Gangsta Granny – Hilarious and Surprisingly Moving

 

I have a ten-year-old daughter, and one thing we like to do is read the same books so we can talk about them afterward. Gangsta Granny was a birthday gift for her, and she read it so quickly that it immediately made me curious.

When a child finishes a book that fast, you know something is working.

When I finally read it myself, I was pleasantly surprised — and completely charmed.

A Story That Is Funny and Moving

At first glance, Gangsta Granny is a crazy, over-the-top, and very funny story. David Walliams clearly knows how to make children laugh, using absurd situations, exaggerated characters, and a fast-moving plot that keeps young readers hooked.

But beneath the humour, the book is also sweet, touching, and emotionally rich. What starts as a wild adventure slowly reveals a story about family, loneliness, empathy, and learning to truly see the people around us.

This balance reminded me of Roald Dahl’s books, where outrageous humour and emotional depth coexist effortlessly. Like Dahl, Walliams trusts children to handle big feelings without talking down to them.

Right for “Big Kids”

One thing I particularly appreciated is that this is not a baby book. The language, vocabulary, and sentence structure are well-suited to confident young readers — children who feel grown-up and want stories that respect that feeling.

The book is accessible without being simplistic, which places it firmly in the middle-grade category (roughly ages 8–12). In terms of readability and pace, it shares something with books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, but with a stronger emotional core and a more traditional narrative structure.

Lessons Without Sermons

Gangsta Granny does teach a few lessons — about kindness, imagination, aging, and connection — but never in a preachy way. There are no heavy moral speeches here. Instead, the lessons emerge naturally through the story and the characters’ actions.

This makes the book ideal for discussion afterward. It opens the door to conversations without feeling like it was written to teach rather than to tell a story.

Final Thoughts

This is a compelling, funny, and genuinely moving book — one that children are eager to read and adults can truly enjoy alongside them.

I would absolutely recommend Gangsta Granny to children ages 8–12, especially those who already see themselves as “big readers.” I’ll definitely be adding more David Walliams books to my daughter’s collection.

It’s always a joy to discover a book that children devour — and that stays with you after the laughter fades.

Did you like this title? It's time to take a look at the sequel - Gangsta Granny Strikes Again!