Title: How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five
Author: Carla Fitzgerald
Publisher: University of Queensland Press
Publication date: July 2024
Themes: Kindness, compassion, selflessness, confidence, friendship, humility and hope
Comprehensive teachers’notes are available from University of Queensland Press (UQP) here
How to Break a World Record and Survive Grade Five by Carla Fitzgerald and published by University of Queensland Press follows eleven-year-old Sam on a mission that requires steadfast determination, resourcefulness, ingenuity and the utmost belief and along the way he learns and discovers what real greatness means. This is a tender story about kindness, family bonds, friendship (peer related and intergenerational), compassion, resilience, perseverance and causes readers to ponder and reflect as to how they would respond to the dilemmas and challenges Sam faces. This story celebrates normalising and valuing the seemingly small random acts of kindness that make a difference and that achievements do not determine your self-worth.
Sam has a looming deadline for his school project. This task requires him to describe his proudest moment and present this in the form of an oral presentation to his class. When hearing this topic, Sam’s mind draws a blank as he wills his brain to think of his proudest moment he could share. Yet, when thinking of his soccer playing sister, his best friend, Vihaan’s excellent art and achievements in this endeavour and some of his peers, he can rattle off possibilities for their proudest moments. This exacerbates Sam’s feelings of being ordinary.
Sam is an aficionado when it comes to world record attempts as he studies numerous editions of the Big Book of Records, so he knows greatness when he sees it, or so he thinks.
After much deliberation and soul searching, Sam believes that breaking a world record would be worthy of being his proudest moment ever. How could it not be? Being the best in the world at something would surely impress and not compare to anyone else’s proudest moment. So begins Sam’s quest to break a world record.
Sam needs to decide which record to pursue. The seamless inclusion of so many fascinating world records will pique readers’ interest and curiosity. Could Sam try and beat the record for applying the most sticky notes stuck to his face in one minute (the record included in the book is 60 which was set in 2014), perhaps he could attempt the record for most socks put on one foot in thirty seconds (under 16s) which stood at 22 socks in 2022. Then there is the greatest height to drop a protected egg without it breaking (set in 2022 at 13.31 metres). There was also the record for the fastest time to type the alphabet with the nose. One of my favourites, the most leapfrogs by a team of two in thirty seconds (34 leapfrogs set in 2012). Once his choice has been made, he meticulously plans, practices relentlessly and becomes single minded in his drive to succeed.
Sam’s obsession to break a world record dominates everything. His obsession is detrimental to his friendship with Vihaan and it impairs his perspective. Sam finds himself in circumstances that force him to reconsider his options and decides to revise his plans for a world record. Sam is unexpectedly tested in a dramatic way and he has to decide whether to be a good person or the best.
This book includes a diverse cast of characters. Sam shares a close bond with his family and his caring, intuitive and compassionate nature shines through when dealing with them. He lives with is Mum who works two jobs and is under financial stress and his younger sister who is loyal and protective of her older brother. They live next door to George who has been labelled by others as Grumpy George. Sam seizes an opportunity to get to know George and snippets of George’s story unfold, connection happens, barriers and differences are broken down and with this newfound understanding and insight a strong friendship blossoms.
This book would make an excellent read aloud with twists, tension, humour and a dramatic and hopeful ending. This story is told with humour, inventive figurative language and highlights ordinary people doing extraordinary things. It also serves as a gateway to conversations about topics such as judging others, kindness, greatness and extrinsic rewards.
Carla Fitzgerald is also the author of the wonderful middle grade novel, How to be Prime Minister and Survive Grade Five which has been reviewed on the Reading Opens Doors blog here.