Billionaire Boy

Joe’s working-class background means that he does not fit in with his private school peers at St. Cuthbert’s, but his incredible wealth makes him stand out in his public school. How does Joe navigate being an outsider in both contexts? How does he finally find peer acceptance? Use examples from the text in your response.

Discuss how Billionaire Boy addresses the contemporary phenomenon of exorbitant wealth. Being a millionaire is no longer the pinnacle of status: Billionaire entrepreneurs like Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos, and Mark Zuckerberg represent a new level of achievement. How has the self-made billionaire class reshaped definitions of wealth, especially in class-based cultures like the UK? How does Billionaire Boy respond to this shift?

Chocolate bars and school lunches are important symbols in the novel. What other foods play a role in the book plot? How does the novel use food in general as a plot device? Use specific examples from the text in your response.

Walliams’s work is often compared to Roald Dahl’s work. Compare and contrast Billionaire Boy and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. What elements do the novels share, and what makes them different?

What role does Joe’s mother, Mrs. Spud, play in the book? Discuss his relationship with her before and after his move to Bumfresh Towers. How does her absence manifest in his life? Does it contribute to Joe’s lack of close relationships? Support your response with examples from the text.

Choose three characters and analyze how they treat Joe when they discover he is wealthy. What do these characters’ reactions reveal about them? Consider how their actions and dialogue reveal their values and intentions toward Joe. Explain with references to the text.

Billionaire Boy uses over-the-top humor to make serious observations about issues that young people face. How does the novel address bullying? How does bullying affect Joe and Bob’s lives? What motivates the bullies? How does the bullying dynamic change throughout the novel?

How are women portrayed in the story? Choose three female characters and discuss their literary, thematic, and plot significance. Does the story make any general observations about relationships between men and women?