Alvin Ho is afraid of many things, including elevators, tunnels, thunder, substitute teachers, wasabi, scary movies, shots, and school. In fact, he’s so afraid of school that Alvin is unable to speak while he’s there. Although he is Firecracker Man at home, as “noisy as a firecracker on Chinese New Year,” at school he is “as silent as a side of beef.” This creates problems for Alvin, such as when a substitute teacher (scary!) assumes Alvin’s silence is a subversive prank. For a semi-mute boy, Alvin’s voice comes through loud and clear in this accessible and funny novel, generously illustrated with line drawings. Short chapters relate the ups and downs of Alvin’s life as he struggles with the unwanted friendship of Flea (his desk buddy and a GIRL), piano lessons at ancient Miss Emily’s obviously haunted house, a traumatic appointment with his therapist, and an unfortunate decision to “borrow” his father’s sacred childhood superhero toy for show-and-tell. (Ages 7–10)