The Parent Agency

Last updated
The Parent Agency
The Parent Agency.jpg
First edition cover
Author David Baddiel
Illustrator Jim Field
LanguageEnglish
GenreFantasy, Humour, Adventure
PublisherHarperCollins Children's Books
Publication date
9 October 2014
Publication placeUnited Kingdom
Pages383 pp
ISBN 978-0-007-55449-2

The Parent Agency is a children's fiction novel written by David Baddiel and illustrated by Jim Field. It was published on 9 October 2014 [1] by HarperCollins Children's Books. The book follows a 9-year-old boy named Barry Bennett, who gets transported to an alternate universe where children choose their parents. A film adaptation is currently in the works. [2]

Contents

Synopsis

James Bond and FC Barcelona fan Barry Bennett gets transported to 'United Kid-dom' in an alternate universe where kids choose their parents, after Barry wished he had better parents. He encounters his friends Jake, Lucas and Taj (with different names) working at 'The Parent Agency' in 'Youngdon', where he discovers that everyone has to find parents before their tenth birthday. With his in 5 days time, Barry is assigned to 5 different sets of parents (one on each day), before deciding he prefers his original parents, being transported back to them on his tenth birthday.

Characters

Background

Baddiel was inspired to write the book after a conversation with his nine-year-old son, Ezra. After visiting a Harry Potter exhibition, Ezra asked his father 'Dad, why didn't Harry run away from the Dursleys and go and find some better parents?' [3] [4] This inspired Baddiel to write the book.

Reception

The Parent Agency received positive praise from editorials such as The Guardian [5] and HuffPost UK , [6] while The Independent critiqued it, saying that '[Baddiel] just tries too hard to be funny'. [3]

Adaptation

In 2016, Deadline reported that Fox 2000 Pictures had acquired the film rights to The Parent Agency, to be produced by Snowed-In Productions. [2]

A stage musical adaptation will premiere at the Storyhouse, Chester with book and lyrics by Baddiel, music and additional lyrics by Dan Gillespie Sells and will be directed by Tim Jackson. It will run from 15 February (with a gala night on 19 February) until 2 March 2025. [7]

Awards

YearBodyAwardResult
2016Laugh Out Loud Awards (The Lollies)Best Laugh Out Loud Book for 9-13 year oldsWon

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References

  1. "The Parent Agency". HarperCollins Publishers UK. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  2. 1 2 Jaafar, Ali (19 July 2016). "Fox 2000 Acquires Rights To David Baddiel Novel 'The Parent Agency'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 30 May 2022.
  3. 1 2 "The Parent Agency by David Baddiel, book review: He just tries too". The Independent. London. 2 October 2014. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  4. Heathcote, Charlotte (23 November 2014). "David Baddiel: 'I work on five things at once'". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  5. Group, The Eye Boggling Blurbs Book (23 January 2016). "The Parent Agency by David Baddiel – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 20 July 2022.{{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  6. "Book Review: 'The Parent Agency' by David Baddiel". HuffPost UK. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 20 July 2022.
  7. "New Musical Adaptation of David Baddiel's The Parent Agency to Premiere at Storyhouse in 2025". Deeside.com. Retrieved 4 November 2024.