book review on code name bananas

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Yvette Carol, Author

Yvette K. Carol ~ writer

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~ A Book Review: Code Name Bananas, David Walliams ~

I’ve finished reading my tenth novel for 2021, Code Name Bananas , by David Walliams . This book is one of the most recent offerings from the English comedian turned children’s writer. Published in 2020, and given to my son as a present, we started reading Code Name Bananas in lockdown this year and it provided us with some welcome comic relief. The book is full of action, laughter and secret plots, enough to keep us entertained.

This was my first time reading one of Walliams’ books. His fame precedes him. I knew he was the biggest selling children’s author to have started since the year 2000; he has books in over fifty-five languages and has sold over forty million copies worldwide.

To say I was curious would be an understatement. I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

In Code Name Bananas it is 1940, Britain is at war with Germany. As bombs rain down on the city, orphaned eleven-year-old Eric forms an extraordinary friendship with a remarkable gorilla: Gertrude. Eric spends his days at the place that makes him most happy: London Zoo. But during the blitz, the zoo is no longer safe, and Eric must go on an adventure to rescue Gertrude. Together with his Uncle Sid, a keeper at the zoo, the three go on the run. After a harrowing series of near captures and hair-raising escapes, the trio end up hiding out at the seaside, where they uncover a dastardly plot… fall into the clutches of the bad guys… and have to foil the ultimate villains.

The sumptuous packaging of this book reeks of money spent. With a satiny cover and gilt lettering that catches the eye, it’s a beautiful piece of literary art. Tony Ross is fantastic! The combination of Tony Ross’ fabulous illustrations and David Walliams’ wonderful story work well together. On the front cover there is a gold badge in one corner, marketing the story as a “WHIZZ-BANG EPIC ADVENTURE.” What is a “whizz-bang epic adventure,” you may ask? Apparently it’s a story so crazy and unbelievable nothing is off limits. I was a bit startled how far Walliams will go. But is that not a sign of greatness? It was Neil Gaiman who said, ‘The fundamental rule of writing is that if you do it with enough assurance and confidence, you’re allowed to do whatever you like.’

With those parameters, Walliams may take over the world with insane outings like Code Name Bananas. Ratburger , Demon Dentist and Awful Auntie have all won the National Book Awards Children’s Book of the Year. The Ice Monster won ‘Children’s Fiction Book of the Year for 2018’ at the British Book Awards and some of his stories, like Grandpa’s Great Escape , Mr Stink , Gangsta Granny and The Boy in the Dress are all available on DVD.

Yup, world domination is definitely on the cards.

Born in Wimbledon England in 1971, David Edward Williams OBE, known professionally as David Walliams, is a comedian, writer, actor and television personality. He is best known for his double act with Matt Lucas on the comedy sketch series, Rock Profile, Little Britain, and Come Fly With Me. Walliams has been a judge on the television talent show competition Britain’s Got Talent on ITV, since 2012. Now he has added best-selling author to his list of accomplishments.

You often hear Walliams being compared to Roald Dahl and I can see why. Walliams has the same blithe irreverence but with a slightly darker edge, and they’re both risk-takers. Walliams is a fun writer, however, the critics of Code Name Bananas have called it “phoned in” and “rushed out.” I enjoyed some parts of the story. Mostly it was too farcical for my taste. I got annoyed at the constant sound effects. They were unnecessary. Though novel at first, it quickly became overdone. If someone is eating, we don’t need to be told ‘MUNCH!’ I almost wondered if the sound effects were padding as they took up a lot of real estate.

On the plus side, I commend the historical aspect, especially for young readers. Code Name Bananas contains useful information about the Second World War, Adolf Hitler, German U boats, the Blitz, the Dunkirk evacuation, the London zoo, Winston Churchill and Buckingham Palace. I’m a big fan of historical fiction. Is it not the ultimate way to grasp information, to hear it in a story? That said Code Name Bananas will not make my list for favourite books of the year.

My rating: Three stars, just.

Talk to you later.

Keep creating!

Yvette Carol

“One day I will find the right words, and they will be simple.”– Jack Kerouac.

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Queensland Reviewers Collective

Code name bananas by david walliams.

Reviewed by Patricia Simms-Reeve

As an avid reader who grew up in the era when Enid Blyton was the most exciting writer of children’s books, it was with a blend of delight and envy that that I read Code Name Bananas by David Walliams.

Delight because it is a riotous tale of a young boy, his old uncle and a gorilla facing the threats and challenges of living in wartime London. Envy because it is so well written and is illustrated with such an hilarious zest that it compels a reader to frequently laugh out loud.

Eric, the small hero, is bullied at school because of his protruding ears, so he spends his spare time at London Zoo with his uncle, Sid, who is a keeper. Tragedy strikes when a bomb destroys his home and both beloved parents are killed. His love of animals has saved his life!

Sid, bravely surviving the first world war, now has to walk on tin legs. He ‘adopts’ and cares for Eric.

Gertrude is the gorilla, terrified by the nightly air raids and tries to escape her cage. She is deemed a menace and threat to people’s safety, so the zoo’s vet, Miss Gnarl, is happily determined to euthanise her.

There are others who appear – more caricature than characters.

Bessie, the exuberant next door neighbour is full of laughter, love, and is a marvellous cakemaker – especially ones crammed full of raisins.

At the zoo, there is Sir Frederick Frown, with his frightful lisp.

Colonel Blatter, an old soldier from WW1, is constantly reminding others of his status and rank.

Helene and Bertha run a guest house, with no guests, at Bognor Regis.

Captain Speer, a U Boat commander, lurks threateningly off the South Coast, ready to strike.

It is the humour that makes Code Name Bananas such a wonderfully entertaining read. One page displays ‘The Spotter’s Guide to Droppings’. Several messy piles are shown, ranging from barely visible ant’s droppings to a massive heap of elephant’s.

The gorilla, being such an intelligent beast, has a repertoire of party tricks. Peeling a banana with her feet, swinging on a rope like Tarzan, giving the crowd a Royal wave are amongst the dozen or so illustrated.

Later, the colonel suggests chaos would ensue should Gertrude run riot in London. Amongst such behaviour, sipping tea at Claridge’s, playing croquet with King George VI in the Palace gardens, driving a London taxi, waving from the door of No.10, is depicted.

The book is almost 500 pages long, yet it is unflagging in its appeal. Humour accompanies adventure and excitement.

In their brilliant plan to leave London in order to protect Gertrude, there is a side-splitting episode when Gertrude is disguised as a newly wedded bride. (The veil is essential in this disguise). There are the suspenseful few pages when two policemen are unconvinced by the ‘bride’ sitting on Sid’s old wheelchair. Their efforts to catch the train would impress Buster Keaton!

So much laughter is owed to the talents of Tony Ross, who drew the illustrations. One of my favourites is the trio emerging from the Lost Property Office in fresh disguises. Words cannot do justice to the sight of the three – especially Sid in his summer frock, beard and all!

They bravely face Bognor, weathering the cold, a fierce storm and the mysterious twins in the spooky old guest house. The thrills know no bounds. Poison, U-boats, and a plot to blow up Parliament and kill Churchill are listed and much more.

Words like ‘SWOOSH’, ‘SPLURT’ and ‘WHOOMPH’ and many others sprinkled throughout make this an ideal case for being an audio book.

Code Name Bananas is a book that is bound to grip young readers. David Walliams has sold millions with his previous works and is loved the world over. This is the first of his books I have read. My only regret is that he wasn’t bestowing laughter and his particular brand of life and love, when I was a child.

Code Name Bananas

by David Walliams and Illustrated by Tony Ross

Harper Collins

ISBN 9780008454296

$31.75 480pages.