Gangsta Granny

Gangsta Granny is a 2011 children’s chapter book by British actor and author David Walliams. Walliams brings his trademark humor to his story of an 11-year-old boy named Ben who dreads spending every Friday night at his grandmother Granny’s house, where she expects him to eat cabbage soup and play Scrabble. However, when Ben discovers that Granny has a secret life as a jewel thief, he decides that he wants to get to know Granny after all. Walliams is also known for his 2013 middle grade novel, Demon Dentist.

This guide refers to the HarperCollins 2011 version of this book.

Plot Summary

Ben complains to his parents about spending Friday night at Granny’s house. When he arrives, his worst fears are confirmed—they are having Granny’s usual cabbage soup while playing Scrabble. Ben avoids eating his soup and ruminates on how much he hates staying at Granny’s. He then visits the corner store to buy his favorite magazine, Plumbing Weekly. He complains to the owner Raj about Granny, and Raj encourages him to keep an open mind about her. A forlorn Ben goes back to Granny’s house for another Friday night. He calls his parents to beg them to pick him up, but they refuse. 

Ben avoids eating Granny’s breakfast on Saturday morning. When he sneaks into the kitchen to find a cookie, Ben is shocked to find the cookie tin full of precious jewels. Ben later shocks his parents by asking to visit Granny again. He decides to sneak out of the house to spy on Granny and learn more about her secret life. He is stunned to see her getting ready to smash a jewelry shop window before she notices him spying. Granny scolds Ben for following her and admits that she is a notorious jewel thief known as “The Black Cat.” 

Granny then explains that she began stealing as a young girl because her family lived in poverty, and she promises to tell him more later. Ben races home on his bike. When confronted by his mother, Ben lies and says he was practicing ballroom dancing. In the following two chapters, Ben’s excited parents discuss his future as a ballroom dancer, while a horrified Ben wonders what he will do to get out of the dance competition. He returns to Granny’s house, and she reveals that she has been a thief her whole life, even stealing famous tiaras and gems. Afterward, a nosy neighbor interrogates Ben and Granny, they hide Granny’s jewels under the floorboards.

Granny reveals that she had always dreamed of stealing the Crown Jewels, and Ben suggests that they plan the heist together. Though Granny firmly refuses, Ben begins to plan the heist on his own during the week, believing they could swim up the Tower of London’s plumbing system. Ben is excited to see Granny on Friday and tell her all about his plan.

However, Ben is saddened to hear that Granny is in hospital, and he visits her with his parents. Though Granny seems weak, Ben continues to plan their heist. He secretly visits her, and she agrees that they should steal the Crown Jewels the following weekend on the condition that they return all the jewels the next night. The next week, Ben is all ready for the heist, but he is devastated when his parents remind him that he is competing in a ballroom dancing championship that evening.

Ben improvises his way through a terrible ballroom dance performance, and he and his disappointed parents speed away from the angry dance audience. Once at home, Ben is shocked that Granny arrives at his bedroom window dressed in her scuba outfit, ready for the heist. They leave for London together on her motorized wheelchair, and Granny and Ben are scolded by a police officer for dangerous driving. He gives them a ride to the Tower of London, where they quickly dive into the River Thames. 

Granny and Ben swim up the Tower of London’s pipes and into the building, sneaking into the Jewel House where the royal jewels are kept. Ben and Granny are deciding how to break the jewel case when they are interrupted by the Queen. A bashful Ben and Granny admit that they were going to steal the Crown Jewels, and the Queen pardons them. Ben and Granny drive their motorized wheelchair home and are shocked when armed police surround them. Granny’s nosy neighbor Mr. Parker insists that the two stole the Crown Jewels, but the police find nothing and let Granny and Ben go. 

Granny and Ben reminisce fondly about their adventurous night before Granny tells Ben the sad news: She has terminal cancer. Ben returns home, and his relieved parents welcome him and forgive him for failing at the dance competition. They discuss Granny’s diagnosis and agree to visit her. Granny later passes away at the hospice. Ben is sad to attend Granny’s funeral and returns to Granny’s house to reflect on his close bond with her. In the Postscript, Ben and his family watch the Queen’s Christmas Day speech. Ben is surprised that the Queen discusses meeting him and Granny and how it reminded her that people should build relationships across generations.