The Fantastic Family Whipple

July 8, 2013
As the only ordinary member of a family obsessed with breaking world records, 11-year-old Arthur Whipple has long disappointed his overachieving parents. While his siblings hold records like Most Accomplished Four-Year-Old Painter on Earth and Highest Note Ever Sung in Live Performance, Arthur has never set a single one. With the Unsafe Sports Showdown and the World Records World Championship fast approaching, Arthur anticipates finally making a contribution to the Whipple legend and redeeming himself. However, when mysterious accidents start befalling his family, he turns his talents toward mystery-solving instead, a task involving evil clowns, a rival family, and more. Ward’s debut has echoes of Roald Dahl, with the setting and story line falling somewhere between whimsical and pleasantly absurd. The idea of a world obsessed with extremes, such as Most Awards Presented in a Single Day, is played with tongue-in-cheek seriousness, allowing for humor, drama, and a healthy dose of adventure. It’s a genuinely fun and comically ludicrous romp, clearly worthy of Most World Records Outside of a World Records Book. Ages 8–up. Agent: Laura Rennert and Lara Perkins, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

Unfortunately ordinary in an extraordinary family, 11-year-old Arthur demonstrates sympathy and good sportsmanship as he works to find those responsible for his family's recent disasters and clear their former-gangster chef's name while continuing his fruitless search for a world record of any kind. The Whipple family's lives are devoted to adding to their collection of entries in Grazelby's Guide to World Records and Fantastic Feats. Recent disasters and stiff competition from their new neighbors, the Goldwins, threaten their position at the top of the record-breaker heap. With the stage set for a showdown at the Unsafe Sports competition, 200 pages in, readers may be ready for a climax and resolution. Instead there is yet another near-disaster, and all evidence points to faithful cook Sammy the Spatula, whose dialogue is written with a cockney accent. Arthur and new friend Ruby Goldwin--a noncompetitor--set out to find the giant and dwarf clowns they believe to be the real culprits. The second half of this overlong tale is devoted to their detective efforts, but the sudden end comes without wrap-up: The clowns are still at large, Sammy the Spatula's in hiding, and Arthur's no closer to his dream of breaking a record. Records mentioned in the text are listed in the final 22 pages. Even the legions of Guinness World Records fans are unlikely to return for the necessary sequel. For record-breaking tedium, this takes the cake. (Fiction. 9-12) COPYRIGHT(1) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

December 1, 2013

Gr 3-6-Poor Arthur Whipple. He's about to turn 12 and has yet to distinguish himself among his huge family of overachieving world-record breakers. From failing to achieve the "Longest Time without Sleeping" record to flubbing the one for standing on one foot, Arthur's efforts to contribute to his family's fame are proving elusive. But when a mysterious curse seems to befall the Whipples, it might be up to Arthur to save them. As the mysteries pile up and the Whipple clan finds itself on the losing side of the World Record Championships, the young hero turns his talents to ferreting out clues and suspects behind his family's misfortunes. This novel's pace is frenetic; the action is over-the-top, as are the myriad world records (e.g., "The World's Largest Piece of French Toast," "Longest Continuous Time Playing an Accordion"). Think vaudeville on a roller coaster. There's humor and mayhem, and red herrings and nefarious suspects abound. The pace may delight some readers, while others will become exhausted. Even those who love it may feel frustrated that the mystery is not solved and they must hang on for a second installment. Give this one to readers with solid attention spans.-Brenda Kahn, Tenakill Middle School, Closter, NJ

Copyright 2013 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

December 1, 2013
Grades 4-6 Arthur is a disappointment to his family. The Whipples are record breakers, but there's nothing much unusual about Arthur, although he tries to add to his family's 49,521 broken records, which include the Highest Hamster-Piloted Model Rocket Launch Ever Recorded. The Whipples remain at the forefront of doing things longer, faster, and better until the Goldwin family moves to town, and, as it turns out, the newcomers have mad skills in the record-breaking department. That leads to an interfamily competition of epic proportions. Arthur, who finds a kindred spirit in Ruby Goldwin, continues to try to make his mark, but there's the matter of the curse on the Whipples as well as two evil clownsone a giant, one a dwarf. Well, it's always something. The book's attempts at an amusing narrative seem forced at times, but Arthur makes an appealing, determined hero, and lots of kids will find the over-the-top competitions enjoyable; an appendix lists an astounding array from the author's invented World Record Archives. (Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2013, American Library Association.)

Starred review from January 6, 2014
Eleven-year-old Arthur Whipple is the only member of his expansive family of record-breakers who hasn’t secured a world record. However, when mysterious accidents start plaguing the Whipples, they must turn to the forgotten son to save them all. This inspired tale has an equally as inspired narrator at the helm, and the result is a wonderful listening experience that offers plenty of fun for both young and old. Narrator Crossley delivers a tour de force performance that captures the otherworldly quality of Ward’s novel. Crossley nails the book’s odd characters and lends them each distinctive voices. One of the most fun listening experiences of the year. Ages 8-up. A Razorbill hardcover.

January 1, 2014
The Whipples are champions at over-the-top world records--all except Arthur, and no one lets him forget it. But when the family chef is framed for a near-murderous--though record-setting--cake, it's up to Arthur to find the real culprit. The unresolved ending points to a sequel, but hilarious back matter from the "World Record Archives" should keep readers occupied in the meantime.

(Copyright 2014 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)