and he has a terribly hard time making friends. Consequently, everyday life is pretty hard for Alvin, but he is nonetheless determined to make friends and to become a "gentleman". At home Alvin is the middle child, stuck between cool older brother Calvin, and sassy little sister Anibelly. The book details Alvin's adventures, from taking piano lessons to seeing a psychologist. LeUyen Pham's pen and ink illustrations add additional levity to his trials and tribulations.
Opinion:
This was a book that I did not immediately fall in love with. At the outset, Alvin is not a particularly likeable character: he's neurotic and mean at times (especially to Flea, his only friend at school). But, as the book develops so does Alvin, and I eventually began to really enjoy Alvin's story and to root for him. The addition of historical facts (Alvin lives in Massachusetts) about Henry David Thoreau and the Revolutionary War enriches the book.
Ideas:I'd like to make a bibliography of tween books with male characters.
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