Gangsta Granny

“‘Now, I’ve set up the Scrabble board, and for your tea, I’ve got your favorite…cabbage soup!’ Ben’s face dropped even further. Nooooooooooooooooo! he thought.”

This comedic passage shows how Granny and Ben have very different preferences and that Ben struggles to communicate honestly with Granny. This quotation helps convey why Ben judges Granny so harshly and dreads going to her house. It also shows how Granny struggles to understand Ben and what a child his age likes, just as Ben misunderstands her.

“Although Ben hated reading, he loved looking at all the covers of Granny’s books. They had fast cars and guns and glamorous ladies luridly painted on them, and Ben found it hard to believe this boring old Granny of his liked reading stories that looked so thrilling.”

This passage foreshadows Ben’s discovery that Granny is a jewel thief. Granny’s taste in books is Ben’s first indication that she may not be as “boring” as he thinks, hinting that Ben will soon learn much more about Granny.

“Ben was as good with his hands as he was rubbish at reading, and was absolutely fascinated when a plumber came round to fix a leak. He would watch in awe, as a junior doctor might watch a great surgeon at work in an operating theatre. But he always felt like a disappointment to his Mum and Dad.”

Ben’s obsession with plumbing puts him at odds with his parents, who want him to become a ballroom dancer. This passage adds to Ben’s characterization as an active and intelligent child who likes to solve puzzles. However, the sense of inferiority he feels because of his interests is at the center of one of the story’s themes: Navigating Family Relationships. The issues between him and his parents isolate him, and Granny later soothes this emotional distress.

“‘Just because your granny is old, young Ben,’ said Raj, ‘doesn’t mean that she is boring. I am getting on a bit myself. And whenever I have met your Granny I have found her to be a very interesting lady.’ 

‘But—’ 

‘Don’t be too hard on her,’ pleaded Raj. ‘We will all be old one day. Even you. And I’m sure your Granny will have a secret or two. Old people always do.’”

Raj, the local corner store owner, encourages Ben to keep an open mind about Granny. This passage develops the author’s theme of Deepening Relationships Through Curiosity and Discovery, as Raj urges Ben to try to discover Granny’s hidden depths and life experiences to bond with her.

“‘I was going to tell you that bedtime story,’ she whispered. The old lady had often told him stories when he was younger, about pirates and smugglers and master criminals, but he was far too old for all that nonsense now.”

This passage adds depth to Granny’s relationship with Ben. It reveals that she enjoyed telling him exciting stories when he was a little boy, which he no longer wants to listen to. The author creates tension in the story by highlighting the divide between Granny and Ben, suggesting that they no longer understand each other and need something new to connect.

“Had she heard what he’d said? He looked behind him and thought he saw her shadow, but then it was gone. It was true that Ben found her dreadfully dull, but he didn’t want her to know that. After all, she was a lonely old widow and her husband had died long before Ben was even born. Guiltily, Ben crept back to the spare room and waited and waited and waited for the morning.”

Ben worries that Granny has heard his complaints about her while on the phone to his parents. This passage adds to the book’s theme of Overcoming Generational Differences, as Ben struggles to adjust to Granny’s lifestyle while staying with her. This quotation also adds to Walliams’s characterization of Ben, revealing that he can be kind and sensitive; even though Granny annoys him, he does not want to hurt her feelings.

“Diamonds! Rings, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, all with great big sparkling diamonds! Diamonds, diamonds, and more diamonds! Ben was no expert, but he thought there must be thousands of pounds worth of jewelry in the biscuit tin, maybe even millions.”

In this exciting scene, Ben discovers Granny’s hidden jewels in the biscuit tin while he tries to sneak a cookie. Ben wonders how and why Granny has so many valuables hidden in her kitchen, and this introduces her complexity as a person to him. Before, she was a “textbook granny”; now, she has secrets that spark Ben’s curiosity and encourage him to learn more about her.

“Later, Ben sat alone on his bed. His mind was racing. Where on earth had Granny got the diamonds? How much were they worth? Why would she live in that sad little bungalow if she was so rich? Ben searched and searched his mind, but couldn’t find any answers.”

Ben is flabbergasted by his discovery of diamonds at Granny’s house. By describing Ben’s questions about Granny and his new fascination with her life, Walliams develops his theme of Deepening Relationships Through Curiosity and Discovery. It also enforces the jewels as a symbol of Granny’s multifaceted personality. Finding them instigates the storyline of the jewel heist, wherein Granny will be more forthcoming with her traits and needs as a character.

“Where on earth was she going? And, more importantly, why was she dressed like a ninja? Ben propped his bike against the bushes, and got ready to tail his own grandmother. Which was one thing he had never in a million years dreamed of doing.”

Ben follows Granny as she leaves her house and races toward town. This passage builds tension and suspense in the story, and it shows the significance of the jewel’s impact in changing Ben’s perception of Granny. While he never would have expected that she would have secrets, let alone be hiding valuable items, she has surpassed his expectations in full by sneaking around at night. It’s the beginning of an adventure that he craves, and it’s the antithesis of how he sees Granny.

“Ben looked back at her as she drove. He’d just seen her preparing to rob a jeweller’s shop, how could he be more surprised? Clearly there was a lot more to his granny than he had ever known.”

Ben and Granny join forces as they run away from the jeweler’s shop where she was about to commit a theft. This scene shows how Granny and Ben quickly bond over her secret, adding to the book’s theme of Deepening Relationships through Curiosity and Discovery. As Ben’s stereotypical perception of the elderly falls apart, even if it occurs because of criminal activity, his bond with Granny grows stronger.

“Ben couldn’t imagine what Granny had been like young. He had only known her as an old lady. He even imagined she had been born an old lady. That years ago in the hospital when her mother had given birth and asked the midwife if it was a boy or girl, the midwife might have replied, ‘It’s an old lady!’”

By describing how Ben sees Granny, the author shows how his image of her is superficial and narrow. This passage adds to Walliams’s theme of Overcoming Generational Differences, as Ben needs to learn more about Granny to see her as a real person and feel more connected to her.

“‘Crack open the sparkling wine, wife! Our son is going to be a cha-cha-cha-champion!’ A naughty word exploded in Ben’s head. How on earth was he going to get out of this?!”

Ben’s parents happily believe his lie about wanting to become a ballroom dancer. The author contrasts Ben’s parents’ celebratory mood with Ben’s fearful one, showing that Ben and his parents have very different goals. This comedic passage illustrates the difficulties in Navigating Family Relationships. Even though none of them have bad intentions, lies and misunderstandings limit Ben’s relationship with his parents.

“‘Dogs can’t follow a scent across water. And there was a great oak tree just on the other side of the stream. If I climbed that tree, I might be safe.’ Ben couldn’t imagine his granny climbing stairs, let alone a tree. She had lived in her bungalow ever since he could remember.”

Ben listens in amazement to Granny’s tale about stealing a diamond ring and running away from the guard dogs. Ben’s disbelief reasserts that he has only ever known Granny as an elderly woman, and her stories are helping him realize that she had a long and interesting life before she ever met him.

“His Granny, in deepest, darkest Russia, flying through the air in an ancient suit of armour. It was hard to believe, but how else could this little old lady come to have such an astonishing collection of priceless gems?”

As Granny’s stories become more outlandish, Ben begins to question if they are true. This passage shows how Granny’s stories are both entertaining and puzzling to Ben, who now loves spending time with Granny. This adds to the book’s theme of Deepening Relationships with Curiosity and Discovery. It’s not the details of the stories that make Ben’s relationship with Granny strong; it’s their shared desire to learn about one another and enjoy their time together. The stories are simply a touchpoint to spark this interest.

“To be honest, they never really went anywhere as a family. When he was younger, Ben used to listen in silent wonder to his classmates, as they recounted their myriad adventures in ‘show and tell.’ Trips to the seaside, visits to museums, even holidays abroad. The knot in his stomach would tighten when his turn came. He was too embarrassed to admit that all he had done during the holidays was eat microwaveable meals and watch TV, so he would make up stories about flying kites and climbing trees and exploring castles.”

This passage adds depth to Ben’s character and his relationship with his family by explaining that Ben’s life is very limited compared to other kids. This quotation shows that, like Granny, Ben can also be an entertaining storyteller, and it explains why he longs for some excitement in his life. This provides more context for why Granny’s tales of thievery appeal to him so much.

“The week absolutely flew by, never had school been so much fun. Most importantly, for the first time in his life Ben couldn’t wait to spend time with Granny.”

Now that Ben knows about Granny’s secret past, he feels excited to spend time with her and plan their own jewel heist together. Ben’s interest in Granny’s life helps him see past their opposing lifestyles and build a better relationship with her, thus marking his efforts to overcome their generational differences.

“‘So, why am I not going to her house?’ The plan was in place, and there was no time to lose! 

‘Because,’ said Dad, ‘tonight it’s the under-twelve dancing championships. At last it’s your big moment to shine!’”

The author develops his theme of Navigating Family Relationships as Ben’s parents interrupt his heist plans to take him to a dancing competition. Ben’s secret plans with Granny are completely at odds with his parents’ plan for him to competitively ballroom dance, highlighting the distant nature of their relationship. While this passage also adds suspense to the story, it primarily shows how unappreciated Ben feels regarding his needs and interests.

“As soon as Dad opened the front door, Ben bounded up to his room and slammed the door. He sat on his bed, still in his Love Bomb outfit. Ben had never felt more alone. He was hours late to meet Granny. Not only had he let down his mum and dad, he had let down the one person he had grown to love more than anyone, his granny.”

In the aftermath of Ben’s terrible performance at the dance competition, he is overcome with guilt and disappointment that he let down Granny by failing to show up for their heist. Additionally, it reveals that a primary motivator for his actions is that he feels lonely. Because his parents don’t pay attention to what he likes or wants and he feels different from other kids in class, he is left isolated until he begins bonding with Granny. This shows how important Granny has become to Ben, adding to the emotional arc of the story.

“The unlikely pair of gangstas stood at the riverbank. ‘Are you ready?’ asked Granny, her mask completely steamed up from sitting in the back of a police car for over an hour. 

‘Yes,’ said Ben, trembling with excitement. ‘I’m ready.’ 

Granny reached out to hold Ben’s hand, and then she counted, ‘Three, two, one’ and on one they leapt into the dark waters below.”

Ben and Granny forge ahead with their heist plan and jump into the River Thames together. This passage adds to the theme of Deepening Relationships Through Curiosity and Discovery, as Granny and Ben’s united approach to their plan shows their deep mutual trust and shared goals. They both try new things together, even if Ben believes Granny is accustomed to this daring behavior, and this solidifies their relationship with one another.

“‘Noooo!’ cried Ben in desperation. ‘Mum and Dad were right. I am useless. I can’t even light a match!’ 

Granny put her arms around her grandson. As they cuddled, their wetsuits squeaked a little. ‘Don’t talk like that, Ben. You are an amazing young man. You really are. Since we have been spending so much time together I am a hundred times happier than I could ever say.’ 

‘Really?’ said Ben. 

‘Really!’ replied Granny. ‘And you are so very clever. You planned this whole extraordinary heist yourself and you’re only eleven years old.’”

In this passage, Granny comforts Ben when he fails to light his explosive and break the jewel case in the Tower. This quotation adds to the story’s theme of Navigating Family Relationships, as Granny’s validation helps Ben overcome his disappointment with himself. Because of Ben’s troubled relationship with his parents, Granny’s love and approval are even more meaningful to him.

“Well, once I had started, the lie grew and grew, Your Majesty […] It was so nice to spend that extra time with my grandson, to have fun with him. It reminded me of when I used to read him bedtime stories. That was in the days when he didn’t find me boring.”

Granny explains to the Queen why she had told such outlandish lies to her grandson about being an international jewel thief and why she agreed to steal the Crown Jewels with him. Granny’s admission shows that she had to consider the relationship from Ben’s point of view and find a new shared passion to bond with him. While her lies hurt, he also realizes that his disinterest in their time together hurts her feelings as well, and this encourages him to forgive her.

“‘How long have you got left?’ spluttered Ben. ‘Did he say?’ 

‘He said I wouldn’t make Christmas.’ Ben hugged his granny, as tight as he could, willing his body to share its life force with hers. Tears were running down his cheeks. It was so unfair—he’d only really got to know Granny in the last few weeks, and now he was going to lose her.”

Granny reveals to Ben that she has cancer. This scene affirms that Granny and Ben have formed a close and loving relationship despite their different ages and preferences, adding to the story’s theme of Overcoming Generational Differences. A key aspect of valuing people from different generations is that the time available to spend with others is finite. Ben learns here that his time with Granny is partially so special because he won’t have it forever; he must value it while he can.

“‘I’m sorry. After I let you down so badly at the dancing competition, I didn’t think you cared about me.’ 

‘Care about you?’ said Dad, a shocked expression on his face. ‘We love you!’ 

‘We love you so much, Ben!’ added Mum. […] ‘I am so proud of you, whatever you do.’”

After his attempted heist with Granny, Ben reunites with his parents. He is relieved that they still love him after his failed dance championship. This quotation concludes the author’s theme of Navigating Family Relationships, as Ben and his parents are able to overcome their differences and respect each other’s interests.