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For the Record
Frank Cottrell Boyce meets Richard Curtis in this warm, crazy and very funny tale of one boy's determination to save his village, and face up to his fears..
Luke is a gifted but awkward ten-year-old who is obsessed with world records, and is nervous about starting senior school a year early as 'the swot with the dead dad'. When Luke's tiny, unique Jersey village is in danger of being bulldozed to the ground to make way for a waste incinerator plant, the only way to stop it is by putting the village on the by breaking 50 world records in a week.
With the help of geeky adjudicator Simon and a colourful cast of oddball village characters, this is Luke's chance to shine, to solve his mum's relationship problems, and to face his biggest fears - with bizarre, extraordinary consequences.
Luke is a gifted but awkward ten-year-old who is obsessed with world records, and is nervous about starting senior school a year early as 'the swot with the dead dad'. When Luke's tiny, unique Jersey village is in danger of being bulldozed to the ground to make way for a waste incinerator plant, the only way to stop it is by putting the village on the by breaking 50 world records in a week.
With the help of geeky adjudicator Simon and a colourful cast of oddball village characters, this is Luke's chance to shine, to solve his mum's relationship problems, and to face his biggest fears - with bizarre, extraordinary consequences.
Hardcover
First published June 1, 2011
5 people are currently reading
29 people want to read
About the author
Ellie Irving
15 books13 followersI was born in Bristol, but raised in a hamlet on the outskirts of Southend-on-Sea, by a family of avid readers. So avid, in fact, my mum enrolled me in the local library before I'd even emerged from the womb. Which was awkward for all concerned. As a child, I had an unhealthy obsession with 'Murder, She Wrote' and aged seven, convinced my parents to buy me a Petite Super International typewriter for Christmas, so I could be just like Jessica Fletcher.
After studying a 4 year Broadcasting Degree at the University of Leeds, I realised there were too few home makeover shows in the world, and worked on a number of DIY and Garden programmes for UK Style. I then returned to studying and graduated from an MA in Screenwriting course at the London College of Communication in 2008. I live in North London. I have yet to solve any murders...
After studying a 4 year Broadcasting Degree at the University of Leeds, I realised there were too few home makeover shows in the world, and worked on a number of DIY and Garden programmes for UK Style. I then returned to studying and graduated from an MA in Screenwriting course at the London College of Communication in 2008. I live in North London. I have yet to solve any murders...
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
August 12, 2012
I picked up this book on a whim – it was a new book in the library, linked to the National Summer Reading Scheme and a book about breaking records seemed perfect given the way the London 2012 Olympic Games have gone. Irving’s debut novel is captivating, and it genuinely is one of the funniest books I’ve read in a long time. Luke Meldrum, the ten year old boy at the heart of this story, is obsessed with world records. His determination to get his own name into the record book turns into a village wide attempt to rescue their village Port Bren when industrial development threatens village life.
Behind the wealth of eccentricities pushed the fore of story, Irving manages to address more serious topics such as bullying, the loss of a parent and the sense of isolation without forcing the issue onto the reader. Within the classroom, I think this book would be good for celebrating the different and unique aspects of people’s personality’s, and especially useful in creative literacy lessons as children write an imaginative piece about breaking their own records. Depending on reading ability, I would recommend this book to those in Year’s 5 and 6 as a book that furthers an interest in reading and in books generally. The book is quite gender neutral, but given the style of writing and humorous aspects of the story, I think it would be a good book to encourage boys in particular to get into reading, although not as a starter book.
Overall, I couldn’t recommend this book more, as a celebration of all different kinds of bizarre talents and delightful eccentricities that not only links into the record breaking summer that we’ve witnessed so far, but also one that captivates its audience no matter what age they are!
Behind the wealth of eccentricities pushed the fore of story, Irving manages to address more serious topics such as bullying, the loss of a parent and the sense of isolation without forcing the issue onto the reader. Within the classroom, I think this book would be good for celebrating the different and unique aspects of people’s personality’s, and especially useful in creative literacy lessons as children write an imaginative piece about breaking their own records. Depending on reading ability, I would recommend this book to those in Year’s 5 and 6 as a book that furthers an interest in reading and in books generally. The book is quite gender neutral, but given the style of writing and humorous aspects of the story, I think it would be a good book to encourage boys in particular to get into reading, although not as a starter book.
Overall, I couldn’t recommend this book more, as a celebration of all different kinds of bizarre talents and delightful eccentricities that not only links into the record breaking summer that we’ve witnessed so far, but also one that captivates its audience no matter what age they are!
April 1, 2018
Luke is a young ten year old boy who loves world records. He knows everything about them from the hairiest man alive to the worlds most venomous snake.
Suddenly, he discovered his tiny village is going to be bulldozed by developers, he knows he has to try and save it, what will he do?
I would recommend this book to age 9+ who love easy long reads with humour and never know what to expect when turning the next page.
Suddenly, he discovered his tiny village is going to be bulldozed by developers, he knows he has to try and save it, what will he do?
I would recommend this book to age 9+ who love easy long reads with humour and never know what to expect when turning the next page.
August 5, 2019
This book was Ellie Irving's first, and it shows good signs of a great writing style. Some jokes were definitely worthy of a chuckle, though some didn't hit the spot.
This is an easy read with an original plot. It does get a bit silly further in to the novel but is pulled back into a typical good/bad, right/wrong battle.
With all of that said, I am keen to read further work by her, especially The Matilda Effect!
This is an easy read with an original plot. It does get a bit silly further in to the novel but is pulled back into a typical good/bad, right/wrong battle.
With all of that said, I am keen to read further work by her, especially The Matilda Effect!
January 20, 2012
Every year at the library we do a 'Book of the Year' event where we have to read 6 books then vote for the best, this year this book is on the list. They are all Children's/Middle Grade books. This is one of the books from the list.
I had been putting off reading it as I didn't like the sound of it. For one thing on the back it has things like 'Loudest burp' and 'Most Doughnuts eaten in a minute' and I thought 'Oh, no, not another crude book for boys all about burps and farts. But I had a day off today and I decided to get it over with. I started it at about two o'clock and had finished it by five. At only 250 ish pages it really is quite short.
Luke is a gifted ten year old, but he finds life hard, bullied at school for being brainy, his dad died a year ago and no-one will talk to him, his mum has a new boyfriend and now someone is threatening to build a Waste plant on his island meaning his home, his friends and the local graveyard will all be moved to make space for it. Something needs to be done. Luke is obsessed with World Records and is convinced that if he can break enough of them the island will get 'known' and will be saved.
I was surprised how easy it was to get into this book, Luke is a likeable character and I could connect in some places. He made me laugh and had an easy-going demeanor. At first I thought 'this is ridiculous', but it was one of those that was so ridiculous it was actually quite good. I found it predictable in places, but I think kids would really enjoy it. Some of the record attempts are silly, some clever, some hard and some funny. There is plenty to keep you amused. There is a bit of a love story involved with Luke's mum, her new boyfriend, and the World Record Adjudicator. I knew who she would end up with but enjoyed seeing how they got there.
I wouldn't say this book was fantastic, but it kept me amused and was an easy read and I think it's target audience would really enjoy it. I was definitely surprised.
I had been putting off reading it as I didn't like the sound of it. For one thing on the back it has things like 'Loudest burp' and 'Most Doughnuts eaten in a minute' and I thought 'Oh, no, not another crude book for boys all about burps and farts. But I had a day off today and I decided to get it over with. I started it at about two o'clock and had finished it by five. At only 250 ish pages it really is quite short.
Luke is a gifted ten year old, but he finds life hard, bullied at school for being brainy, his dad died a year ago and no-one will talk to him, his mum has a new boyfriend and now someone is threatening to build a Waste plant on his island meaning his home, his friends and the local graveyard will all be moved to make space for it. Something needs to be done. Luke is obsessed with World Records and is convinced that if he can break enough of them the island will get 'known' and will be saved.
I was surprised how easy it was to get into this book, Luke is a likeable character and I could connect in some places. He made me laugh and had an easy-going demeanor. At first I thought 'this is ridiculous', but it was one of those that was so ridiculous it was actually quite good. I found it predictable in places, but I think kids would really enjoy it. Some of the record attempts are silly, some clever, some hard and some funny. There is plenty to keep you amused. There is a bit of a love story involved with Luke's mum, her new boyfriend, and the World Record Adjudicator. I knew who she would end up with but enjoyed seeing how they got there.
I wouldn't say this book was fantastic, but it kept me amused and was an easy read and I think it's target audience would really enjoy it. I was definitely surprised.
January 17, 2013
Exactly what kids would want to read. Interesting and funny.
June 2, 2014
It's about a boy who loves records but his torn is going to be turned into a dump but Luke come up with an idea to break fifty world records
December 21, 2016
Read this book with the Year 7s over the course of this term. It's good enough but honestly, it's a little too much on the ridiculous side for me!
January 4, 2014
Very funny. Thought it was a lovely book. Great characters, very enjoyable and an easy read.
January 7, 2014
Loved it. Very funny and enjoyable. A charming book and an easy read. I recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews