Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things

Everette Plen gives a stellar performance as Alvin Ho, bringing his unique blend of anxiety and humor to life with such conviction that you can almost feel the sweat on Alvin’s forehead during his first day at school. The pacing is impeccable, balancing moments of tension with laugh-out-loud scenarios. Plen's voice is versatile enough to convey Alvin’s awkwardness without overdoing it or turning him into a caricature. One critique might be that some of the more complex social situations could benefit from slightly more nuanced delivery; however, these are minor quibbles in an otherwise flawless audiobook. Fans of Diary of a Wimpy Kid will find plenty to love here, as Alvin navigates school bullies and first crushes with equal parts bravery and trepidation.