a book review on matilda

Review and Summary of Matilda by Roald Dahl

Introduction:.

“Matilda” is a classic children’s book written by Roald Dahl, one of the most celebrated and beloved children’s authors of all time. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the book, its themes, and its literary devices, while also exploring its broader impact on readers. The suggested reading age for “Matilda” is 8 years and older.

Book Summary:

“Matilda” tells the story of a young girl named Matilda Wormwood, who is exceptionally intelligent and has a love for reading. Despite her extraordinary abilities, Matilda faces a challenging life, as her parents and the cruel headmistress of her school, Miss Trunchbull, fail to recognize her potential. The book follows Matilda’s journey as she uses her wit and newfound telekinetic powers to overcome adversity and protect her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Honey. Important themes in the book include the power of knowledge, courage, and justice.

The strengths of “Matilda” lie in its memorable characters, engaging plot, and the use of wit and humor throughout the story. Roald Dahl’s unique writing style keeps readers engaged, while his use of literary devices such as irony, imagery, and foreshadowing adds depth to the narrative. The book is also notable for its exploration of social issues such as child abuse and the importance of education.

One of the weaknesses of the book is its somewhat unrealistic portrayal of Matilda’s telekinetic powers, which may make it harder for some readers to fully relate to the protagonist. However, this element adds a magical touch to the story that can inspire imagination and creativity in young readers.

In relation to the author’s life, “Matilda” was published in 1988, towards the end of Dahl’s career. It is often considered one of his greatest works, as it showcases his ability to create compelling characters and narratives that resonate with readers of all ages.

Evaluation:

“Matilda” is a must-read for children and adults alike, as it offers valuable lessons on courage, resilience, and the importance of standing up for what is right. Fans of other Roald Dahl books, such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “James and the Giant Peach,” will undoubtedly enjoy this heartwarming tale. In comparison to other works in the same genre, “Matilda” stands out due to its unique blend of humor, magic, and real-world issues.

Comprehension and Analysis Questions:

While practicing her reading
During a confrontation with Miss Trunchbull
When she becomes angry at her father
Miss Trunchbull
Mrs. Phelps
Mrs. Wormwood
The power of knowledge
The importance of friendship
The consequences of greed
The value of family

1. c, 2. a, 3. a

Roald Dahl – Matilda
Scholastic – Matilda by Roald Dahl

Awards and accolades:

“Matilda” has won numerous awards, including the Children’s Book Award in 1988. It has also become a best-selling book and has been adapted into a successful movie in 1996 and a popular Broadway musical in 2010.

Functional details about the book:

ISBN: 978-0142410370
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Puffin Books
First publish date: October 1, 1988
Adaptations: Movie (1996), Broadway musical (2010)
Genre: Children’s fiction, fantasy
BISAC Categories: Juvenile Fiction / Humorous Stories, Juvenile Fiction / Fantasy & Magic
Suggested Reading Age: 8 years and older

Other Reviews:

Common Sense Media – 5/5 stars
Goodreads – 4.33/5 stars

Where to buy the book:

Purchase “Matilda” on Bookshop.org

Is this book part of a series?

No, “Matilda” is a standalone book.

About the author:

Roald Dahl was a British novelist, short-story writer, poet, and screenwriter, who is best known for his captivating children’s stories. Born in Wales in 1916, Dahl’s writing career began in the 1940s with works for adults. He gained widespread fame with his children’s books, which often feature dark humor, fantastical elements, and memorable characters. Some of his other best-selling books include “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “James and the Giant Peach,” and “The BFG.” Dahl has won numerous awards throughout his career and is often regarded as one of the greatest children’s authors of all time. He passed away in 1990.

Final Thoughts and Recommendation:

“Matilda” is a timeless story that will appeal to both children and adults due to its engaging characters, magical elements, and important messages about courage, resilience, and the power of knowledge. It is a must-read for fans of Roald Dahl and those who enjoy imaginative and heartwarming tales.

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By Matt Berman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

Kid genius gets revenge on mean adults in fun fantasy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 8+?

Miss Trunchbull throws children out of windows, picks them up and swings them ar

There's a lot of name-calling directed from adults to kids, or between adults, i

Any Positive Content?

Intelligence can matter more than brutal power, even when power is wielded by a

Miss Trunchbull abuses Miss Honey and her students, and Matilda's relationship w

Children will learn some quick facts (titles, author names, and some plot summar

Violence & Scariness

Miss Trunchbull throws children out of windows, picks them up and swings them around by their hair or ears, and locks a child in a tiny room with spikes protruding from the walls. She also has pushed a young girl's head underwater as punishment. Though no one is really injured in this fantastical novel, some sensitive youngsters may be upset by the Trunchbull's cruelty.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

There's a lot of name-calling directed from adults to kids, or between adults, including "stupid," "glob of glue," "ignorant little twit," "gangster," "useless bunch of midgets," and more.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

Intelligence can matter more than brutal power, even when power is wielded by a large adult over a small child.

Positive Role Models

Miss Trunchbull abuses Miss Honey and her students, and Matilda's relationship with her parents is one of mutual dislike. However, Miss Honey is a wonderfully warm and encouraging teacher. She's also very brave in her way, and she has the adult perspective to express how adult cruelty affects children. Matilda is a special young hero, avenging adult crimes with her marvelous brainpower. Of course, this is all in the context of Roald Dahl's fantastical imagination, so the physical abuse is cartoonish, and little children can't really do magic, yet there is much to admire in the genius of Matilda Wormwood.

Educational Value

Children will learn some quick facts (titles, author names, and some plot summaries) of great books that Matilda reads, including Burnett's The Secret Garden and Dickens' Great Expectations . They'll also learn what times tables are, and how to spell a few words, such as "what" and "difficulty."

Parents need to know that Roald Dahl 's Matilda is about a brilliant, magical little girl who's miserable at home with her nasty, clueless parents and oppressed at school by her mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. However, Matilda finds a loving, kindred spirit in her teacher, Miss Honey, who values her pupil's amazing brain power. Miss Trunchbull inflicts mental cruelty and physical abuse on the students, including name-calling, tossing children out of windows, locking them in a closet lined with spiky nails, and spinning them around by their hair or ears. These exaggerated acts of malice are part of the fantasy, though, along with Matilda's magical mental tricks. This novel was made into a dark yet delightful 1996 movie , and it's available as an audiobook read beautifully by actress Kate Winslet .

Where to Read

Parent and kid reviews.

Parents say (19)
Kids say (77)

Based on 19 parent reviews

Kids are smarter than reviewers are giving them credit for...

Let's read matilda little girl has powers, what's the story.

MATILDA is the story of a little girl genius. By age 4, the title character has read all the books in the children's section of her local library, and moved on to Dickens, Austen, and Hemingway. She can also do advanced math in her head and has a sophisticated understanding of the world. Unfortunately her crooked car-dealer father and bingo-holic mother, TV addicts both, don't appreciate her at all. In fact, they "looked upon Matilda ... as nothing more than a scab." Matilda spends most of her time reading and the rest thinking up clever ways to punish them for their atrocious behavior, such as putting superglue into her father's hat brim, and swapping his hair tonic for peroxide. Things change when Matilda starts school. Crunchem Hall Primary School is run by the horrific Miss Trunchbull, "a gigantic holy terror, a fierce tyrannical monster who frightened the life out of pupils and teachers alike." At the same time, Matilda is taken under the wing of her perfectly sweet teacher, Miss Honey, who needs the little girl as much as the student needs her. Getting back at the Trunchbull will be much more difficult, and dangerous, than punishing her parents, so Matilda's magnificent mind starts developing even more unbelievable talents!

Is It Any Good?

This classic book has been delighting kids and their parents since 1988, appealing both to readers' imaginations and to their sense of justice. The good in Matilda are all good, and the wicked get their comeuppance at the hands of giddy, delighted children. Precocious readers, like Matilda, will recognize in this novel's villainous characters some of the same qualities that define the bad children in what is probably author Roald Dahl's most famous work, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory . Mean characters exhibit gluttony and greed, watch too much television, and cheat to get what they want. Good characters are lovable, smart, and triumphant. Matilda is a wonderful romp -- a great read-aloud for young children, and a mild challenge for middle graders to read themselves. Either way, it's tons of fun and immensely satisfying.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the idea of revenge in Matilda . Is it right for Matilda to play tricks on her parents and Miss Trunchbull?

Do you think any real person can do magical tricks like Matilda does?

If you had Matilda's powers to move things with your mind, how would you use them?

Book Details

Author : Roald Dahl
Illustrator : Quentin Blake
Genre : Fantasy
Topics : Magic and Fantasy , Friendship , Great Girl Role Models
Book type : Fiction
Publisher : Penguin Group
Publication date : May 8, 2005
Number of pages : 240
Award : Kids' Choice Award
Last updated : July 8, 2024

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Kohl Eyed Tales

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7 Reasons Why I Love Roald Dahl’s Matilda

September 16, 2019 Filed Under: Book Lists , Book Review , On the Shelf 27 Comments

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The 13th of September was Roald Dahl’s birthday and I decided to read Matilda. I was so impressed by the book that I now realize what a wasted childhood I had without having read the book. What I immediately did soon after I read Matilda was checking Netflix for its movie adaptation and to my surprise, it turned equally good. I think every child should read Matilda. Here are the reasons why I believe so.

7 Reasons why I love Roald Dahl's Matilda

This post contains Affiliate links, which means I will get a commission for every purchase you make using it, at no additional cost to you.

7 Reasons Why Matilda is my Favorite

The strong, inspiring female protagonist.

Matilda Wormwood lives in a tiny cottage with her family. She is unheard, unseen and unloved by her parents and big brother. While her father sold patched-up cars for profit, her mother left her alone at home to play bingo. She walked alone to the library where she got lost in the world of books. Books are her best friend and even at the early age of two, she could easily speak fluently and by the age of four, she could read Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. She hoped that things would change when she started school but she had a beast for a Principal, Miss Trunchbull who took pleasure in bullying little kids. Her brutal punishments took away the joy of learning but with the help of her allies – her school friend Lavender and her teacher Miss Honey, she confronts her Principal and how!

Matilda, the Avid Reader

Matilda loved reading and she spends almost every waking hour with her nose in a book. Thanks to Mum, I’ve always loved reading since I was a child and I owe everything to her for inculcating this habit in me. I even snuck a library book under my desk during lessons. Nothing changed during University days as well. Today, I know I can’t sleep without reading at least a few pages a day.

Stand up for Yourself

Matilda teaches us that it isn’t okay to be bullied and manipulated. She is brave and stands up for herself against people who are way elder, larger and stronger than her, which includes her parents and Trunchbull. She helps Miss Honey find the courage to stand up to her evil aunt Miss Trunchbull and reclaim her home.

Goodbye Toxic people

Even at the young age of four, Matilda realizes that there is no place for toxic people in your life. It doesn’t matter what someone’s relationship is to you – parent, spouse, sibling, teacher – if someone abuses you mentally, physically or emotionally, chuck them out of your life. She teaches us that we can’t always trust people in authority to keep us safe.

Cheating is Wrong

Matilda’s father is a cheat who sells patched-up cars. He runs an illegal car dealership and the FBI are after him. Miss Trunchbull too, is an evil woman who kills her brother-in-law and cheats her niece out of her home. Mathilda values honestly over insensitivity and that’s an amazing quality about her.

There are lots of pranks played by Matilda because she believes that bad people should be punished. She uses her intelligence to survive the attacks on her but never once has she boasted about her cleverness.

She is as old as I am!

Matilda was released in 1988 and she is as old as I am! (You do the math!). That’s another reason why I absolutely love her!

Matilda isn’t just another book with clever female protagonist. Reading it as an adult, I realized that one can channel their rage thoughtfully and emotionally.

I’m going to read more Roald Dahl books and you can find them on my Bookstagram .

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7 Reasons why Roald Dahl's Matilda is my Favorite

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Reader Interactions

September 16, 2019 at 9:29 pm

Dahl’s Matilda is one of the novels I prescribed to my grade 11 students for a reading project. Glad to read your review.

September 17, 2019 at 9:59 am

September 17, 2019 at 6:35 pm

I absolutely love Matilda. I mean she has been a part of my growing up journey too! And it’s strange that how you (and I) still find her too be a part of our lives even today! This is a very cute post! 🙂

September 17, 2019 at 9:44 pm

I love Roald Dahl books too and growing up reading them has been a privilege. Thanks for sharing this. #MyFriendAlexa #CloudandSunshineReads

September 18, 2019 at 7:40 am

Reading her books because she is of the same age is something interesting 😀 When we see such successful people who are of the same age, it makes us feel we are not doing anything with our life, isn’t it?

September 18, 2019 at 9:35 am

September 18, 2019 at 5:47 pm

Matilda is one of my favourite books till date… Loved your post.. very well written. 🙂

September 18, 2019 at 6:05 pm

Love that you are as old as Matlida. Amazing how you have dissected the character and put forth. Recently I wrote about Fantastic Mr.Fox by Roald Dahl. Do have a look at https://bookishloom.wordpress.com/2019/09/14/fantastic-mr-fox-by-roald-dahl/

September 18, 2019 at 6:09 pm

Roald Dahl was one of my favourite authors as a child. I’ve made sure to introduce his books to my grandson as I did for my kids. Love your reasons for Matilda!

September 19, 2019 at 1:33 am

Matilda is my and my son’s favorite! we have seen the movie and thoroughly enjoyed the movie as well.

September 19, 2019 at 11:53 am

I love to read Dahl’s books with my daughter. We have not read this book, though I have seen the movie. This is going to be next on our reading list very soon. #MyFriendAlexa #ShubhraReads

September 19, 2019 at 3:58 pm

September 19, 2019 at 4:44 pm

I haven’t read this book but it sounds like a great read, I am gonna pick it up soon.

September 19, 2019 at 9:15 pm

September 19, 2019 at 11:39 pm

I love Matilda too! Mostly she was one of my childhood book friends- you know what I mean, right?!

September 20, 2019 at 12:31 am

I must say he’s a very inspirational writer and his books are super interesting and worth reading

September 20, 2019 at 9:33 am

I have read couple of his books and truly he is master of words. His books takes you in wild chase with imagination. Thanks for the idea, I am getting Matilda for daughter who just finished reading Dr. Seuss.

September 20, 2019 at 8:24 pm

Omg .. I don’t know how I missed this beautiful book, o have heard so much about it but have never got it.. thanks to your reasons I am going to order it right now…

September 21, 2019 at 8:24 am

September 21, 2019 at 7:29 pm

I absolutely love this movie. Haven’t read the book, but I’ve seen the movie a good 4-5 times and never got tired of it. She is really an inspiration

September 21, 2019 at 8:38 pm

I loved reading this book as a child. Can’t wait my kids to now read this, as they grow up.

September 22, 2019 at 1:23 pm

I love Matilda and your seven reasons are mine too!Reader Matilda is so inspiring.Say no to bad people.

September 22, 2019 at 5:32 pm

Recently we watched the movie after my daughter completed reading the book. Yes there are many lessons to be learnt from the story and your post is so well crafted.

September 23, 2019 at 1:23 am

loved the article plus in love with the book. Great read

September 23, 2019 at 1:25 am

September 25, 2019 at 11:13 am

Matilda is my favourite too. I made my daughter watch the movie. Will give her the novel next month. She is reading Rucking bond right now. Surbhi #surreads https://prettymummasays.com

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This Is My Bookshelf

Book Review | Matilda

Matilda by Roald Dahl

Genre: Children’s Classic

Published: Originally 1988, 30th Anniversary editions 2018

Publisher: Puffin / Penguin Random House Children’s

I received a copy of this from Penguin Random House Children’s (via NetGalley). This has not influenced my review.

In 1988 a little girl called Matilda brightened up our lives – 30 years later, what do you think she would be doing now? To mark Matilda’s 30th birthday, Quentin Blake has imagined what Matilda would be doing at 30 years old. From being Chief Executive of the British Library , to an Astrophysicist , to travelling the world , Quentin’s brand new illustrations of Matilda now feature on three celebratory editions of the original story. Through Roald Dahl’s incredible story, and Quentin Blake’s iconic illustrations, readers around the world were introduced to a character who was ahead of her time. Matilda was the quintessential young rebel, who, inspired by her love of books, was ready to tackle injustice and bullies whenever and wherever they sprang from. Matilda is nothing less than an icon – of page, screen and stage. Matilda’s story demonstrates the need to stand up for what you believe is right and that, even when you feel most SMALL and powerless, you can stand up to BIG bullies, change tough circumstances for the better and in effect, write your own story. Share what you think Matilda would be doing in her 30’s by using #Matilda30

Confession: I’d never read Matilda before.

I don’t even have a good reason why. I always loved reading growing up, read most of Roald Dahl’s books, and had seen the Matilda film. But for some reason I never picked up this book.

I’m so glad I finally did!

I’m sure most people are familiar with Matilda’s character and story. She’s an incredibly bright young girl with a love of reading and learning. And doesn’t let her ignorant parents or scary head mistress hold her back.

This is a wonderfully heart warming story of a child facing adversity, and finding kindness in her teacher. And it’s one I’ll definitely be making sure my kids read growing up!

I love the new covers released to mark the 30th Anniversary, and the one you can see above is my personal favourite. The library helped Matilda expand her world as a young child, and I’d love to think of her wanting to make sure other children get the same privilege.

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Matilda by Roald Dahl – Book Review

Matilda is the world’s most famous bookworm, no thanks to her ghastly parents.

Her father thinks she’s a little scab. Her mother spends all afternoon playing bingo.

And her headmistress, Miss Trunchbull?

She’s the worst of all.

She’s a big bully, who thinks all her pupils are rotten and locks them in the dreaded Chokey.

Despite these beastly grownups trying to push her down, Matilda is an extraordinary girl with a magical mind.

And she’s had enough.

So all the terrible adults had better watch out, because she’s going to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget!

As a child, I was a massive Roald Dahl fan and spent hours with my nose in his books. At school, we had to read his older children’s work on his life, Boy and Going Solo. However, over the years I have noticed that I never actually read a few of his work, namely Danny the Champion of the World, The Witches, and Matilda.

This wasn’t something I really thought about recently until I saw it on Sarah Cox’s book show as one of the guests ‘Bring Your Own Book’ and she made it sound so appealing that I ordered it right away and then read it in a day. Why, oh why, did I ever leave it so long.

The book is for any bookworms no matter your age, it is a book about a bookish child. A child who loves all the classics. It is also a book about nasty people and how through being very clever from reading this little five-and-a-half-year-old Matilda gets her revenge.

The book is truly amazing. It was a beautiful, fun, energetic read and I fell in love with the little girl and want to spare her from these brutes that call themselves adults, including her parents who dislike their own child.

The copy I bought was the 30th-anniversary copy, mainly as I love a hardback book and partly because I loved the cover and the colour – yes I am that easily pleased.

Within the book is artwork by Quentin Blake who illustrated I think all of Roald Dahl’s work. He has a way with his artwork that not only brings the story to life but makes you laugh and connect with the characters too.

Part of me is glad that I never this book as a child as I got to appreciate it as an adult and part of me thinks I missed out on such a fabulous book that would have made me constantly giggle and frown.

Overall, this is a book that still after all these years works in today’s society. It was great fun to read and this edition would make a wonderful gift too.

Book Reviewer – Stacey

Purchase online from:, amazon.co.uk – amazon.com – amazon.in – apple books – blackwells – bookshop.org – waterstones, about the author.

The son of Norwegian parents, Roald Dahl was born in Wales in 1916 and educated at Repton. He was a fighter pilot for the RAF during World War Two, and it was while writing about his experiences during this time that he started his career as an author.

His fabulously popular children’s books are read by children all over the world. Some of his better-known works include James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Fantastic Mr Fox, Matilda, The Witches, and The BFG.

He died in November 1990.

What did you think of Matilda? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!

The above links are affiliate links. I receive a very small percentage from each item you purchase via these link, which is at no extra cost to you. If you are thinking about purchasing the book, please think about using one of the links. All money received goes back into the blog and helps to keep it running. Thank you.

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I read this back when I was a kid. Great book.

Such a good book! I love the movie too.

I watched the movie, never read the book.

I love this curious child and this author – I love your thoughtful review

definitely one of my fav authors and books!!

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Review: matilda.

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by Roald Dahl illustrated by Quentin Blake ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 1, 1988

After some autobiographical excursions, Dahl here returns to the sort of whimsically grotesque fantasy that makes grown-ups wince and children beg for more. His heroine is five-year-old Matilda, a genius whose mathematical abilities, as well as her impressive reading list (Hemingway, Steinbeck, etc.), are totally unappreciated by her father—a dishonest used-car salesman—and her mother, a devotee of bingo and TV soaps. Only when the girl enters school does she find an understanding ally, Miss Honey, a paragon of virtue who attempts to defend her pupils against unbelievably cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull, who hates children in direct proportion to their youth and tortures them accordingly. Just when things seem to be at their worst, Matilda discovers still another gift, telekinesis, enabling her to defeat the horrible Trunchbull and give Miss Honey, and herself, a new start. Dahl's tightly woven plots, his strict sense of absolute justice, and his raunchy "funny bits" make him popular with children who also appreciate the empowerment he grants to his smaller, weaker protagonists. Matilda is the most simplistic of his efforts in this direction, but it does retain the time-honored appeal, abetted by Blake's apt illustrations. It probably should be marked "For Children Only," though. And Dahl slips badly when he says that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien have no "funny bits" in their books.

Pub Date: Oct. 1, 1988

ISBN: 0142410373

Page Count: 240

Publisher: Viking

Review Posted Online: Oct. 16, 2011

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Sept. 15, 1988

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY

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by Alice Harman ; illustrated by Quentin Blake

developed by Roald Dahl ; illustrated by Quentin Blake

More About This Book

Lynch To Co-star in ‘Matilda’ Movie Musical

BOOK TO SCREEN

SEEN & HEARD

THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL

From the school for good and evil series , vol. 1.

by Soman Chainani ; illustrated by Iacopo Bruno ‧ RELEASE DATE: May 14, 2013

Rich and strange (and kitted out with an eye-catching cover), but stronger in the set pieces than the internal logic.

Chainani works an elaborate sea change akin to Gregory Maguire’s Wicked (1995), though he leaves the waters muddied.

Every four years, two children, one regarded as particularly nice and the other particularly nasty, are snatched from the village of Gavaldon by the shadowy School Master to attend the divided titular school. Those who survive to graduate become major or minor characters in fairy tales. When it happens to sweet, Disney princess–like Sophie and her friend Agatha, plain of features, sour of disposition and low of self-esteem, they are both horrified to discover that they’ve been dropped not where they expect but at Evil and at Good respectively. Gradually—too gradually, as the author strings out hundreds of pages of Hogwarts-style pranks, classroom mishaps and competitions both academic and romantic—it becomes clear that the placement wasn’t a mistake at all. Growing into their true natures amid revelations and marked physical changes, the two spark escalating rivalry between the wings of the school. This leads up to a vicious climactic fight that sees Good and Evil repeatedly switching sides. At this point, readers are likely to feel suddenly left behind, as, thanks to summary deus ex machina resolutions, everything turns out swell(ish).

Pub Date: May 14, 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-210489-2

Page Count: 496

Publisher: Harper/HarperCollins

Review Posted Online: Feb. 12, 2013

Kirkus Reviews Issue: April 15, 2013

CHILDREN'S SCIENCE FICTION & FANTASY | CHILDREN'S SOCIAL THEMES

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The Literary Edit

Review: Matilda – Roald Dahl

When I first decided to work my way through the BBC’s Big Read , I wanted to do a thorough job – thus no half-hearted attempts or unfinished books are permitted. I’m sure that at some point during my childhood I read Matilda, but in the name of being thorough, when placing my most recent order on Amazon, I included Matilda in the line-up.

Without wanting to sound horribly tacky, the first thing that struck me about this book was the similarities between myself and Matilda. I may not have had the ghastly parents, but I did have a love of reading instilled in me from a very young age, much like the protagonist in this novel. Growing up in a small town in Sussex, I remember walking to my local library every Saturday aged seven and stocking up on books for the week; I can still recall the glee I felt when I was told that the borrowing limit had been extended from three books to seven. And while I certainly wasn’t reading Dickens, books absolutely played a big part in my childhood and have continued to do so throughout my adult life.

London’s Evening Standard has recently launched a literacy campaign hoping to ‘get London reading’ on the back of recently published statistics. One in four children under five have a TV in their bedroom, and one in five children leave primary school without being able to read properly. Thus, while this novel was published almost twenty-five years ago, it’s message is as poignant as ever.

The tale is a charming one; Matilda’s parents neither own nor have they read, a single book between them, indeed like much of modern society they spend their time slobbed in front of the TV and have no interest in reading. At school she is befriended by her teacher Miss Honey – the niece of the evil Headmistress Miss Trunchball – who discovers that Matilda has an incredible gift and is far ahead of her years in terms of intelligence. When Miss Honey tries to notify Matilda’s parents, they remain uninterested, as does Miss Trunchball. And thus forms an unlikely friendship between teacher and pupil, with a very happy ending.

About Matilda

Matilda Wormwood’s father thinks she’s a little scab. Matilda’s mother spends all afternoon playing bingo. And Matilda’s headmistress Miss Trunchbull? Well, she’s the worst of all. She is a big bully, who thinks all her pupils are rotten and locks them in the dreaded Chokey. As for Matilda, she’s an extraordinary little girl with a magical mind – and now she’s had enough. So all these grown-ups had better watch out, because Matilda is going to teach them a lesson they’ll never forget.

About Roald Dahl

He died in November 1990.

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4 comments on “Review: Matilda – Roald Dahl”

Even though I’m a bloke I completely identified with Matilda. This was something Roald Dahl always did brilliantly. His protagonists were always perfect for the young mind reading the book, a bit like how a horoscope can seem to resonate with you.

Hi – glad to hear it – I totally agree and think that Roald Dahl was fantastic at creating characters that readers could idetify with. Thanks for stopping by on my blog – let me know if you have any reading recommendations!

They just put out stamps dedicated to Roald Dahl books in the UK. They’re amazing. I’m kind of obsessed with his book The BFG.

Wow – they sound fab! The BFG is down on my reading list for next month so I’ll let you know what I think – Fantastic Mr Fox was my fae of his when I was younger 🙂

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Home › Book Reviews › Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

By georgelthomas on 22 Sep 2023 • ( 0 )

Hi everyone! I hope you’re all well. It’s Friday, which means it’s time for another review . Today, I am reviewing one of my favourite books: Matilda by Roald Dahl .

Matilda by Roald Dahl was first published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape and is 239 pages long.

The Plot Matilda tells the story of a young, intelligent girl named Matilda who develops telekinetic powers, using them to punish one terrible teacher while helping another.

Characters Matilda Wormwood Matilda is a precocious five-year-old girl with a love for reading and learning that surpasses that of her neglectful parents, who believe children should not waste their time reading. In one instance, her father even tears up one of her library books, causing her to take revenge by setting up some clever practical jokes.

Later, when she attends school (she starts late because her parents forgot to make the appropriate arrangements), she is wrongly blamed for putting a newt in mean headmistress Miss Trunchbull’s water. Matilda gets so mad at being wrongly accused and discovers she has a gift, suddenly finding she can move things with her eyes, tipping over the glass of water and causing the newt to jump on Miss Trunchbull.

With the help of her lovely, kind teacher Miss Honey, Matilda learns to harness her telekinetic powers, deciding to use them to help improve her life.

Miss Honey Miss Honey, Matilda’s school teacher, immediately sees Matilda’s intelligence and compassion and is instrumental in advocating for her. She is a kind-hearted mentor who believes in her students and works to help them achieve their full potential. Miss Honey is a model of kindness, gentleness, and patience and is adored by her students. Throughout the book, she is a ceaseless support to Matilda in learning to harness her telekinetic gift and intelligence, with the two forming a close bond , becoming so close that Miss Honey confides in Matilda about her harsh upbringing.

Miss Trunchbull Miss Trunchbull is the strict headmistress of Matilda’s school (and without giving too much away, a lot more). Miss Trunchbull is a terrifying authoritarian figure with strict rules and a strong dislike for children. She is imposingly tall and muscular, having once been an Olympian, and has a brutal reputation for corporal punishment. Her punishments are often cruel and humiliating, and she is notorious for her explosive temper.

Trunchball takes an immediate dislike to Matilda because she hates intelligent children. As a matter of fact, in her ideal school, there would be no children at all.

Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood Mr. And Mrs. Wormwood are Matilda’s parents and are neglectful, selfish, and unrepentantly ignorant. Their interests lie more in watching TV and engaging in shady car deals than caring for their daughter. They see education as pointless and do not believe in reading or academic achievements. Mr Wormwood hates that Matilda is intelligent and thinks his son to be superior, even though all the evidence points to the opposite. Mrs Wormwood seems to be a little less awful to her daughter, though only slightly. She seems to care more about bingo than her children and tends to agree with her husband on most things, especially regarding their hatred of books.

Lavender Lavender is one of Matilda’s classmates, a mischievous and adventurous girl who becomes Matilda’s good friend, helping her manoeuvre around the harsh school environment. Lavender is the one who puts the newt in Miss Trunchbull’s drinking water in a moment of self-confidence and defiance.

Bruce Bogtrotter Bruce is one of the students at Matilda’s school. At one point, he is accused of stealing a slice of cake from Miss Trunchbull’s tea tray in the kitchen, a crime she sees fit to punish him for in front of the whole school. Gathering all the students together, Miss Trunchbull calls Bruce to the front of the room, where she doles out his infamous punishment: forcing him to eat an entire, giant chocolate cake. It’s clear Trunchbull intends for the boy to be sick or for him to be unable to finish eating the cake – but Bruce defies her expectations and finishes the lot to the sound of every student cheering him on. It’s one of the more memorable scenes in the story.

Writing Style One of the most notable aspects of Dahl’s writing style in general, but especially in Matilda is his use of his descriptions. Here, he paints a clear picture of Matilda’s world; from the oppressive atmosphere of her home to the empty, bare-bones feel of Miss Honey’s cottage, his descriptions are not only rich in detail but also appeal to the senses, making the reader feel as though they are right alongside the characters.

Another thing that shines through is his use of humour. Despite the heavy nature of some themes in the book, some of which are rather dark, such as neglect and mistreatment, and even the suggestion of a suicide at one point, Dahl manages to infuse the story with lightness and whimsy that keeps the tone from becoming too heavy.

Additionally, as with many of Roald Dahl’s books, he expertly captures and conveys the world from the point of view of a child. He writes with empathy and understanding of how children interpret the world around them, including how adults seem so mysterious and inexplicable. This gives the book an authentic and relatable feel, making it all the more enjoyable.

Illustrations The illustrations done by Dahl’s long-time collaborator, Quentin Blake, are an integral part of the reading experience of Roald Dahl’s books, adding depth and dimension to his fantastic stories.

In Matilda, Blake’s illustrations are instantly recognizable, and his drawing style perfectly complements Dahl’s whimsical writing. Every page is filled with his simple yet brilliantly drawn pictures, perfectly capturing the playful and mischievous spirit of the story. Their exaggerated expressions and gestures work particularly well here. From Matilda’s steely determination to Miss Trunchbull’s manic rage, and even the scenes where Matilda glues a hat to her father’s head and then tricks him into dying his hair, the illustrations perfectly portray the emotions of each character, making the story all the more engaging.

Final Thoughts I have read Matilda several times over the years. It has been a great escape from the world for me, and it has also been a go-to to read to my nephews when they were growing up.

Overall, it is a classic story that should be on the reading list of all children (and grown-ups, for that matter). It is a testament to the power of imagination, kindness, and determination and a reminder that hope exists even in the bleakest circumstances.

I am giving Matilda an 8/10.

Have you read Matilda or seen any of its adaptations? What did you think of them?

As ever, thanks for stopping by. It really means the world.

Until next time,

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Matilda by Roald Dahl – children’s book review

Some typical fairytale elements are present. Her parents and headmaster at school (Miss Trunchbull) are farcical caricatures, and Matilda is almost too perfect—except for her surprising taste for revenge. Overall, the plot was not very complex, and the ending was a bit abrupt, but the writing was deliciously witty. Dahl is a masterful craftsman at his work. This is a subversive fairytale about a four year old with the scheming wit of an old fox.

Initially, I wasn’t sure why I took so long to finish Matilda . It was a short little thing. My only experience with the story was with the movie , so I enjoyed reading the original source material. I believe my problem with Matilda was that the author did such a wonderful job creating absolutely rotten characters that stepping into Matilda’s world was a distasteful experience. Her parents were so completely ignorant and repulsive that I put the book down for a break and let a year or so pass.

I am glad that I returned to it recently. The setting, even if oppressive, served to show the reader the problems that Matilda needed to overcome. As in the tradition of Oliver Twist , Matilda was completely disregarded as a human being and in need of help, but instead of finding her Fagin, she found the angelic Miss Honey.

Matilda was a brilliant child trapped in an adult world of bias and contempt. She was told she was stupid, she was dismissed offhand because of her age, and she was ignored because she didn’t fit a template. Her parents were criminals, her headmaster outlandishly abusive, and only Miss Honey saw Matilda’s potential. She provided just enough of a foundation for Matilda to get her footing and launch off. Miss Honey knew all too well how terrible it was to be trapped and taken advantage of. She was the perfect benefactor for Matilda and set the stage for Matilda’s transformation.

Unfortunately, Matilda’s salvation—and the most outlandish of all plot devices yet—came almost three-fourths through the book. I felt the establishment of Matilda’s depressing life took far too much time in a tale that was so short. In addition, there was no foreshadowing of Matilda’s telekinetic powers that I noticed, so they came quite out of the blue. I felt the movie did a much better job balancing this transition from victim to victor.

I drew parallels between this story and one that came years later called Mai the Psychic Girl . Mai, too, was childlike and innocent in her joy as she explored her powers, but in Matilda , those powers weren’t woven into the tale from the beginning. They arrived as a deus ex machina solution to her troubles, and very typical for folktales, though they were still entertaining to read about.

In the story, Matilda wisely explained to her friend, Lavender, the secret to how the Trunchbull (as the kids referred to her) got away with her violent and irresponsible behavior. “Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog.”

This seems to be advice that Dahl himself follows. He put his characters up to antics that were as outlandish as they were funny. Matilda superglued a hat to her dad’s head as revenge. Miss Trunchbull tossed children about the schoolyard and out windows with carefree abandon. By the time Matilda could move objects around with the power of her eyes, the cartoonish behavior of Miss Trunchbull helped make this transition from Oliver Twist to Mai the Psychic Girl less jarring, but there really wasn’t much in the way of logic or character development. Matilda is a tall tale told for laughs, but that is more than enough to be a good read.

Release Date: October 1, 1988 (UK) ISBNs: 0670824399 (9780670824397) Publisher: Puffin Language: English

MySF Rating : Three point five stars Family Friendliness : 100%

Alcohol/Drugs: 0 Language: 1 (no swears, but the insults are colorful and intense) Sexuality: 0 Violence: 1 (cartoon violence, children thrown across playgrounds, torture mentioned)

Fortunately, the Milk by Neil Gaiman – book review

By Roald Dahl

"Matilda" is a children's book by Roald Dahl. It revolves around the story of a 5-year-old girl with advanced intellect and magical powers.

In a nutshell...

"Matilda" by Roald Dahl tells the story of a brilliant and kind young girl named Matilda Wormwood, who is neglected by her crude parents and mistreated by the tyrannical headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Matilda discovers she has telekinetic powers and uses them to stand up for herself and her beloved teacher, Miss Honey. Ultimately, Matilda helps Miss Honey reclaim her inheritance and escapes her unloving family, finding happiness with Miss Honey.

Key Moments

Matilda discovers her telekinetic powers: She realizes she can move objects with her mind.
Matilda stands up to Miss Trunchbull: She uses her powers to protect her classmates.
Miss Honey's inheritance reclaimed: Matilda helps Miss Honey regain her family home.

Main Characters

Matilda Wormwood: A gifted girl with telekinetic powers.
Miss Honey: Matilda's kind and supportive teacher.
Miss Trunchbull: The cruel and oppressive school headmistress.

The setting of "Matilda" is a small English village, primarily at Matilda's home and Crunchem Hall Primary School. The oppressive school environment, ruled by Miss Trunchbull, highlights Matilda's resilience and bravery, while Miss Honey's cozy cottage symbolizes hope and kindness.

Continue down for the complete summary to Matilda

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

B.A. in English Literature, and M.A. in English Language and Literature.

The author begins the story with an introduction to Matilda and her family. Matilda is a 5-year-old girl belonging to the Wormwood family . She is nothing like her parents, who are mean and unpleasant. She is also a genius. She has always spoken like an adult and has taught herself to read. Matilda, therefore, spends much of her time reading books in her house while her parents and her brother while their time away in front of the television.

Matilda quickly finishes reading all the books in her house and goes to the local library to find more. The kindly librarian introduces her to classics such as “ Tess of the d’Urbervilles ,” by Thomas Hardy “ Great Expectations “ by Charles Dickens, and “ Jane Eyre .”

Matilda’s father, Mr. Wormwood, is a car salesman. He is extremely dishonest and tricks people into buying useless cars. He teaches Michael, Matilda’s brother, the ways of his business. This is when Matilda understands that her father is cheating people. She tries to tell her father that what he is doing is wrong , only to infuriate Mr. Wormwood and be called ignorant and stupid.

I must say the introduction to “Matilda” is a masterstroke by Roald Dahl. Right from the outset, we are thrust into the stark contrast between Matilda’s brilliance and her family’s absurdity. Dahl’s witty depiction of the Wormwoods’ obsession with television versus Matilda’s insatiable hunger for books sets a delightful tone. It cleverly underscores the theme of intellect triumphing over ignorance, and Matilda’s journey becomes all the more compelling as we root for this extraordinary girl surrounded by mediocrity.

Matilda thus retaliates for her parents’ bad behavior in her own way. She pulls a bunch of pranks on them . Here begins the rising action of the story. She gets her dad to glue his hat to his head. She bleaches her father’s hair blonde by swapping out her father’s hair tonic for her mother’s platinum hair dye. She also uses the neighbor’s parrot to deceive her family into thinking that there is a ghost in the dining room. These pranks do not have a lasting impact on her parents, but they teach Matilda to stand up for herself.

Finally, Matilda becomes old enough to go to school. There, she meets a teacher, Miss Honey , who understands her and cares for her . Miss Honey recognizes the potential within Matilda and tries to move her up to an advanced class. Though Matilda can read and write better than any other student in the class, Miss Honey fails in her attempt to move Matilda to a higher grade. The reason is Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress of the school, who believes that Matilda is a naughty child . She thinks that Miss Honey is simply trying to get rid of her. Miss Honey then tries to reason with Matilda’s parents about moving her to an advanced class but to no avail.

Matilda, however, adjusts to her classmates in Miss Honey’s class very well. She becomes fast friends with another girl named Lavender, who shares her adventurous spirit.

Matilda finds out more about the mean headmistress from her friends, such as Hortensia. The headmistress, referred to as “The Trunchbull” , is mean and abusive. She doles out frightening punishments to students who offend her, including locking them up in the chokey. Matilda witnesses Miss Trunchbull throwing a young girl in pigtails (Amanda Thripp) over the fence of the playground by her hair only because she does not like pigtails. When Miss Trunchbull finds out that a boy named Bruce Bogtrotter stole a piece of cake from the kitchen, she makes Bruce eat an enormous chocolate cake in front of the school as punishment. Thus, the tussle between the evil headmistress and the students forms the central conflict in the story.

I relish this part of “Matilda” for its delightful portrayal of Matilda’s clever retaliation against her parents’ mistreatment. The school setting, Crunchem Hall Primary School, is portrayed as a place of both hope and oppression. While Miss Honey’s classroom is a haven of encouragement and learning, the overall atmosphere of the school is dominated by Miss Trunchbull’s tyranny.

Miss Trunchbull takes one of Miss Honey’s classes the following week. Matilda’s friend Lavender volunteers to get a pitcher of water and a glass for Miss Trunchbull before their class begins. As an act of rebellion, she puts a newt into the pitcher , which gets tipped into the glass when Miss Trunchbull tries to drink from it. This is when Matilda discovers her telekinetic powers for the first time. The headmistress then blames Matilda for the newt, and the injustice of the situation causes Matilda to bubble up with anger. She stares at the glass of water and uses her mind to tip the glass onto the headmistress along with the newt.

Miss Trunchbull leaves the class in a fury, and Matilda informs Miss Honey of her powers. She demonstrates her powers once again, and Miss Honey, amazed, invites her back to her cottage for tea. Matilda discovers that Miss Honey is poor. When she asks her teacher why she cannot afford a nice house and better furniture, Miss Honey replies that a mean aunt has taken away her inheritance and continues to take away her salary. She then reveals that her terrible aunt is Miss Trunchbull.

This is the turning point in the story. Matilda is disturbed by this revelation but quickly forms a plan in her mind. She practices her powers for a week and waits for Miss Trunchbull to take her class once again. The climax of the story occurs as Matilda stands up to Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull arrives, and while the headmistress is abusing the students, Matilda lifts a piece of chalk to the board with her magical powers. She writes a message on the blackboard from Miss Honey’s father (Magnus), asking Miss Trunchbull (addressing her as Agatha) to give his house back to his daughter. Miss Trunchbull faints from fright. She leaves the town, never to return.

The revelation of Miss Honey’s plight adds emotional depth, and Matilda’s response is both brave and ingenious. By practicing her powers and eventually confronting Miss Trunchbull with a message from Miss Honey’s deceased father, Matilda orchestrates a dramatic climax that resolves the injustices faced by her beloved teacher. This blend of courage and cleverness not only propels the story forward but also highlights Matilda’s extraordinary character.

The falling action then begins. Miss Honey soon receives the will that her father had left behind, which had hitherto been concealed by Miss Trunchbull. She also receives the deeds to her father’s house and moves into it. This marks the resolution of the story, with Miss Honey’s inheritance reclaimed. Matilda is moved to an advanced class. However, she loses her powers since her mind is challenged with academic work.

One day after school, Matilda returns home to find her family packing to leave for Spain. She asks her father when they plan on returning. Her father tells her that he will never return. Panicking, Matilda runs to Miss Honey and tells her what has happened. Miss Honey informs Matilda that Mr. Wormwood is a crook who deals with criminals and that it is only a matter of time before he runs away. Not wishing to leave Miss Honey, Matilda asks her father if she can stay behind with her. Her father agrees and her family drives away in the car.

I find the ending of “Matilda” particularly satisfying for its blend of resolution and poetic justice. Matilda’s clever plan to rid the school of Miss Trunchbull and restore Miss Honey’s inheritance is a triumph of intelligence and bravery over cruelty and oppression. Moreover, the resolution is touching as Matilda’s talents lead to a new beginning for her and Miss Honey.

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About Neesha Thunga K

Neesha, born to a family of avid readers, has devoted several years to teaching English and writing for various organizations, making an impact on the literary community.

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The child has one intuitive aim: self development

Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl

Matilda by roald dahl.

Reviewer: Lin Ding aged 7

The main characters in this book are Matilda, Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull. I liked Matilda because she was very wise and curious and I liked Miss Honey because she was helpful and kind.

Matilda is a little girl who loves reading. She has superpower eyes. She can use them for lifting and breaking things. She protected the other children in the class from Miss Trunchbull and she helped Miss Honey get her mansion back. At the end she defeated the evil Miss Trunchbull and it is a really happy ending (but you need to read the book to find out what happens).

This book is amazing. There is a lot of fantastic creative imagination. My favourite part was when Matilda poured the water all over Miss Trunchbull to make her swallow the lizard that was in the water. It was super funny. I learnt kindness, bravery and diligence from Matilda.

I strongly recommend this book to all children from ages 7 to 12 I believe they will enjoy the funny story.

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BOOK REVIEW: Matilda by Roald Dahl

Amazon page

[The Sarah Walsh illustrated edition comes out October 13, 2020.]

Matilda is a precocious child with parents who are negligent and verbally abusive. The story picks up shortly before Matilda is set to begin kindergarten, presumably so that we can learn that she is a preschool autodidact and that she has crappy parents. We also witness how she takes to “punishing” her parents whenever one or both of them behave in a particularly vile manner, using what might best be described as pranks. The empowerment of children, girls, and bookish people is the central theme of the book

Matilda begins school and is at once delighted to find a kind and caring teacher, Ms. Honey, and dismayed to find that the Principal, Mrs. Trunchbull, is a horrible woman. While Ms. Honey recognizes Matilda’s brilliance, she cannot get the girl advanced to a suitable grade because both Matilda’s parents and Trunchbull refuse to recognize the girl’s intellect. Dahl takes on both the cause of feminism and the plight of nerds. In the case of the former, we see how Matilda is disregarded by both her parents because she is a girl and they don’t see much value in her education and can’t fathom that she would be good at learning. While Matilda’s brother doesn’t exactly get top-notch parenting, at least some effort is made to advance his education. In the case of the latter, Dahl shows the derision for reading and studiousness that is all too common in society.

I won’t delve into the details of the balance of the story except to say that when Matilda discovers that Ms. Honey’s life is even more harrowing than her own, the young girl resolves to use her talents and capabilities to help improve Honey’s lot.

I read the version of the book, illustrated by Sarah Walsh, that is coming out in the autumn of 2020. Dahl’s story is the same, but the art is different. Having seen the Quentin Blake illustrated books, I’m aware of the difference between the two. However, as a non-artist, I don’t have much vocabulary to give a detailed description of said difference. I can say the Blake art is more reminiscent of old comic strips and the Walsh work was more cleanly drawn and “realistic,” while maintaining a general sense of whimsy and a bright color palette. I enjoyed the artwork, though I don’t claim a particular eye for such things.

I’d highly recommend this book for fiction readers. It’s written for children, but if you’ve gotten to adulthood without checking it out, it’s worth going back to read it. While the villainy maybe over-the-top for adult readers (i.e. there aren’t any nuanced characters,) the story has emotional resonance and is satisfyingly concluded. As to the question of the age of children it is good for, I don’t have much expertise in that either. However, as a litmus test, ask yourself if you think the kid can assimilate the image of Trunchbull swinging a girl by her ponytails – as in the hammer-throw – and tossing her over a fence.

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10 thoughts on “ BOOK REVIEW: Matilda by Roald Dahl ”

I still have my copy from when I was 10 years old. Brilliant review of an amazing book! 👍🖤

Like Liked by 1 person

You’re most welcome 🖤

I have not read this one but will be sure to check it out. Dahl is a true master that I found as an adult 🙂

Like Liked by 2 people

Read the book in fourth and fifth grade before seeing the film version, which I now have on DVD.

Yes! Love Dahl 🙂 I went to see the RSC musical of Matilda, and it reminded me of how I loved the book when I was younger. I’ve also found that Dahl did some adult fiction – have you come across it? I reviewed his short story ‘Taste’ on my blog if you’re interested!

I’ve read the two parts of his memoirs, but don’t know that I’ve read any of his fiction that targets adults — if I have it must have been short form.

Yeah, I’ve not heard of any longer form adult fiction by Dahl – he published a bunch of short stories under the collection title ‘Kiss Kiss’, I believe. 🙂 Did you enjoy the memoirs? Perhaps I will look them up. 🙂

The first part “Boy” is kind of aimed at kids [it’s a little bit of a Matilda story applied to his own life in boarding school.] The second part — Going Solo — is written to appeal more to adults is split between his life as a combat pilot in WWII and his life in Africa. He led and interesting life. Both parts are short and readable. I enjoyed them.

Amazing, thanks! I’ll definitely have a look. 😊 If they’re short… stay tuned on my blog for my inevitable review of them!! 😂❤️📚

Book Series Recaps

So what happened in book one.

Review of Matilda

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No spoilers in this review of the Matilda by Roald Dahl .

Special thanks to Sarina Byron, a BSR contributor who wrote this great review! Sarina is a British Author and Contributing Writer living in California. Sarina enjoys bringing forth a different perspective and encouraging a different way of thinking through her writing. Visit her blog to read her reviews, and check the end of the review for a link to her Instagram.

Matilda Wormwood has long fascinated us. Since our first introduction to her in 1988, we have been trying to understand Matilda in multiple ways. Whether by way of the Danny DeVito -directed movie or the Netflix musical , this five-year-old continues to fascinate us for over four decades. One might ask, what makes her special?

Is it that she can read Dickens and speak with an adult-level vocabulary? Or is it that she has the smarts to punish her neglectful, ignorant, and cruel parents? When I think about Matilda, this is the question that haunts me—What makes Matilda special?

Keeping her face to the sun

No matter the state of her home or school, Matilda is always cheerful. She was raised within a family that barely bothered to tend to her needs. She learnt to feed and dress herself when she was two years old. No one bothered to teach her the alphabet, and yet she learnt to read. Her determination brought her to the library where she continued to further her education. When she joins Crunchem Hall, her bright future is clouded over by the terrifying Headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.

Despite all these drawbacks, she finds a way to stay cheerful. Her spirit is undefeated in the face of numerous setbacks. Her hindrances are placed by the very people who are meant to help her. Nevertheless, at no point does one see Matilda despair. Even at five years old, she knows that she alone is enough, and there is always a way. Something about her “keep your face to the sun” attitude makes our heart go out to her. Perhaps we’ll never know if we could have been as strong as Matilda when we were children. But she fortifies our confidence in the strength of the young. In her own words . . .

“ Children are not so serious as grown-ups and they love to laugh.”

Never suffering bullies

Matilda’s father makes a minor linguistic error. He tells her, “When a person is bad, that person has to be taught a lesson.” As the masterful Roald Dahl points out, when Mr. Wormwood used person instead of child, he taught Matilda a valuable lesson—punishments are not limited to children. Matilda makes a connection. So far, she understood bullying behavior as incorrect, but now she feels empowers to punish them.

Deeply insightful, she is instantly able to identify unfair treatment. She can follow the lane of logic, spotting any deviations or roadblocks placed by bullies. Amongst her other enduring legacies, this one jumps out the most. Roald Dahl enriches her character with his dislike for bullies. Using the example of the most innocent creature he can think of, he teaches us to speak up for ourselves, like when Matilda tells The Trunchbull she has indeed read Nicholas Nickleby . Why should someone else feel entitled to wipe out her achievements? Another instance Matilda takes charge is the time she mixes peroxide in her father’s hair oil to punish him for destroying her library book.

Matilda’s perspective impacts more people than she intends to. Miss Honey had never spoken of her miserable existence until she meets this gifted child. She isn’t fighting fit yet, but she is strong enough to confront how she feels. In Miss Honey’s own words:

“You can’t imagine what it’s like to be completely controlled by a very strong personality. It turns you to jelly.”

Take it from Miss Honey: Never allow anyone to turn you to jelly, no matter who they are.

Going the whole haul

When Lavender wonders aloud how The Trunchbull got away with her atrocious behavior, Matilda’s answer drips with deep insight.

“Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is completely crazy, it’s unbelievable.”

A perfect assessment of the Headmistress’s attitude, this statement is also a fantastic decree to live by. Matilda understands that the more outrageous you are, the more unbelievable your actions appear to people, increasing your chances of success. Perhaps we could all live like that. So many of us would rather give up on our dreams than be ridiculous. Maybe trading in reason and logic for over the top and absurd will deliver us from being disappointed in ourselves.

Even in denouncing a great terror, Matilda gives us something valuable.

Going forward is paramount

The thing about life is, as much as we love to look back, we have to keep moving forward. However, we almost always forget that. Looking back is tempting because it makes sense as we neatly arrange things in the order they occurred and insert lessons we learnt. Life though, is not lived in retrospect; it is always lived forward.

“The whole object of life Headmistress is to go forward”

Roald Dahl delivers this fantastic life insight via Miss Honey, reminding us of the power of great writing. What makes books relatable is not perfect grammar or prose-filled sentences but the ability to connect. Roald Dahl has masterfully built the characters and chapters to deliver sagacious lessons. Matilda’s story does so in every chapter, thereby touching our hearts more often than we are prepared for. After all, a book has a larger purpose than the story.

As I closed Matilda and reflected on what I would include in my review, several simple lessons stood out. There is plenty of expert storytelling and character building to reflect upon, but what we really take away is the relatable parts. Children’s books are often overlooked, but the truth is, the well-written ones connect the most with adults. You see, they’re built to deliver important life lessons in the simplest way possible. Maybe we can all do with a reminder from our early years, or perhaps we can leave the job to Matilda!

Let us know what you think about Matilda and Sarina’s great review in the comments! No spoilers on this page, please!

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Don’t forget to check out Sarina’s blog , and you can follow her on Instagram ! Follow Book Series Recaps on Instagram , Pinterest , and Twitter . Friend us on Goodreads: Sara and Stacy .

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A Book and a Teacup

Young Adult
Historical Fiction
Historical Romance
Christian Fiction

Sunday, February 27, 2022

Review - Matilda

Original Title : Matilda Series: - Author: Roald Dahl Published: October 1st, 1988 Publisher: Puffin (2007 edition)

* THE FOLLOWING REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS*

First of all, guys, sorry for my long absence. It’s been a crazy couple of months. But I haven’t given up books, and today, I come back with this short but powerful classic, that I read in one sitting. This is, in fact, my very first book by Roald Dahl. I grew up watching the 1996 movie adaptation, with Mara Wilson and Danny de Vito, and I’m sure more than one 90s kid out there –like me– wanted to have Matilda’s powers, more than anything in the world. If you are reading this, I feel you. Personally (and I’m sure I’m not the only one), I saw a lot of myself in her love for books, and the company they meant for her, that was such a lonely girl. I admit I was expecting the book to be just like the movie, but upon reading it, I see that, for the adaptation, they kept the basic storyline, and took it a little further. For example, in the book there’s no scene with Matilda going to the Trunchbull’s house at night during a windstorm, and scaring her with the crazy clock, and Magnus Honey’s portrait, nor her adventure with Miss Honey, inside the Trunchbull’s house. Sadly, because I was really looking forward to those scenes. Yet, it’s not a bad book, and I was actually surprised of how realistic it is, even for a book geared towards children. I personally think Miss Honey is a strong, incredible female character. Through her sad story, losing her parents and being forced to live with her horrible aunt, she was brave enough to set her limits and leave behind the bad life she was living, with a person that abused her, both physically and mentally. She didn’t ask permission to do it, she just saw her chance of freedom, and took it. True, she lived with almost nothing, in the farmer’s cottage she rented, and even though she couldn’t even dispose of her own salary, nothing would make her go back to her aunt. I loved her for it, for her courage to say “ I had enough ” and do something about it, which makes her, in my opinion, the bravest person in this book. Her struggle is real, and I’m sure a lot of people can feel identified with her. Also, and in despite of everything she went through, Miss Honey didn’t lose her sweetness and love for teaching. And that love and true encouragement are deeper than any kind of affection Matilda ever got from her grotesque, shallow parents, who never cared about her, her need of education, or the nurturing of her unique intellect. She’s clearly a neglected, misunderstood child, as there are a lot in the world. She’s a girl with extraordinary talents –magic powers aside–, virtually ignored by her parents, so engrossed in their own lives that cannot possibly see how special their daughter is. They are, in this case, the villains, portrayed in a cartoonish way that, in fact, is absolutely realistic. Matilda finds comfort in books, and reading becomes her everything, her passion, her escape. But my point is, no one can deny that those people truly exist, and that there are a lot of Matildas out there, in the different corners of the world, with self-absorbed families that do not listen nor care about their needs and talents. So, the fact that she gets a happy ending, with a new mother that truly appreciates everything she is, is a true message of hope, in which we are told that the circumstances of our birth do not determine our future, if we are brave enough to do what’s needed to change our lives. The main villain, on the other hand, is absolutely cartoonish. Yet, the Trunchbull’s attitude isn’t completely fictional, as evil teachers definitely exist. Although, I doubt that, in real life, any other teacher could have survived the lawsuit that would have followed after grabbing a girl by her hair and throwing her over the fence, or even locking children in The Chokey (which I do not find funny at all). The Trunchbull is one of those villains that you just cannot wait to see paying for her evil, and in the movie, this is a lot funnier in terms of revenge from the school children that comes after Matilda terrifies her, writing as Magnus in the blackboard. They made her a lot more superstitious than in the book, and that is the weakness Matilda exploits to defeat her. Obviously, she has no redeeming qualities, and when she’s gone, she’s gone. No one hears about her again. But my point is, where are the parents in this book, that do not appear or do anything to prevent this monster from literally torturing their children? All the adults that could be here protecting their children, seem to be no more caring that Matilda’s own parents, virtually ignoring what happens in the school, and not doing anything about it. They are absolutely absent in this matter, which could be interpreted in more than one way. Overall, I think it is a good book, with a great message, about seeing your own good qualities, and how wonderful you can be, even if those around you don’t listen, or don’t care. Basically, it says that you need to recognize your talent and attitude, and go for what you want and need, because no one will do it for you. And this is visible both with Matilda, and Miss Honey. In despite that one is a child and the other, a grown-up, it’s possible to understand that they come from similar backgrounds, from families that didn’t love them, in despite of the amazing people they were, or could be. And also, I liked that even though Matilda’s powers fade with time, her personality isn’t tied to them, because when she uses her mental strength to study and get new knowledge, she can finally harness the full potential of her unusual mind. She may not be able to flip glasses anymore, but she’s no less smart or amazing because of that. So, in short, it’s a good classic that deserves a read. It goes quickly, and it’s enjoyable for both kids and adults.

2 comments:

This was one of my favourites and still is as a book and audiobook.

I am so sorry this took so long! I never got the notification of your comment! Thanks for stopping by!

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Tangled Tourista

Tangled but celebrating, matilda by roald dahl: book review.

Book: Matilda

Author: Roald Dahl

Publication: Penguin Random House

Price: Rs. 295

Plot: Matilda, a 3-year-old girl who taught herself how to read. By the age of 4, she could read newspapers and magazines at her home. But there were no books in her house, except one, a cooking book, which she has already read. So one day, she asked her father if he can buy her some books. To this, her father said, “What’s wrong with the telly, for heaven’s sake? We’ve got a lovely telly with a twelve-inch screen and now you come asking for a book! You’re getting spoiled, my girl!’

But Matilda was convinced that she wants to read. Every afternoon, she is alone at home. So, she decided to go to the Public Library one afternoon. She met the Librarian there, Mrs Phelps. Mrs Phelps was astonished to see a young girl on her own, but welcomed her and showed her where children’s books are. Since then, Matilda would always come to the library and read. She has not only read children’s books but also many adults’ books. She is a fast reader, and an intelligent girl too.

The day came when she was admitted to the school. She was happy because she would be able to meet new people and make friends. At her home, her parents were always rude to her, calling her ‘stupid’ and whatnot. In school, she met a lovely teacher, Miss Honey, who was an ideal parent-like figure for her. Matilda loved her and enjoyed her classes. But she hated the headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull loves torturing children and for her, Matilda is a ‘nasty little worm.’

Matilda wanted her parents to love her, to appreciate her for her intellect, but all she got from them was rebukes and shunning. She hated Miss Trunchbull as she always ill-treated students in the school and Matilda’s favourite teacher, Miss Honey, too. One day during her school Matilda find out that she has some special powers. She can do magic using her eyes. So she decided to teach a lesson to her parents and Miss Trunchbull.

What is the lesson, and what do you think a little girl, Matilda would do? To know that, you have to pick this book up and read it.

My Views: It was very easy for me to fall in love with Matilda. She is funny, witty, mischievous and intelligent. I found her adorable.

There were times when I laughed hard at some of the scenes in the book. The book instantly took me back to my childhood days. The author’s imagination is so childlike, the gardens, school, Matilda’s house, the way he has explained all these places is beautiful and like drawings, I would make as a child.

There are characters like Matilda’s parents and Miss Trunchbull whom anyone can hate. And then there is Matilda, a little, naughty girl with her ‘superpowers’ who is nothing but endearing.

Coming to the writing style, I find the book easy. I think any child who can read would find this book easy and would love this book. Moreover, it is an illustrated book, so illustrations can really help to engage children more.

I have read many children’s book, but there is none where the author has such vivid imagination, it was like as if I am watching a cartoon show. This book would definitely bring out the inner child in you, and with it, the hope, that everything will be fine in the end.

It is a great book for children, I think perfect for 9-13 years old. So any teacher and parent looking forward to buying a new book for their classroom or child can go for this book.

Finally, I would say, I loved reading this book, it took me to a humorous, mysterious and an adventurous world of Matilda.

Recommendations: If you are looking for a light and fun read, then go for this book. This book helped me in overcoming my reading slump. And as said, earlier it is perfect for children.

Ratings: 4/5

If you are looking forward to reading more children’s book, then give this post a read. It is a book review of one of the Ruskin Bond’s children’s books.

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Falling in Love with Reading & Roald Dahl’s Matilda | 25 Years of Matilda

Penguin Teen: I think it’s safe to say that Matilda falls head over heels in love with books. She takes a wagon to gather them from the library. She hides away in her room and reads them for hours. She loves the worlds, the knowledge, the writing. What was it like for you to fall in love with books for the first time? Was it similar to Matilda’s experience? Do you remember reading Matilda for the first time?

Bianca Schulze: For me, falling in love with books could be compared with a romantic comedy in which a woman awakens one day only to realize that the boy she’s always considered her best friend is actually the man she wants to marry. Books have always been accessible to me: my mom read to me as a child, my mom read her own books in front of me and would disappear into the pages for hours, and I have had a library card for as long as I can remember—and lots of late fees too. However, it wasn’t until I became a parent that I realized that these objects full of words were a lifelong passion—I had always enjoyed books, but I was now officially “in love” with books.

I never considered myself a bookworm, but reflecting back to my childhood years I have some very fond memories that involve books and that would indicate I was always destined to be a lover of books:

I used to build homes for Barbie out of Golden Books.
I would spend entire recess and lunch breaks searching for Waldo in the Where’s Waldo? books.
I dreamed of running my own babysitting club just like the characters in Ann M. Martin’s series The Baby-sitters Club .
I listened to many books on tape— The Wizard of Oz book on tape scared me, but I tortured myself regularly with the flying monkeys and dramatic background music.
I also, of course, delighted in the wonderfully wicked worlds that Roald Dahl created in his books.

I can whole-heartedly say that my experience of falling in love with books was similar to Matilda’s: Once I realized how much I love to read, I immersed myself in literature—I even went as far as creating this blog! I only wish that I had realized how much I enjoyed the company of books as early as Matilda did—she’s a little genius! Now, perhaps if I had actually read Matilda as a child, it’s possible I would have connected the dots and found my calling as a literature enthusiast much sooner—perhaps I’d even be a published author.

Throughout my childhood, I read many of Dahl’s other books: James and the Giant Peach , Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator , Fantastic Mr. Fox , The Witches , The Twits (my second favorite) and (my favorite) Revolting Rhymes . Dahl’s talent lies within his power to create poignant satire—his ability to touch the hearts of young readers through absurdity is unmarked. This is why I am so thrilled to introduce Roald Dahl to my seven-year-old with the book loving character Matilda. I will always remember the first time I read Matilda because I’m currently sharing this moment with my daughter who so clearly is already in love with books. I know I am creating a lifelong reader and, with any luck, a reader that will continue to have a wickedly good sense of humor. Thank you Roald Dahl (forever in my reading heart) for your creative writing and thank you Matilda for empowering young girls to be knowledgeable and brave!

About Roald Dahl

Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was born in Llandaff, South Wales, and went to Repton School in England. His parents were Norwegian, so holidays were spent in Norway. As he explains in Boy, he turned down the idea of university in favor of a job that would take him to “a wonderful faraway place.” In 1933 he joined the Shell Company, which sent him to Mombasa in East Africa. When World War II began in 1939 he became a fighter pilot and in 1942 was made assistant air attaché in Washington, where he started to write short stories. His first major success as a writer for children was in 1964. Thereafter his children’s books brought him increasing popularity, and when he died children mourned the world over. Matilda was published just two years before he died. Quentin Blake, the first Children’s Laureate of the United Kingdom, has illustrated most of Roald Dahl’s children’s books.

Book Overview

Matilda is a genius. Unfortunately, her family treats her like a dolt. Her crooked car-salesman father and loud, bingo-obsessed mother think Matilda’s only talent is as a scapegoat for everything that goes wrong in their miserable lives. But it’s not long before the sweet and sensitive child decides to fight back. Faced with practical jokes of sheer brilliance, her parents don’t stand a chance. Matilda applies her untapped mental powers to rid the school of the evil, child-hating headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, and restore her nice teacher, Miss Honey, to financial security.

Add this book to your collection: Matilda

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For the next stop on the Matilda 25th Anniversary blog tour, head to Live to Read !

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Bianca Schulze is the founder of The Children’s Book Review. She is a reader, reviewer, mother and children’s book lover. She also has a decade’s worth of experience working with children in the great outdoors. Combined with her love of books and experience as a children’s specialist bookseller, the goal is to share her passion for children’s literature to grow readers. Born and raised in Sydney, Australia, she now lives with her husband and three children near Boulder, Colorado.

Just saw the musical in New York about a month ago. It was hilarious. Miss Trunchbull was the star of the show for sure. No one can do absurd, sweet and dark all at the same time quite like Dahl.

I’m so envious that you have watched the musical!! I really hope to see it sometime.

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COMMENTS

Matilda, by Roald Dahl
Book Review of Matilda. 4 min. Matilda was the last long kids' book that Roald Dahl wrote before he passed away in 1990. When Dahl first wrote the book, she was a wicked child and very different from how she is now known to readers worldwide. Matilda is a very kind-hearted character—she's a gifted, intelligent, book-loving five-year-old ...
Matilda Review: Roald Dahl's Magical Children's Novel
Matilda Review. ' Matilda ' is a children's novel written by Roald Dahl and published in 1988. The novel follows the story of a young 5-year-old girl, Matilda, who has a mature intellect as well as magical abilities to move objects with her mind. Matilda encounters several bullies in her life, which include her parents and headmistress at ...
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Roald Dahl, Quentin Blake (Illustrator) 4.33. 986,767 ratings24,071 reviews. "The Trunchbull" is no match for Matilda! Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though ...
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Introduction: "Matilda" is a classic children's book written by Roald Dahl, one of the most celebrated and beloved children's authors of all time. This review aims to provide an in-depth analysis of the book, its themes, and its literary devices, while also exploring its broader impact on readers. The suggested reading age for ...
Matilda Book Review
Our review: Parents say ( 19 ): Kids say ( 77 ): This classic book has been delighting kids and their parents since 1988, appealing both to readers' imaginations and to their sense of justice. The good in Matilda are all good, and the wicked get their comeuppance at the hands of giddy, delighted children. Precocious readers, like Matilda, will ...
7 Reasons Why I Love Roald Dahl's Matilda
Matilda Wormwood lives in a tiny cottage with her family. She is unheard, unseen and unloved by her parents and big brother. While her father sold patched-up cars for profit, her mother left her alone at home to play bingo. She walked alone to the library where she got lost in the world of books. Books are her best friend and even at the early ...
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Published in 1988, ' Matilda ' is Roald Dahl's long children's book. It took almost 2 years for Dahl to complete the novel. Though the writing is simple and to the point, ' Matilda was a work of labor.'. Dahl famously rewrote the entire novel because he was unhappy with the first version. Lucy Dahl, Roald Dahl's daughter, received ...
Book Review
Matilda by Roald Dahl Genre: Children's Classic Published: Originally 1988, 30th Anniversary editions 2018 Pages: 232 Publisher: Puffin / Penguin Random House Children's I received a copy of this from Penguin Random House Children's (via NetGalley). This has not influenced my review. In 1988 a little girl called Matilda brightened up our lives - 30…
Matilda by Roald Dahl
ISBN-13 - 978-0241378694. Format - ebook, paperback, hardcover, audio. Review by - Stacey. Rating - 5 Stars. This post contains affiliate links. Matilda is the world's most famous bookworm, no thanks to her ghastly parents. Her father thinks she's a little scab. Her mother spends all afternoon playing bingo.
Kids' Book Review: Review: Matilda
This story is beautifully heartwarming; a surprising mix of humour, adventure and mystery. And, as with any Dahl story, Matilda provides a strong message to children: you can do it. Oh, plus a message to grown-ups - treat your children nicely, as they're not as helpless as you may imagine! Title: Matilda. Author: Roald Dahl.
MATILDA
Matilda is the most simplistic of his efforts in this direction, but it does retain the time-honored appeal, abetted by Blake's apt illustrations. It probably should be marked "For Children Only," though. And Dahl slips badly when he says that C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien have no "funny bits" in their books. 0.
Review: Matilda
The tale is a charming one; Matilda's parents neither own nor have they read, a single book between them, indeed like much of modern society they spend their time slobbed in front of the TV and have no interest in reading. At school she is befriended by her teacher Miss Honey - the niece of the evil Headmistress Miss Trunchball - who ...
Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl
Today, I am reviewing one of my favourite books: Matilda by Roald Dahl. Matilda by Roald Dahl was first published in 1988 by Jonathan Cape and is 239 pages long. The Plot Matilda tells the story of a young, intelligent girl named Matilda who develops telekinetic powers, using them to punish one terrible teacher while helping another.
Matilda by Roald Dahl
Matilda, by Roald Dahl, is a modern fairytale about an extremely bright girl. Our tiny main character is beset by evil, finds a wise benefactor, then sets upon three quests (related as miracles). She vanquishes evil at home and abroad, then wins her own kingdom. She is more precocious than any four-years-and-three-months-old you'll ever meet ...
Matilda by Roald Dahl
The author begins the story with an introduction to Matilda and her family. Matilda is a 5-year-old girl belonging to the Wormwood family. She is nothing like her parents, who are mean and unpleasant. She is also a genius. She has always spoken like an adult and has taught herself to read.
Book Review: Matilda by Roald Dahl
Reviewer: Lin Ding aged 7. The main characters in this book are Matilda, Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull. I liked Matilda because she was very wise and curious and I liked Miss Honey because she was helpful and kind. Matilda is a little girl who loves reading. She has superpower eyes.
BOOK REVIEW: Matilda by Roald Dahl
The empowerment of children, girls, and bookish people is the central theme of the book. Matilda begins school and is at once delighted to find a kind and caring teacher, Ms. Honey, and dismayed to find that the Principal, Mrs. Trunchbull, is a horrible woman. While Ms. Honey recognizes Matilda's brilliance, she cannot get the girl advanced ...
Review of Matilda
No spoilers in this review of the Matilda by Roald Dahl. Special thanks to Sarina Byron, a BSR contributor who wrote this great review! ... Matilda takes charge is the time she mixes peroxide in her father's hair oil to punish him for destroying her library book. Matilda's perspective impacts more people than she intends to. Miss Honey had ...
Review
Review - Matilda 1:22 AM Cintia 2 comments. Original Title: Matilda Series: -Author: Roald Dahl ... For example, in the book there's no scene with Matilda going to the Trunchbull's house at night during a windstorm, and scaring her with the crazy clock, and Magnus Honey's portrait, nor her adventure with Miss Honey, inside the Trunchbull ...
Matilda By Roald Dahl: Book Review
February 16, 2020. Book: Matilda. Author: Roald Dahl. Publication: Penguin Random House. Price: Rs. 295. Pages: 232. Plot: Matilda, a 3-year-old girl who taught herself how to read. By the age of 4, she could read newspapers and magazines at her home. But there were no books in her house, except one, a cooking book, which she has already read.
25 Years of Matilda
When she had read every single children's book in the place, she started wandering round in search of something else." Every Monday, bloggers on the Matilda 25th Anniversary tour will write about how they fell in love with books, just like Matilda! Penguin Teen: I think it's safe to say that Matilda falls head over heels in love with books.

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Matilda by Roald Dahl – Book Review

Book Reviewer – Stacey

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THE SCHOOL FOR GOOD AND EVIL

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Review: Matilda – Roald Dahl