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    The Parent Agency
    The Parent Agency
    The Parent Agency
    Audiobook3 hours

    The Parent Agency

    Written by David Baddiel

    Narrated by David Baddiel

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    About this audiobook

    A boy travels to an alternate world where kids get to choose their own parents in this zany, internationally bestselling adventure, which combines the be-careful-what-you-wish-for humor of The Chocolate Touch with the classic appeal of Roald Dahl.

    Barry Bennett is sick of his parents. They’re boring, they’re too strict, and it’s their fault his name is Barry. So he makes a wish for better ones—and is whisked away to the Parent Agency, where kids get to pick out their perfect parents.

    For Barry, this seems like a dream come true. But as he’s about to discover, choosing a new mom and dad isn’t as simple as it sounds…

    The Parent Agency is the first children’s book by British author and comedian David Baddiel.

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherHarperCollins
    Release dateMay 3, 2016
    ISBN9780062467997
    Author

    David Baddiel

    David Baddiel was born in 1964 in Troy, New York, but grew up and lives in London. He is a comedian, television writer, columnist and author of four novels, of which the most recent is The Death of Eli Gold.

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    Reviews for The Parent Agency

    4/5

    42 ratings3 reviews

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    • 2/5
      It was cute but a little disappointing. Boy doesn't like his parents, ends up at a parent agency, tries out five sets of parents - rich, famous, sporty, permissive and parents who treat him like their favourite...decides he wants his original parents back. I wanted the parent agency to be explained and expanded a lot more than it was.
    • 4/5
      a humourous look at role reversal where children choose parents, but be careful of what you wish for as you may get the parents who do things to the extreme. Barry has always hated being called Barry. In fact, its number 2 on the list of things he blames his parents for, along with 1) 'being boring' and 3) 'always being tired' and so on and son. But then one day Barry makes a fateful wish, and finds himself in a world where everything is reverse. Barry has 5 days to find the perfect parents for him and he makes choices based on his top 10 list of the perfect parents. Things do not go to his plan as adults and children do not apply the same meaning or logic to interpretation - a very humourous look at how both groups view parenting and childhood.
    • 5/5
      The Story Even if we don't want to admit it, we've all had a time when we felt a bit fed up with out parents. So much, we wished we had new ones, better ones. Usually this feeling goes away, and we feel bad for ever having thought such a thing...but, what if it didn't go away? What if each day was such a drag, you hated every moment - Being ignored, your brother/sister was the favourite, lame gifts, boring parents, embarrassing parents and even...groundings! What if it didn't have to be that way? Barry wished it was true. He wished it three times over and wished it so hard his room started to shake. Not the normal shake from a lorry passing by. This was different...and are his Messi and Bond posters glowing. Oh god!!! They just talked to him. This was only the beginning, as Barry was whisked away to Youngdon, a city run by kids, for kids. No seriously, the adults seem to be there, but they are different. Barry cries out for help, and ALL of the parents rush to please him, beg him ('Let me be your parent!!'). Errr, something really was different. What was going on?Whew, it's all ok because Barry just spotted his best mates coming toward him. Finally something normal. Oh, well, not really. His mates claim to be PCs (Parent Control) and rush him to TPA. If Barry thought this was crazy, the next five days were going to be insane! Five sets of parents, five birthday parties, five days- Fives times what he's always wanted, right? Then why does he keep seeing a slightly familiar, slightly blurry couple following him to each house? What happens if he doesn't choose a new family? Why does everyone seem so familiar? What's a boy to do, when he's lost at The Parent Agency, not sure what he really wants? My ThoughtsThis is a fab little book! As an adult, I found myself chuckling at so many points and at the subtle jokes hidden in the story. The similarities to real life - Youngdon/London, United Kiddom/United Kingdom, Lionel Tidy/Lionel Messi, Jatt Blatt/Jack Black, Wobbly Stadium...you see my point. I found it brilliant that the author made the world so similar and yet so different at the same time. The characters, story, plot and challenges were all great little stories in themselves. I found myself caught up in Barry's trials, trying to find better parents with a list that was set to be his downfall. I think the premise of the story and the way in which it is told makes it absolutely PERFECT to youngsters. I believe it would be goo for all ages, from the youngest reader to adult. Children will find it a great laugh, and may even believe they have something in common with Barry. Adults will find the whole premise of the story and the way it is told rather hilarious. I also love that the story as a whole makes a brilliant point and strives to teach a great lesson - Be careful what you wish for, it may not be exactly what you want. By the end of the story, Barry has learned a lot about life, expectations, parents and himself. All lessons that are great for children to learn, especially if they learn it from a good read (and not from parents) as we all know they listen and learn better when it is from anyone but parents!The pace and types of character are excellent, leaving no stone unturned. You get a true likeness of all types of people in our country and of their hilarious doubles. It is very tongue in cheek, but in a youthful sort of way. Finally, I also like that there is an untold depth to the story, which leaves adults/older kids wondering. Barry comes to find that certain events in Youngdon actually happened in the real world (i.e. paper/window), which begs the question, is TPA real or all in Barry's head. Did he learn the lesson on his own? Was he dreaming? The void??? All of these things make the story very well-rounded and deep. The kind of story you'll revisit many times as you grow up. OVERALL: A very brilliantly written story. It is genuinely a great book to grab for all ages, especially for kids. Perhaps the perfect Christmas gift, for kids to delve into over the holidays, have a laugh and learn a bit. I would highly recommend it! It's out NEXT WEEK, so pop over and grab a copy. You won't regret it. (Maybe you'll even be able to sneak in a read, when the kids are done).