Lenore Look

One of my favorite reviewers isn't raving about this because she doesn't feel that Alvin is authentic. I have to admit that she probably knows more second-graders than I do. But to me he felt very real. Not to mention adorable.

His parents, now... they're not realistic. How can they be so patient, so understanding? It helps that there are grandparents around, I guess, but still. I mean, who but Alvin would believe a whispered remark, heard for the very first time as the boy is headed to piano lessons, that the piano teacher is a witch?

Anyway, I loved the whole family. And I loved the world-building of what it's like to live in Concord Mass. "The best thing about history, as everyone knows, is that you can play it at recess."

I do wonder who reads this. Is it at a second-grade reading level? Good for family read-alouds. I bet a lot of teachers read it to their classes, because they can share ideas prompted about bullies, siblings, anxiety, being a gentleman, etc.... and then they can turn their students loose on the sequels. Well, I'm going to look for the sequels, too; one book was just not enough for me.… (more)