Character Analysis
Gran is caring, sweet, well intentioned, thoughtful—and since Will is motherless, her nurturing presence fills that need for a maternal figure in his life. She worries for his safety, lets him stay home from school when he's stressed, feeds him when he's hungry, and defends him when he insinuates his guilt in the local drama.
Gran provides stability for Will, and her conciliatory nature helps to calm his chaotic mind. If she is still grieving the death of her son, Will's father, it's not obvious. With striking selflessness, Gran is more focused on helping Will get through this difficult period.
Pobody's Nerfect
Okay, so she does smack Will once, when he says something mean to his grandfather, but perhaps we can give her a grandmother pass this one time and let her old-school parenting be understood as such. That little blip in her character reminds us that she feels things, too. Will may hog center stage in the story, but the people around him have to navigate him, which can't be easy. Because of this, her slap doesn't detract from the generally loving attitude she brings to her grandson. Gran wants the best for Will—be it a good night's sleep or to smack him into shape.