Jack’s favourite person in the world is his Grandpa. He loves spending hours listening to Grandpa’s
exciting World War II stories of daring and danger as a Spitfire Fighter Pilot. They play games pretending they’re right back there in the action.
The problem is that Grandpa now spends more time believing he is actually back in 1940 than just playing, until eventually he’s forgotten the real world. Jack has become Squadron Leader and Grandpa only answers to Wing Commander.
This isn’t a problem until Grandpa begins to go missing. The last time they found him he was on top of the Church roof, lost in his memories high in the sky. “Up up, and away!”
The Vicar suggests a rest home for Grandpa and although Jack’s mum is all for it, Jack’s dad isn’t convinced. Jack can’t bear the thought of it and with an idea from Raj at the corner shop, Jack talks his parents into another solution for Grandpa. Jack has a spare bunk bed in his room!
What can go wrong? But Grandpa was a very clever airman in the war and he is hard to pin down. This time, he can’t be found. Where has he gone? Is he okay? Jack is worried sick.
A school trip to London’s Imperial War Museum reveals all. The vicar’s idea seems the only option left and Grandpa is bundled off to a rest home.
Twilight Towers might claim to be a rest home but Grandpa believes it’s Colditz Prison. Matron Swine is sinister all right, but Grandpa sees her as the Camp Commandant!
He must escape, and get back into his beloved airplane the Spitfire!
A tale of two generations – a Grandfather lost in his memories and a loving Grandson. This story is funny, full of adventure, bumbling police, ugly nurses and a scheming vicar, but the issue of Alzheimer’s is present throughout.
Grandpa’s world now only exists in 1940, and it’s hilarious how he fits people and places around him into that reality.
Loved the ending.
Author – David Walliams
Illustrator – Tony Ross
Age – 7+
Find Teacher’s Resources here
Build your own Spitfire here
(2015, Harper Collins, Adventure, Action, Humour, Family, Love, Funny, Alzheimer’s Disease, Memory, Memories, Colditz, Crime, Fraud, Escape, RAF, Royal Airforce)