SuitabookThe beast of buckingham palace
David Walliams
- Reading
- Read it in short sections if the tension becomes intense, pausing to discuss what Alfred knows and what remains mysterious. Keep the illustrations available, and invite the reader to predict how fantasy elements may affect the quest.
- Themes
- Courage and justice: Alfred leaves the protected world of Buckingham Palace and pursues justice while trying to save his mother and others. The book leaves its stance open to more than one reading.
- Power, resistance and society: The story includes a Queen sent to the Tower, Royal Guards, prisoners and revolutionaries whom Alfred encounters during his journey. The book’s stance on this remains unclear.
- Human impact on the environment: One reported part links people burning trees to make ash with the Earth responding through violent earthquakes that destroy cities. The episode introduces environmental damage and large-scale consequences, though the book’s wider treatment of this idea is not known.
- Worth knowing
- Before reading, mention that the story includes peril, imprisonment, fighting and large-scale destruction, alongside frightening or mysterious moments. A child who prefers gentler stories may appreciate knowing that the book has a darker feel and sad elements.