A review by bethdonohoe
Billionaire Boy by David Walliams

2.0

This is the third David Walliam's book I have read. Although I am not the target audience, I am studying to be a primary school teacher and have an interest in children's literature and the messages and the worth behind it. I also just really enjoy picking it up to read and my brain being able to switch off for a bit. I think reading this from a young adults point of view, I can definitely see the worth behind it (as I can with all of Walliam's work) as there are clear moral messages - this one being that money is not everything, money cannot buy happiness, look at people for who they are, not their wealth etc. However, I have to say - Walliams often jumps onto the 'calling characters fat to make it funny' bandwagon. I don't think Walliam's has any malice behind it but I do pick up on that if a character is supposed to be outcast or different, they are often 'fat'.

I do really enjoy Walliams' use of breaking the fourth wall. I'm unsure if this is something that is used a lot in children's literature (I can't remember much of the books I used to read when I was younger having it), but I do really like it. By addressing the reader directly, I think it pulls the reader into the book but also gives the book a slightly more mature feel? This may just be me constantly comparing it to "Reader, I married him" from Jane Eyre, but I do like Walliam's use of the term.

This wasn't my favourite book I've read of his so far, but I do definitely see the worth behind it.