Record Breaker

by Robin Stevenson

It's 1963, and Jack's family is still reeling from the SIDS death of his baby sister. Adrift in his own life, Jack is convinced that setting a world record will bring his father back to his senses and his mother back to life. But world events, including President Kennedy's assassination, threaten to overshadow any record Jack tries to beat—from sausage eating to face slapping. Nothing works, and Jack is about to give up when a new friend suggests a different approach that involves listening to, not breaking, records.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Canada, Grief, Childrens, Middle Grade, Fiction

152 pages, Paperback

First published February 28, 2013

About the author

Robin Stevenson is the award winning author of over thirty books of fiction and non-fiction for kids and teens. Her books have received starred reviews and have won the Silver Birch Award, the Sheila A. Egoff award and a Stonewall Honor, and been finalists for the Governor General’s Literary Awards, the Lambda Literary Awards, and many reader’s choice awards. Robin was the Book and Periodical Council of Canada’s Champion of Free Expression for 2022, and received the Lieutenant Governor's Award for Literary Excellence in 2023. She lives on the west coast of Canada.

Reviews

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

(590L) Historical Fiction/Realistic (School Library Journal lists it grades 4-7, but you might want it for a high-low book)

Read pages 1-2, up to ‘I can break the record.’

It’s 1963, during the first part of the Cold War between the Soviet Union (now Russia) and the United States. Our main character, Jack, lives in Canada, and Canadians are just as concerned about the consequences of nuclear war as Americans. Except, while his dad and all the other adults in the neighborhood are going crazy building bomb shelters, Jack is focused on setting a world record. After all, who cares about the rest of the world when your mother is unhappy?

Jack’s family is still healing from the death of his baby sister, but he’s sure that setting a world record will make everything better. He doesn’t seem to be having any luck until he meets an American named Kate who encourages him to take a new perspective. One that’s a little safer than slapping your cousin’s face over and over, or eating a mountain of breakfast sausage.

[Carson · Rating 4 out of 5]

record breaker is a well-written story in 1963 where a young teenager, jack is bored because everybody in his neighbourhood is too worried about the bombs in cuba and president kennedys assanination. while his mother wont get out of bed because of the death of his baby sister annie. jack stubles upon an american girl named kate who is willing to make a plan to cheer her up with jacks cousin allan. this is truly a great book that isnt a waste of time.

[Ethan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great. The main character jack is always trying to break records. A year before his sister Annie died as a baby. Jacks mom is very sad since then, soJack thinks that breaking a record would make his mom proud. Then jack makes a new friend kate she thinks that should go for another aproach on how should make his mom happy, by singing his moms favorite song. This book is heart warming story.

[Chloe · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It is sad, and heart warming story that takes place in the 1960's in the time of preadint John F Kennedy and when the bombs were in Cuba. Jack a pre-teen boy tries to break records to help his mom move on from his sister, Annie's death. He meets this young girl named Kate who gave him an idea instead of breaking records, do something else like sing your moms favourite song.

[Kristen Rusnak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cute story!

[April Hilland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging short realistic fiction book set in 1963 about a 12 year old coming to terms with the death of his infant sister, his mother's depression, and finding unlikely friends who become his allies in this journey.

[Gretchen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very nice book

[Helen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted athttp://canlitforlittlecanadians.blogs...


Most of us would do anything to alleviate the sadness and despair of one we love. Children are inclined to do the same, although the means by which they are convinced they can do this may be rather unconventional. Take young Jack, for example, in Robin Stevenson's latest from Orca Book Publishers, Record Breaker. He is sure that breaking a world record will propel his mother from her overwhelming sadness following the death of his baby sister Annie, and he's willing to try just about anything.

Jack seems like a pretty good kid. When his dad tells him to get to the dinner table or help his mom or go to his dad's cousin's place, the Miller's, he does. Because he often gets sent to the Millers, Jack spends a lot of time with his second cousin, Allan, who likes to repeat his mom's and dad's comments, ("My mom said it'll be a miracle if she (Jack's mom) ever gets over that baby dying" pg. 23; "My dad always said Kennedy was soft" pg. 40). Regardless, Allan is willing to help Jack out in his record attempts, even painful ones like face-slapping.

While Jack's concern for his mother tends to overwhelm his daily activities, several key events have an impact on him and those around him. First, President John F. Kennedy is assassinated. Although they live in Ancaster, the possibility of bombings are a real concern, and Jack's dad returns to building a fallout shelter started before Annie's birth. Second, a new girl, Kate Levine, moves to a nearby neighbourhood, using a local treehouse that Jack had been using as an escape. Kate is an astute young girl, helping Jack see that there is something, other than a world record, that he can accomplish to help his mother. In fact, her mom believes Jack's mom needs someone to whom she can talk and Mrs. Levine volunteers to help. Together with Allan and Kate, Jack finds the means to add some light to his mother's life, and remind both his parents that they still have a son who has been burdened with dealing with his sister's death on his own.

In the context of 1963 southern Ontario, Robin Stevenson shares the grief and fears and innuendo of a time unknown to most young readers. But, by making the focus in Record Breaker a local one, with the grief related to the loss of a family member, the fears about a family who may be unable to rebuild itself, and others' gossip about issues of which they know very little, young readers will be able to emphasize. Even so, whether global or local, these issues can be devastating, and recovery may seem impossible. But, as Jack and Robin Stevenson demonstrate, with a little help and a different perspective perhaps from unlikely sources, there is hope.

[Rhiannon's Reading Corner · Rating 3 out of 5]

The year is 1963 and, while the rest of the world is struggling with the prospect of war, Jack's family is struggling in another way. Since his baby sister passed away a year before, Jack's mother has hardly left her bed. Some days he wants to make her laugh again, some days he's mad at her, and some days he simply wants to run away. With a good group of friends, though, Jack may actually be able to help bring his family back together.

Interest Level: ages 10+
Reading Level: ages 8+

OVERALL RATING 7/10
Record Breaker is a rare treasure, being an emotion-filled and honest book for young boys. The children and plot all feel very real. Robin Stevenson does an excellent job weaving historical events and serious topics into a book that will entertain kids. That said, I didn't feel that the book was very immersed in the historical setting - I actually didn't realize that it wasn't set in the 2000s until JF Kennedy was mentioned a few chapters in! Still, an awesome read.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this HF set in 1963. Jack's family is still trying to recover from the death of his baby sister almost a year ago. His Mom has been in a deep depression, which doctor's have tried to address with increasing amounts of medication. His Dad buries himself in his work while trying to keep things appearing "normal". And Jack has decided that if he can just break a record, any record, his mom will smile again, his dad will finally be proud of him, and his family will return to the way they were before.

If you're looking for an easy to follow plot line, with well developed characters and sense of place, that striving readers can handle, this would be a perfect addition to your classroom library.

I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you or order RECORD BREAKER on IndieBound: http://www.indiebound.org/book/978155...

[Merrilyn Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Record Breaker is a wonderful short novel set in 1963 in Ontario, Canada. Jack's baby sister died of SIDS the year previous to the start of this story. As a consequence, Jack's mother is suffering from severe depression and his father is becoming more and more distant from Jack. In order to help the mood of himself and his family, Jack does what he thinks will help: he tries to beat or set records in Guiness Book of World Records. He engages in some funny activities such as face slapping and sausage eating to name a few. Then, an American girl Jack's age moves next door. Surprisingly, she and her mother provide healing for Jack and his family. The backdrop of Record Breaker is the Cold War and the assassination of President Kennedy, national or world troubles that mirror the problems Jack faces in his young life. Recommended for readers in Grades 4-6.

[Melanie Hetrick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Jack's family is struggling. It's 1963 and the entire world is worried about nuclear war. His dad was building a bomb shelter, but that stopped when his baby sister died. Everything stopped. Including his mother's laughter. Jack takes to poring over the Guinness Book of World Records, trying to find a record that he could possibly break. His mom used to love it when he would try to break records. But now all his attempts are getting him is frustration from his father.

Then he meets Kate, an American girl who's family now lives in Canada. She's different than anyone he's ever known. She convinces him to try a different route to find his mother's laughter; a more personal route.

A good short story for reluctant readers.

[Glenn Lindsey · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a mature white male, I wondered how much I would enjoy a 'juvenile' book. I was happily surprised by the protagonist (Jack) and the subject (grief). I enjoyed the story.

It was an easy read (just 142 pages) - and I'm not a quick reader - because it is very well written. The trio of 12 year olds - Jack, Kate, and Allan - not only suffer their parents, but suffer with Jack through his efforts to deal with the loss of his baby sister.

Although not a block buster, I would recommend the story for anyone wanting to 'feel' the confusion, grief, relief, and joy found in and by Jack. It's well written by Robin Stevenson.

Glenn Lindsey, Victoria, BC

[Gavin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Record Breaker was a good but sad book that happens in the time of President Kennedys death. Jacks mom has been in bed alot since jacks sister annie died. Jack has also had to deal with trying to make his Mom happy by breaking records from the guinness world records book. But it does'nt seem to be working until he meets a girl named Kate and her mom who help Jacks mom and then Jack comes up with a solution that you will have to find out. Record Breaker is a must read that once you start reading you can't put down!

[Lisa Calvert · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is wonderfully written and it captures the anxiety, confusion and landmark changes of the post McCarthy and Kennedy era. The plot is sad, sad, sad, though...and it mirrors the depression Jack's mother is suffering with. Jack is lonely, confused and seems to have no bright spots to grab on to. I like Kate and Mrs. Levine, but this book would be hard to hand to a student without some discussion of SIDS, depression and the Cold War. I wish there was at least a bit of humor to lighten the gray days.

[Tracie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good historical fiction makes readers feel a time and place; great historical fiction does that too but adds another level where the reader draws parallels to his/her own world. As an adult, I found both these things in this quiet, but mighty story about a young boy, in 1963, trying to cope with his mother's severe depression after the death of his infant sister. This isn't a big showy story, but it has grace and strength without ever feeling preachy.

[Adrienne Amborski · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written this is a touching story of preteen Jack who has just lost his baby sister to SIDS. Set in the days following the assassination of JFK...this piece of historical fiction is a clean story. Readers will want Jack to succeed and for his mother's depression to lift. Try to hook preteen and teen boys with the Jack's attempts to break a world record as a hand selling point for this title.

[David Polegato · Rating 4 out of 5]

Record Breaker is a book about a boy named Jack. He has a bit of an obsession with breaking records, the reason why? Unfortunately his mom has settled into a deep depression after the death of his sister and he is trying to break records in order to break her depression. Along the way he will meet a new friend who suggests a different approach. Overall this book is a bit of an emotional story though it has it's funny parts. Overall its a good book that should be read.

[Diana · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historical fiction set in 1963, Jack and is family are dealing with the loss of his sibling. He attempts to break records inspired by the Guinness book of world records. It's a skinny book good dealing with relationships with family and friends. Good choice for upper elementary and middle boys and girls.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Record Breaker, Stevenson effectively portrays a child who is overwhelmed by both global and family events. Jack’s voice is convincing as he struggles to deal with his loss and anxiety in wonderfully unconventional ways.

[Bhavya · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really liked the character and the plot it really intrigued me. But i just could relate to the main characters, i didnt know why the main character made a certain decision in the story. But overall i really enjoyed this book, but it was definatley not the best.

[Antonio Bezdeck · Rating 2 out of 5]

This wasnt as funny and what I thought it was going to be like.

[Paula · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great characters, poignant slice of life, pitch-perfect picture of the early 1960s -- in short, fine writing in a lovely book.

[Kevin N · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a really fun, short book to read. I really enjoyed it.

[Jack E. · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good premise, and a great beginning, but it all got ruined as the ending just approached too fast.
How did it win the Silver Birch award?

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful middle grade book. I really liked the sensitive boy main character. Also gave a glimpse at the time period without being overwhelming.

[Alison]

Interesting to look at Kennedy assassination from point of view of a Canadian teen.