The pervasive themes and several less dominant ones of What About Grandma? are portrayed through the actions, personalities, and communication among the principal and minor characters of the story. The major characters are believable and likable. The situations with which they cope are ones with which most readers can readily identify. Rhys, her mother Eve, and her grandmother, Wyn, representing three generations in a family, struggle with problems of loyalty, communication, attaining a measure of independence and privacy, and generally understanding each other. Rhys, Eve, and Wyn are well-rounded characters, and their actions, thoughts, and conversations convey ideas stimulating readers' reflection on the themes of the novel.

Rhys is the main character and the first-person narrator of the story. At age sixteen, she typifies many qualities of girls her age. She is open to new experiences. She reflects on previous experiences trying to make...