Grandpa’s Great Escape by David Walliams (review)

After the ghoulishly funny Demon Dentist (BCCB 2/16), British actor/author Walliams seems to be sticking with the theme of oddball looks at adults who should be avoided. In this case, it’s the folks running a suspicious-looking nursing home called Twilight Towers, and twelve-year-old Jack is doing everything he can to keep his grandfather out of there, even though he acknowledges that Grandpa’s grasp on reality is long gone. Jack’s grandfather spends nearly all of his time remembering and reliving key moments in World War II and Jack is right there with him, playing along as an adoring sidekick. When Grandpa is finally sent away to the nursing home, Jack’s planning his escape even before he realizes that there is some seriously sketchy stuff going on with the staff, and with their treatment of the residents. The whole thing’s tricky, as adults will recognize that Grandpa is unfit to live alone while Jack’s perspective is that constantly reenacting dramatic war scenes is awesome; the addition of a truly nefarious nursing home actually makes it all better, as the focus shifts to getting Granddad the heck out of that obvious nightmare rather than dwelling on what will happen next. Tony Ross’ illustrations are a treat, emphasizing the absurd rather than the sad. The ultimate emphasis on loving people where you find them, as Jack does when he accepts his role as squadron leader rather than grandson, is poignant and well conveyed, even amid the cheeky humor.