About This Book
Reach for this book when your child feels like the only 'normal' person in a household of overachievers or when they are struggling with the constant comparisons of sibling rivalry. It is a brilliant antidote for children who feel pressured to be exceptional, providing a hilarious and chaotic look at the Bagthorpe family as they descend upon the Welsh countryside for a vacation. Between botched seances and the pursuit of a runaway goat, the story highlights the absurdity of perfectionism and the messy reality of family bonds. While the humor is sophisticated and the vocabulary is rich, the emotional core deals with the universal desire to be seen and valued for who you are, rather than your talents. It is a perfect choice for middle-grade readers who enjoy dry British wit and stories where adults are just as fallible (and ridiculous) as the children. Parents will appreciate the way it validates a child's occasional need to just 'be' amidst a whirlwind of sibling competition.
