ALVIN HO IS an Asian American second grader who is afraid of everything—elevators, tunnels, girls, and, most of all, school. He’...
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Aug 07, 2008
The Library Lady
rated it: 
I know I'm supposed to follow the other reviewers and kvell over this book and declare Alvin to be the next Ramona, Junie B, whoever, just not in a dress.
But I can't.
From the moment he began to assemble his "Personal Disaster Kit" I stopped believing in Alvin as a living, breathing second grader. And the finale, with Alvin finally making friends with a cool girl, was about as predictable as you can get.
I found this contrived and cutesy and could a More...
But I can't.
From the moment he began to assemble his "Personal Disaster Kit" I stopped believing in Alvin as a living, breathing second grader. And the finale, with Alvin finally making friends with a cool girl, was about as predictable as you can get.
I found this contrived and cutesy and could a More...
Jul 10, 2008
babyhippoface
rated it: 
Lenore Look and LeUyen Pham have teamed up to create one terrific cast of characters in this new chapter book for kids, Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things.
Alvin is afraid of lots of things: elevators, tunnels, bridges, airplanes, thunder, substitute teachers, kimchi, wasabi, the dark, heights, scary movies, scary dreams, shots, school. Especially school. And he's about to start second-grade, which means he's very nervous. At home with his loving and patient More...
Alvin is afraid of lots of things: elevators, tunnels, bridges, airplanes, thunder, substitute teachers, kimchi, wasabi, the dark, heights, scary movies, scary dreams, shots, school. Especially school. And he's about to start second-grade, which means he's very nervous. At home with his loving and patient More...
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Oct 03, 2011
Mary
rated it:
This is really more suited for elementary school readers, but I don't have that category on my shelves, and had to read the book because it is a New Jersey Battle of the Books selection for 5th/6th grade this year. Alvin, the main character and narrator is just starting 2nd grade, and the oldest child in the book, Alvin's brother Calvin, is in 4th grade, so the appeal of this book would definitely be younger readers. However, the reading level is apparently 5th grade - and there is some vocabula
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Aug 09, 2011
Laura
rated it:
Alvin Ho, an Asian American second grader, has trouble coping with the world. He's afraid of heights, has a personal disaster kit, and is selectively mute at school. Through his trials and triumphs, his family accepts him for who he is while helping him grow up.
There's a lot to like about this book. The story is engaging, Alvin's fears and actions are over-the-top funny, and the characters are lively. The stylized illustrations add quite a bit to the story as well. But I have a More...
There's a lot to like about this book. The story is engaging, Alvin's fears and actions are over-the-top funny, and the characters are lively. The stylized illustrations add quite a bit to the story as well. But I have a More...
Mar 27, 2011
Loretta
rated it: 
Meh. Reading this book to my boys at bedtime gave me a very good idea of what Charlotte Mason meant when she described some children's books as 'twaddle'.
Sure, it's an engaging little story, and I had to laugh at Alvin and his Shakespearean curses. But in the end I was left with the feeling that this was really a book about nothing at all. Was it about friendship? Was it about childhood anxieties? Surviving school? Being a Chinese American boy? Taking responsibility? All of the above More...
Sure, it's an engaging little story, and I had to laugh at Alvin and his Shakespearean curses. But in the end I was left with the feeling that this was really a book about nothing at all. Was it about friendship? Was it about childhood anxieties? Surviving school? Being a Chinese American boy? Taking responsibility? All of the above More...
Mar 03, 2011
akibird
rated it: 
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things by Lenore Look (2008)
Contemporary Fiction, 172 pages
Second grader, Alvin Ho, is afraid of just about everything. He can’t seem to find his voice in school and is having trouble making friends. His desk buddy Flea is an eye patch-wearing, Aggression for Girls-fighting unique individual who accepts Alvin for who he is. She has even written the book on Alvin, decoding his moods using his silent eye expressions. Unfortunate More...
Contemporary Fiction, 172 pages
Second grader, Alvin Ho, is afraid of just about everything. He can’t seem to find his voice in school and is having trouble making friends. His desk buddy Flea is an eye patch-wearing, Aggression for Girls-fighting unique individual who accepts Alvin for who he is. She has even written the book on Alvin, decoding his moods using his silent eye expressions. Unfortunate More...
Sep 27, 2010
Kirsten
rated it:
I really enjoyed this middle-reader from my library's collection, and if I could I would give it 3.5 stars. Some of the writing was just a bit too self-conscious for me to consider it a 4 start book. On the other hand, the illustrations are fantabulous, and I love the concept.
Alvin Ho's a smart kid with a fantastic imagination and a family who loves him like crazy. He's got a big problem, though; he can't seem to talk in school. Ever. His voice freezes up and he's incapable of speaki More...
Alvin Ho's a smart kid with a fantastic imagination and a family who loves him like crazy. He's got a big problem, though; he can't seem to talk in school. Ever. His voice freezes up and he's incapable of speaki More...
Aug 06, 2010
stegersaurus
rated it:
OK, Alvin Ho is my new favorite. There's his voice -- distinctive, neurotic, precocious, and freaking *adorable.* There's the format of the book -- with lists and diagrams and illustrations (and of course I loved LeUyen Pham's illustrations).
But I think what I loved most is that I really want to live in Alvin's world. He's part of a tight-knit community -- Concord, Massachusetts (which is hard to spell) -- he's part of a very close family, he's part of a school system where they t More...
But I think what I loved most is that I really want to live in Alvin's world. He's part of a tight-knit community -- Concord, Massachusetts (which is hard to spell) -- he's part of a very close family, he's part of a school system where they t More...
May 15, 2010
Suebee
rated it:
I have heard this talked and talked about over and over again in school library circles, so I finally picked it up (after adding it to my own K-4 library last year). But I wasn't that impressed.
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story - definitely quirky. Alvin Ho is afraid of many things, from elevators and tunnels to meeting new teachers and heights. But he never speaks in school. As a selective mute, he is treated to a visit with a "psychotherapist" weekly. I thought t More...
I enjoyed the uniqueness of the story - definitely quirky. Alvin Ho is afraid of many things, from elevators and tunnels to meeting new teachers and heights. But he never speaks in school. As a selective mute, he is treated to a visit with a "psychotherapist" weekly. I thought t More...
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Mar 27, 2010
Irene
rated it:
Thanks to an update from Grace Lin's Facebook fan page, I learned that Lenore Look also wrote a couple books featuring an elementary school-aged Chinese-American boy! I was thrilled because while I do love Grace Lin's books, they mostly feature female main characters, and I wondered if that might seem less appealing to Sebastien when he's older. Interestingly, though, when I picked up this book at the library and told Isabelle it was by the same author as Ruby Lu but is about a boy, she said she
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Jan 10, 2010
Donna
rated it:
In this first of a two-book series that includes Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters, author Lenore Look fills the pages with zany and loveable characters and witty observations, all described from the pragmatic point of view of Alvin Ho and colored by his many fears. Look’s success is in her ability to make the most of Alvin’s daily adventures, from bugging his brother on the computer to standing in line with his classmates outside the window of the kid who has ch
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Dec 09, 2009
Linda
rated it:
Look, Lenore. Alvin Ho Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things.(Illus.)NY:Schwartz & Wade Books,2008.172p.ISBN 978-0-375-93914-3.$15.99.
Rating ***
Alvin Ho is afraid of almost everything including but not limited to elevators, bridges, substitute teachers, school, heights, shots and wasabi! But he does love anything that explodes and superheroes. There's so much to know about Alvin including the sixth thing,"...I have never spoken a word in school. Even when I try with More...
Rating ***
Alvin Ho is afraid of almost everything including but not limited to elevators, bridges, substitute teachers, school, heights, shots and wasabi! But he does love anything that explodes and superheroes. There's so much to know about Alvin including the sixth thing,"...I have never spoken a word in school. Even when I try with More...
Jun 28, 2009
Elizabeth
rated it:
Eh, this was passable, I guess. Second grader Alvin Ho is nervous and wary of ... well, the things in the title as well as his piano teacher, his therapist, and horror movies. There were a few cute episodes, but for the most part, I didn't get what was supposed to be clever. With something like the Ramona books, I always get a kick out of Ramona's weird misconceptions, and sometimes I even have to figure them out, and when I do, I'm impressed with how they are concurrently from out of left More...
May 22, 2009
Robin
rated it:
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things is sure to be a hit with the 6 to 9 year old crowd. Written by Lenore Look and illustrated by LeUyen Pham, Alvin tells his story in a frank, funny and appealing way. While third and fourth graders will be able to read the book on their own, I think that many younger kids will need it to be read to them. Luckily, the breezy writing makes it a perfect read-aloud book.
Second grader Alvin has some idiosyncrasies that kids will r More...
Second grader Alvin has some idiosyncrasies that kids will r More...
Apr 06, 2009
Alvin Ho: Allergic to girls, school, and other scary things by Lenore Look
How many second graders carry a Personal Disaster Kit? I can think of one: Alvin Ho. Here is his Personal Disaster Kit (show page 8-9 spread). Some highlights: a three-leaf clover, garlic, and a scary mask.
As you can guess, Alvin’s kind of scared of everything, and he’s allergic to girls. But he makes an exception for his best friend, Flea. She wears an eye patch over one eye and one of her legs More...
How many second graders carry a Personal Disaster Kit? I can think of one: Alvin Ho. Here is his Personal Disaster Kit (show page 8-9 spread). Some highlights: a three-leaf clover, garlic, and a scary mask.
As you can guess, Alvin’s kind of scared of everything, and he’s allergic to girls. But he makes an exception for his best friend, Flea. She wears an eye patch over one eye and one of her legs More...
Jan 01, 2011
mina
rated it:
Yah bisa dibilang semacam Catatan Hariannya Adrian Mole, atau Diary Sang Putri Raja, atau buku catatan Emily the Strange, atau catatan harian si cewek sekolah mata-mata itu. Dalam versi anak-anak. Walau si Alvin ini tidak menulis catatan harian sih (lah lalu apa maksudku? haha). Mungkin kesamaannya adalah sama-sama buku tentang cerita how to grow up, how to fit in, how to deal with problems of childhood/adolescence.
Alvin Ho adalah anak kelas 2 SD dengan mutisme selektif, suatu kondisi gang More...
Alvin Ho adalah anak kelas 2 SD dengan mutisme selektif, suatu kondisi gang More...
Mar 09, 2010
Sara ♥
rated it:
This was a REALLY cute little book about a little 2nd grade Chinese-American boy who is afraid of and/or "allergic" to pretty much everything other than explosives.
I bring up the Chinese part because he references his family/ancestors quite frequently—how he comes from a long line of very brave people, and talks about how he is not brave himself (he gets so nervous at school that he can't talk when he's there), except when he is at home, being Firecracker Man. And I bring More...
I bring up the Chinese part because he references his family/ancestors quite frequently—how he comes from a long line of very brave people, and talks about how he is not brave himself (he gets so nervous at school that he can't talk when he's there), except when he is at home, being Firecracker Man. And I bring More...
Sep 26, 2010
Uci
rated it:
Dari judulnya sudah bisa ditebak masalah besar apa yang dihadapi Alvin Ho setiap hari. Anak laki-laki kelas dua SD ini sebenarnya cerdas dan menyenangkan, tapi sayang begitu tiba di sekolah, bertemu guru dan teman-teman serta anak-anak perempuan, lidahnya tiba-tiba kelu sehingga akhirnya semua orang mengenalnya sebagai Alvin yang Tak Bisa Bicara. Akibatnya, Alvin tak punya teman, tak pernah diajak bermain, tak pernah dipuji guru walaupun dia tahu semua jawaban yang benar.
Lucunya, beg More...
Lucunya, beg More...
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Dec 08, 2010
Chris
rated it:
Look, Lenore. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, Camping and Other Scary Things (2008)
Alvin Ho is afraid of many things which are listed on page 1 chapter 1 of this book, but he is especially afraid of school where he can’t even speak while he is there. He wants to fit in and make friends, but the best he can do is Flea, his “desk buddy” from last year who wears an eye patch, has a peg leg and is a girl! This book about Alvin’s attempts to fit in at school and conquer some of his fears is hi More...
Alvin Ho is afraid of many things which are listed on page 1 chapter 1 of this book, but he is especially afraid of school where he can’t even speak while he is there. He wants to fit in and make friends, but the best he can do is Flea, his “desk buddy” from last year who wears an eye patch, has a peg leg and is a girl! This book about Alvin’s attempts to fit in at school and conquer some of his fears is hi More...
Jul 04, 2011
Sarah
rated it:
Alvin Ho is a Chinese American second grader living in Concord, Massachusetts. At home, he enjoys being superhero Firecracker Man. His younger sister Anibelly annoys him constantly by getting in his way, his stuff and his food. His big brother Calvin often doesn't want to be bothered. These are every day kid things.
What's different about Alvin is all about fear. Alvin is frightened of many different things, including heights, his piano teacher, girls and school. He's so frightened th More...
What's different about Alvin is all about fear. Alvin is frightened of many different things, including heights, his piano teacher, girls and school. He's so frightened th More...
Nov 26, 2010
Amy
rated it:
I fell in love with Alvin Ho! I think the story was told with heart and humor. Some aspects were handled really well, in my opinion. First thing that I noticed was the treatment of Alvin’s overall anxiety and social problems (which I would argue falls on the autism spectrum!). It was a struggle for him in school and making friends and taking piano lessons…pretty much everything that went on in Alvin’s life, there was something that was hard or made him uncomfortable. But I loved that Alvin
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Feb 03, 2011
Jennifer
rated it:
Alvin Ho is a story about a second grade chinese american boy who suffers from selective mutism or "so-so performance anxiety disorder" as Alvin calls it. As a result, Alvin has never spoken a word at school. Alvin creates his own personal disaster kit (PDK) to help him "survive" second grade. The book follows Alvin as he struggles to be a part of the "cool crowd" which is made difficult due to his disability. Alvin must decide whether to befriend the school bully i
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Jan 29, 2010
Kirei
rated it:
This book is about a boy with selective mutism (Is that what it is called? He won't talk at school.) Plus his friend has a patch over her eye and one leg is longer than the other. The age range for this book is fairly young (mid elementary school), and the author manages to keep the book light-hearted. She does a good job at tackling these difficult situations.
My seven year old son really liked this book and wanted to know if there is a second book. Luckily, there is! Unlucki More...
My seven year old son really liked this book and wanted to know if there is a second book. Luckily, there is! Unlucki More...
Jan 12, 2009
Sheri
rated it:
Alvin Ho, a Chinese American boy fond of superheroes and firecrackers, is sort of like a human Scaredy Squirrel. His list of things to be afraid of is as long (fourteen items and counting) as it is specific (kimchi. substitute teachers. wasabi.)
Like Scaredy Squirrel he has a Personal Disaster Kit. This year his kit contains a whistle (for all those times he loses his voice), garlic (for fending off vampires and teachers) and a scary mask (for keeping girls away). But every year is di More...
Like Scaredy Squirrel he has a Personal Disaster Kit. This year his kit contains a whistle (for all those times he loses his voice), garlic (for fending off vampires and teachers) and a scary mask (for keeping girls away). But every year is di More...
Jan 24, 2012
Farah
rated it:
Anakku kelak akan memiliki banyak hal yang ia senangi di sekolah.
Ia akan senang pelajaran musik walau yang ia bisa hanya menyanyi, bukan memainkan alat musiknya. Ia akan menyenangi pelajaran keterampilan. Melipat kertas, menggunting, menempel, mewarnai, menggambar dengan pensil.
Anakku juga akan menyenangi matematika. Mungkin juga ilmu pengetahuan alam.
Ia akan membuka buku bergambarnya yang berwarna-warni, duduk dengan bangga dihadapan ayahnya sambil membacakan kembali cerita y More...
Ia akan senang pelajaran musik walau yang ia bisa hanya menyanyi, bukan memainkan alat musiknya. Ia akan menyenangi pelajaran keterampilan. Melipat kertas, menggunting, menempel, mewarnai, menggambar dengan pensil.
Anakku juga akan menyenangi matematika. Mungkin juga ilmu pengetahuan alam.
Ia akan membuka buku bergambarnya yang berwarna-warni, duduk dengan bangga dihadapan ayahnya sambil membacakan kembali cerita y More...
Apr 19, 2011
Megan
rated it:
Alvin Ho is this generation's Charlie Brown. He's afraid of almost everything and wants to be included in the activities at school, but since he is afraid to speak at school, most kids just ignore him. In spite of all this, Alvin doesn't come off as a whiny, wimpy kid. In fact, he seems quite intelligent and has sweet, realistic relationships with the people in his family. I love the way he is trying to remember his father's rules for being a gentleman. I laughed when he mentioned all the d
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Sep 26, 2010
Truly
rated it:
Ada beberapa fakta yang harus anda ketahui:
1. Alvin Ho adalah seorang anak laki-laki yang takut pada banyak hal seperti elevator, jembatan, terowongan, guntur, guru pengganti, kegelapan, mimpi buruk, setan, serta sekolah.
2. Alvin Ho tidak takut terhadap ledakan
3. Alvin Ho memiliki seekor anjing bernama Lucy, kakak laki-laki bernama Calvin serta adik perempuan bernama Anibelly
4. Alvin Ho menggemari Wonder Women, Plastic Man, serta semua superhero yang ada
5. Alvin Ho More...
1. Alvin Ho adalah seorang anak laki-laki yang takut pada banyak hal seperti elevator, jembatan, terowongan, guntur, guru pengganti, kegelapan, mimpi buruk, setan, serta sekolah.
2. Alvin Ho tidak takut terhadap ledakan
3. Alvin Ho memiliki seekor anjing bernama Lucy, kakak laki-laki bernama Calvin serta adik perempuan bernama Anibelly
4. Alvin Ho menggemari Wonder Women, Plastic Man, serta semua superhero yang ada
5. Alvin Ho More...
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Sep 26, 2010
Jbachelder
rated it:
Even though Alvin Ho is only in second grade, his struggles with school, friends, girls, and family are universal. Alvin is just a little more, well, sensitive than most. He's so scared of school that he becomes speechless, literally. Luckily, his friend Flea, a girl who wears an eye patch and has one leg shorter than the other, speaks for him. It's not easy to be a gentleman when you're scared of everything, but Alvin is trying very hard. Meanwhile, he has some pretty funny escapades. Alv
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Jul 17, 2009
Stephanie
rated it:
I'm between 2 and 3 stars for this one. I think it was well-written, for what it is, but had a few qualms:
a) I did not find the voice believable. I felt this was distinctly an adult parodying a child,
b) I appreciated the humor of the book, but did not actually find it funny. It was like "getting" a joke but not thinking it was funny and
c) while the ending is very positive, this was another element of the book that I found unbelievable. Bullies are not u More...
a) I did not find the voice believable. I felt this was distinctly an adult parodying a child,
b) I appreciated the humor of the book, but did not actually find it funny. It was like "getting" a joke but not thinking it was funny and
c) while the ending is very positive, this was another element of the book that I found unbelievable. Bullies are not u More...
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Jan 10, 2012
Sherry
rated it:
"Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things" is a refreshingly funny look at life from a self-appraising second grader's point of view. Alvin's sense of humor is in some ways quite advanced for a seven year old, but in the hands of Lenore Look it does not feel like a stretch. Alvin loves classic adventure heroes, mischief, and playing with his friends and siblings. He's got severe school anxiety - which prevents him from speaking at school - and he doesn't understan
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