I’ve been
on a minor Roald Dahl kick recently, by which I mean that I have read two books
by this celebrated author in the last couple of weeks. Although the first chapter book I remember
receiving was Dahl’s James and the Giant
Peach, I am not a lifelong fan. I
have liked some of his books, including Kiss
Kiss, a collection primarily of fiendishly fun short stories, definitely
for adults. I was unimpressed by Matilda; I found it two-dimensional, and
I much prefer the movie version. And I
have not (yet) read the iconic Charlie
and the Chocolate Family. (I hope this
admission does not alienate the army of Dahl enthusiasts.)
While
sitting with a cat in my lap, I reached for a book and found Danny, the Champion of the World. (I had forgotten that the short story upon
which this is based appeared in Kiss Kiss.) I immediately fell in love with Danny, a nine-year-old
boy, and his father, William, a widower auto mechanic who is passionate about
many things, but mostly about his son.
Such is their love for each other that, if given a choice, Danny would rather
work on cars with his father than play with his school mates. (In the context of the story, this is actually
a lovely thing; more on that later.)
Danny
discovers that another of his father’s passions is poaching. William is intrigued by the quest for the big
score, as was his own father. Fresh fish
and fowl are delicious, but equally enticing is the opportunity to put one over
on the local wealthy landowner and bully, Mr. Hazell. Those of you who know Dahl will recognize his
penchant for backing the underdog. Danny
finds his father’s enthusiasm contagious, and they collaborate on the next
quest: to spoil the opening day of pheasant hunting on Hazell’s grounds.
Dahl does
not shy away from the chance to introduce some nail-biting episodes – not
enough to scare most children, but sufficient to add dramatic tension. Danny is both brave and resourceful in
meeting challenges. In the end, however,
laughter carries the day!
It is likely
that some parents will not be happy with a story that glorifies illegal
activity, although the target is so cartoonishly despicable that he virtually
cries out for his comeuppance. Others
might frown on Dahl’s anti-authority stance; in Danny he ridicules not only the wealthy landowner but also a
sadistic schoolmaster. William is
righteously enraged, demonstrating that he is, after all, human. Some parents might like to see Danny playing
with friends, rather than being isolated at home. To Dahl’s credit, Danny’s father has the same
concern. I suspect that when Danny gets
a little older he’ll spread his wings and find independence.
This story
of a boy and his father is in all other ways so endearing that I hope concerned
parents will let their children give it a try.
I think it would be a great book to read with your child. Many of us would envy the father-son
relationship; some may strive for it.
Soon I’ll take up the other of my recent Dahl discoveries, The BFG.
Happy reading!
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