Alvin Webster's Surefire Plan for Success

Sheila Greenwald writes the gifted-kid-meets-his-match story with more warmth and less smugness than the premise might suggest. Alvin Webster, accustomed to being the best at everything, has to tutor a resentful classmate named Pete while processing news of a new baby at home — and winds up learning as much as he teaches. The dual arc is the book's real strength: Pete improves at math, but Alvin improves at being human. The New York Public Library's recognition as one of its 100 Best Books for Children is meaningful external validation. The honest caveats are modest: the 1980s school setting feels somewhat dated, the book is short and light by contemporary standards, and print availability is limited. For high-achieving children who have hit their first real wall, though, Alvin's story is both funny and quietly instructive.