Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters

I wonder if he's also allergic to dragons...

Look, Lenore. Alvin Ho: Allergic to Camping, Hiking, and Other Natural Disasters. New York : Schwartz & Wade Books, 2009.

Plot: Alvin suffers from multiple phobias, fears, stresses, and siblings. So when his father decides to take him camping, the second-grader is mortified. While his brother helps him purchase supplies, Alvin still lacks courage. His uncle offers a series of secret tips and an ultra-powerful Batman ring. The trip still seems doomed, though, even with Alvin's little sister joining in. Still, he may manage well, particularly since he is not the only one afraid of his first camping trip.

Genre: Everyday, Growing Up

Reading Level: Grades 4-9

Similar Titles: Romona and her Father, Rocket Ride

Personal Thoughts: Romona meets Year of the Rat. The title bears all the appeal of the second-grade, slice-of-life manner of Beverly Cleary with the cultural references of Grace Lin. Also, much like Lin's work, Chinese culture is an aspect of the story, not its definition. A lot of titles with minority protagonists tend to focus on the culture or, more often, prejudice against the culture. While such topics certainly need consideration, they tend to lead to a depressing story.

Alvin is Chinese. He uses Chinese terms to address his family. He eats Chinese food. He celebrates Chinese New Year. He also likes superheroes, Harry Houdini, and playing. He is a talented writer and with a good sense of humor, even though he does not quite realize it yet. He fears the dark, spiders, and acts of God. Alvin is a complete character, not just a slate for lessons on culture. Characters are fun to read about, and Alvin's perspective adds to the trials and tribulations of camping.