Granny

By Anthony Horowitz

Book Overview

Twelve-year-old Joe Warden isn't happy. Sure, he's rich, but his parents don't care about him. His grandmother should make everything better, except that Joe's granny is a nightmare. She's not just physically repulsive, she's horribly mean. Everyone thinks she's just a dotty old woman, but Joe knows the truth. He's seen behind her mask and glimpsed the wicked glimmer in her eyes - she is pure evil. And now she's out to get Joe, unless he can stop her and her band of nasty grannies first.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0142408689
• ISBN13: 9780142408681
• Release Date: January 2009
• Publisher: Puffin
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.36 lbs.
• Dimensions: 7.7" x 0.5" x 5.0"
• Age Range: 8 years and up
• Grade Range: Grade 3 and higher

Customer Reviews

Justifiable Ageism

When a writer like Horowitz becomes famous, his publisher is likely to start coming out with his earlier, neglected titles once again. That's the case with Granny, first published in Great Britain in 1994 and now reissued in America in the wake of the author's Alex Rider fame. Anthony Horowitz has become a better writer in many ways since he wrote Granny, which has a few plot flaws holding it back. But the humor, the horror, and the fast pace of this satirical little book bumped my three-star review up to a four. Yeah, the ending feels kinda slapped on and is not quite as funny as the rest. The elderly cabal's motivations are a little unconvincing, as well. But the parts that work are worth it. My own grandmother passed away at the age of ninety-seven last year, and I'm not sure what she would have thought of Horowitz's book. My mother, on the other hand, is a grandmother ten times over--and her favorite Christmas song is "Grandma Got Run Over by a Raindeer." Just think of that song, and you'll have made a good start on understanding the tone of this book. Basically, Anthony Horowitz takes all of the WORST possible characteristics of grandmothers and then cranks them up several notches. Perhaps the funniest thing he does is make all those irritating old lady qualities the manifestations of a very real conspiracy on the part of a bunch of grandmothers--to the point where the old ladies have a secret convention and give out awards for things like Difficult Shopper: "Congratulations to Betty Brush for buying half an ounce of every single meat on display at her local supermarket, a performance that took three hours and kept sixty-one people waiting." So when Joe's evil granny gives him icky lipsticky kisses, calls him by the wrong name, or feeds him foods like over-salted greenish egg-salad sandwiches and an entire block of cream cheese, she does it on purpose to torture him. Unfortunately, Joe's wealthy parents are pretty much oblivious to his needs, though they do avoid Granny themselves (his father hides inside the piano at one point). Even more unfortunately, Joe's granny has something far worse in mind for her grandson. Soon Joe's only allies, his nanny and the gardener, are the victims of his murderous grandmother, and Joe is left alone to find out just what Granny has planned. Another reviewer has mentioned Roald Dahl: the granny convention reminds me of the witches' convention in Dahl's book, The Witches, simply because the devious ladies in both books conspire with such RELISH again small children! Dahl is really a pretty good point of comparison for the subversive tone of Horowitz's Granny. I'm sure any grandmother lacking a funny bone might object, but it's all very tongue-in-cheek. Taken in that spirit, you and your kids might get a real kick out of watching Joe try to escape the clutches of his horrible Granny.

A big smooch from granny

The Wardens are on the run. Not for the evil tax collector. Not for the police. Not even for a flood or any other natural mayhem. No, they are running away from something wicked and far more painful: their Granny. Joe Warden never really liked his granny. Certainly not when she widened her legs and crouched down slightly with her arms open waiting to be kissed! No words could describe the feel of her skin against his lips and that taste, that gruesome taste of nearly dead, grey skin. And this time it is far worse, because Joe thinks his granny is up to something. Is Joe going to become the ultimate sacrifice? Let is be known: Anthony Horowitz is Roald Dahl incarnated! If this was not yet clear from his other works, it becomes too obvious while reading Granny. The ease with which Anthony gives life to his characters is simply amazing. With a few lines he is capable of drawing an evil granny that becomes frightening to even the most mature adult. His narrative is filled venomous comments that will force you to do more than just smile. On top of this all, you get a storyline that is thrilling and extremely imaginative. To summarise: Granny is 150 pages of pure fun! A must read!

Pure Evil!

This is a sensational thriller which will also make you laugh. Joe has the meanest grandmother in the world whose sole existence in life is to torment him and make his life miserable. After bumping off various adult friends who actually cared about him Granny has plans for the ultimate evil. She convinces Joe's parents to take an overseas trip as she has plans to attend the Golden Granny Awards where she can compete for awards such as making everyone at the post office wait for the longest amount of time, the longest time to get on bus, most difficult shopper, the most unnecessary visits to a doctor and many more. The evil grannys of the world also have a new invention that will make them young again, all they need is the enzymes of a young boy, he will die of course in the process but what do they care, they all hate the young. Joe's granny is happy to make him the ultimate sacrifice.