Alice's World Record

by Tim Kennemore

Alice is the one in the middle. Little sister Rosie is almost always very naughty, and big brother Oliver is never wrong, and he never loses at anything. Then the family drive to see their grandparents, and Alice wins the car journey game for the first time - and by more than anyone else had ever managed. In fact she beats the world record at it! Oliver does not take it gracefully. He sulks. Then Grandma Fox beats him at chess and he throws a spectacular tantrum! By the end of the day, Rosie has actually been good all day, Alice has won something, and Oliver is in disgrace. It is a landmark day in the Singer family!

86 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

"Tim Kennemore has written seven books for children previously, and was a runner up for the Carnegie Medal in 1982. She likes computer games, roller coasters and treasure hunts! She lives in North London with her two children."

From: Andersen Press

Reviews

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

Happily, my older son and I have quite gotten into the habit of settling down for a chapter book reading at bedtime (hooray! for a while there, I wasn't sure if it would happen), and even my younger son, who doesn't, as far as I can tell, understand the stories, seems happy to settle down and sit quietly (mostly) with us. So there was no way I was going to let the fact that I didn't have a book all ready and checked out from the library stop our bedtime ritual, and scanning my shelves in hope of finding something that wasn't a vintage girls' school story lit upon this chapter book for younger readers by Tim Kennemore. Kennemore (who is a woman) is a writer I got into by virtue of the fact that she was a friend of one of my favorite authors, Antonia Forest (my favorite of Kennemore's books, Wall of Words is dedicated to Forest). After I started reading Kennemore, I liked her for her own sake.

I enjoyed this book in a mild way when I read it to myself a few years ago upon buying it, but as I started reading it aloud, I began to feel uncomfortable. Kennemore is marvelous at creating complicated prickly characters who are exasperating but fun to read about, and although this book is for younger readers, she doesn't tone this tendency down at all. Alice is a nice well-behaved girl whose life is rather anxious on account of being stuck between two awful siblings, Oliver, her older brother, a super-intelligent chess champion who throws childish tantrums when he loses any game, and Rosie a bratty little sister who gets away with outrageous behavior by being cute and blaming her misdeeds on her stuffed animal, Polly Penguin. Alice is somewhat bitter that being polite and no trouble to anyone gets her nowhere, and the book, with its short chapters and simple language, is replete with jealousy, sibling rivalry, and anger management issues. I probably would have enjoyed it immensely had it been written for a slightly older audience, because it is, in addition to all the above, funny, but as it was, I thought it might be a little raw for my son. I kept suggesting that we read something else over the course of the three nights it took us to read this. But he insisted that we finish it. He didn't say much about it though, and I've no idea what he made of it.

I guess what I learned is that this book would be great for what I think they are now calling "HiLo" readers --or is it "LoHi"? --, anyway, the kind of reader who has a low reading level for his or her age, but is old enough to appreciate more complex stories.

[Rebecca · Rating 3 out of 5]

Most kids will relate to at least some part of this book. You've got the little sister who wreaks havoc wherever she goes and the older "perfect" brother who's great at everything (and wins at everything). That is good for the peace and harmony of the family because on those rare occasions where he loses--watch out! The grandparents, especially the grandmother, are flawed individuals. Literary grandparents are most often portrayed as ever-patient, kind, understanding, always loving, and continually supporting and faithful. This grandmother isn't always fair, can be judgmental, and plays favorites. This is a fairly realistic look at a loving, but not perfect, family. I think first and second graders will really enjoy this book.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alice is the middle child; her older brother Oliver is the "perfect" one, her younger sister Rosie is the "troublemaker". Alice is just somewhere in between, so she often gets overlooked. But on her "world record" day, everyone's family role gets reversed, and Alice gets a chance to shine, and even get some quality time with her dad. This is a good bridge book for kids transitioning from beginner readers to chapter books.

[Jenny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this with my first grader and thought this book did a great job of creating realistic flawed characters. should be a must read for parents with multiple kids and/or kids that have a hard time losing :)

[Hakata Soy · Rating 1 out of 5]

WORSE. BOOK. EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!