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A review by creatingjana
Grandpa's Great Escape by David Walliams
3.0
Quick read but not up the standard of other David Walliams books. The relationship between Jack and his grandfather was sweet and I loved how he didn't give up on his favourite person, even when things got difficult and the adults around him wrote his grandfather off completely. I also liked that Raj was once more an important supporting character in this, despite the story being set in the 80s. And the ending was quite charming.
But things got a bit too silly and over the top at points, even for a children's adventure book (The list of rules at Twilight Towers? The puppeteering on visitor day? The ten million volt cattle prod? 🤦♀️). I get that the adults are supposed to be clueless and cruel compared to Jack, but it often veered into the territory of preposterous.
Most importantly, the "ugly equals evil" trope was very disappointing, especially since it was trans-coded. Plus the extensive mockery of the male police officer with the "girly name". Why enforce harmful stereotypes in a children's book?
I've liked other works by Walliams but I'm not sure if I'm gonna read more of his backlist or just wait for new - and hopefully more thoughtful - stories by him.
But things got a bit too silly and over the top at points, even for a children's adventure book (The list of rules at Twilight Towers? The puppeteering on visitor day? The ten million volt cattle prod? 🤦♀️). I get that the adults are supposed to be clueless and cruel compared to Jack, but it often veered into the territory of preposterous.
Most importantly, the "ugly equals evil" trope was very disappointing, especially since it was trans-coded. Plus the extensive mockery of the male police officer with the "girly name". Why enforce harmful stereotypes in a children's book?
I've liked other works by Walliams but I'm not sure if I'm gonna read more of his backlist or just wait for new - and hopefully more thoughtful - stories by him.