About This Book
Reach for this book when you want to bridge the generational gap between your child and their grandparents, or if your child has started to dismiss older relatives as boring. It is a perfect choice for navigating the realization that the adults in our lives have secret, exciting histories of their own. The story follows Ben, a young boy who dreads Friday nights at his cabbage-smelling grandmother's house until he discovers she was once an international jewel thief. Beyond the slapstick humor and high-stakes heist of the Crown Jewels, the book deals tenderly with themes of loneliness, the importance of listening to the elderly, and the eventual experience of losing a loved one. It is a hilarious yet deeply moving tool for teaching empathy and appreciation for family members who might seem uninteresting at first glance.
What Parents Should Know
Sensitive Topics
DISTRESS: The final chapters involve the grandmother's decline and eventual death. While handled with Walliams' signature humor, the scene where Ben visits her in the hospital and the subsequent news of her passing could be very upsetting for children who have recently experienced a loss or have an ill grandparent. CONVERSATION: Parents should be prepared to discuss terminal illness (cancer is implied but the focus is on her 'weak heart') and the reality of grief. There is also a scene involving the Queen that playfully mocks authority, which might require a quick word about fiction versus reality for younger readers.
Ideal Reader
A child aged 8-11 who enjoys Roald Dahl-style humor but is ready for a story that carries more emotional weight. It is especially suited for readers who enjoy stories about secret identities and unexpected family bonds.
Parent Prep
Preview the final three chapters. The shift from heist comedy to hospital room is sudden and may require the parent to be present for the read-aloud to manage the emotional transition. A child complaining that visiting a grandparent is a 'chore' or 'boring.'
Age Experience
Younger readers (7-8) will focus on the 'gross' cabbage jokes and the excitement of the heist. Older readers (10-12) will better grasp the underlying sadness of the grandmother's loneliness and the weight of the ending.
What Makes It Special
Walliams masterfully balances 'toilet humor' that keeps kids engaged with a sophisticated emotional core that explores the realization that grandparents have exciting lives of their own.
Read plot summary
Ben is forced to spend every Friday with his grandmother, whom he finds dull because of her obsession with Scrabble and cabbage. After discovering a stash of jewels, his grandmother reveals her secret life as the 'Black Cat,' a legendary thief. They team up to plan a heist of the Crown Jewels at the Tower of London, only to be caught by the Queen. The story takes a poignant turn when it is revealed the grandmother is terminally ill, leading to a heartfelt conclusion about her legacy and Ben's love for her.
This overview was generated by AI based on the book's content and reviews, and may not capture every nuance.
Discussion Prompts
1
Why do you think Ben's grandmother made up the story about being a jewel thief before they actually tried the heist?
2
Ben's parents are obsessed with ballroom dancing. How does their hobby affect their relationship with Ben and his granny?
3
How did Ben's feelings about his grandmother change from the beginning of the book to the end? Was it just because of the jewels?
4
What is one thing you would want to ask your own grandparent or an older relative about their life before you were born?
5
The Queen catches Ben and his granny but lets them go. Why do you think she made that choice?
