Grandpa's Great Escape

by David Williams

Paperback, 2017

Status

Available

Call number

823.92

Genres

Children's Books

All Topics

Fiction

Collection

Children

Publication

HARPER COLLINS (2017)

Description

The hotly-anticipated next novel from NUMBER ONE bestselling author, David Walliams Jack's Grandpa... *wears his slippers to the supermarket *serves up Spam à la Custard for dinner *and often doesn't remember Jack's name But he can still take to the skies in a speeding Spitfire and save the day... An exquisite portrait of the bond between a small boy and his beloved Grandpa - this book takes readers on an incredible journey with Spitfires over London and Great Escapes through the city in a high octane adventure full of comedy and heart. Illustrated by the award-winning Tony Ross.

User reviews

LibraryThing member ap.09.foxton

Grandpa's great escape is a really funny bookand I realy recomend it.

2 more

LibraryThing member AliceaP

I am struggling with how to express my feelings about Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams. This is due to the fact that this man might actually be a bigger Roald Dahl fan than myself and his writing definitely reflects that. I don't think that Walliams makes any bones about this but I do think

that if you've read Dahl's works it will be difficult not to compare the two which leaves Walliams falling a bit short. (Sorry!) Read on its own merit, it's a great little book which touches on topics which I think are really important in middle grade fiction. Our main character, Jack, has a very special relationship with his grandfather who was a fighter pilot in WWII. Their relationship is a unique one which is further complicated by the fact that his grandpa has Alzheimer's disease and believes he is once again in the midst of the Battle of Britain. Jack's parents are torn about what to do with the old man but Jack is adamant that he continue to spend time with him...until the vicar puts an idea into their heads about the old folks home beyond the moors. In typical Dahl fashion, Walliams fashions a slapstick comedy amidst flashbacks to WWII and serious discussions over elderly care and familial loyalty.

What I didn't care for:
What felt like blatant ripoffs of Dahl's works as well as his illustrator, Quentin Blake

What I legitimately enjoyed:
The approach and handling of serious discussions revolving around elderly care and Alzheimer's
The glossary at the back which discussed in more detail the topics touched on in the book such as the Royal Air Force, Battle of Britain, etc.

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LibraryThing member StephMWard

When we finished reading this book, my 5 1/2 year old said: "Can we ask the author to write more books?" Enough said.

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