The Fantastic Family Whipple

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. (Aug.)