matilda book report

Matilda, by Roald Dahl | Book Review

Book Review of Matilda The Children’s Book Review

Written by Roald Dahl

Illustrated by Sarah Walsh

Ages 6-9 | 192 Pages

Publisher: ‎ Viking Books for Young Readers | ISBN-13: ‎ 9781984836106

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 who taught herself to read. She has read every children’s book in the library and a few for adults. Matilda can even do advanced math in her head. Her father (a rotten car salesman) and her mother (obsessed with playing bingo) are completely clueless and treat her almost as terribly as the nasty Miss Trunchbull, the child-hating, ex-Olympic hammer-throwing headmistress at school.

When Matilda meets Miss Honey, a warm-hearted and sweet teacher, she finds her inner strength and uses her newly-discovered exceptional talent to fight back and set more than a few things right in her world. Matilda’s character is certainly one to get behind—she’s empowering, knowledgeable, and brave—and the entire story is freckled with funny bits and peppered with plenty of practical jokes.

This edition contains complete and unabridged text and includes brand-new color illustrations by Sarah Walsh. The artwork brings loads of energy and charisma to the carefully curated cast that Dahl created.

When you read Roald Dahl’s  Matilda,  you’ll be snickering from start to end.

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About the author.

Roald Dahl  (1916-1990) was born in Wales to Norwegian parents. He spent his childhood in England and, at age eighteen, went to work for the Shell Oil Company in Africa. When World War II broke out, he joined the Royal Air Force and became a fighter pilot. At the age of twenty-six, he moved to Washington, D.C., where he began to write. His first short story, which recounted his adventures in the war, was bought by The Saturday Evening Post, and so began a long and illustrious career.

After establishing himself as a writer for adults, Roald Dahl began writing children’s stories in 1960 while living in England with his family. His first stories were written as entertainment for his own children, to whom many of his books are dedicated.

Roald Dahl is now considered one of the most beloved storytellers of our time. Although he passed away in 1990, his popularity continues to increase as his fantastic novels, including James and the Giant Peach, Matilda, The BFG, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, delight an ever-growing legion of fans.

Learn more about Roald Dahl on the official Roald Dahl website:  www.roalddahl.com .

About the Illustrator

Sarah Walsh is an internationally published illustrator whose project range spans from picture books, apparel, home decor, and greeting cards, to name a few. Her work has also been featured on Creative Pep Talk, Buzzfeed, and The Jealous Curator. Sarah has been a working artist since 2001, starting as a designer/illustrator hybrid at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City. In 2013 she branched off solo style into the freelance world after connecting with an art agent named Lilla Rogers. Bright color, fashion, mid-century design, the ’80s, fantasy, hand lettering, world culture, and folk art are some of the elements that inform her work. Sarah’s been fortunate enough to collaborate with clients like Chronicle, Blue Q, Nosy Crow, The Guardian, & Frankie Magazine.

Writing and illustrating a children’s book or working with a fashion designer to create an haute couture clothing line are two of her dream projects! When Sarah isn’t busy doing client work, she fills her sketchbook with personal paintings or creates products such as art prints, enamel pins & pillows for Tigersheep Friends, with her husband Colin Walsh, a fellow illustrator.

You can find her work at Sarahwalshmakesthings.com .

Matilda , written by Roald Dahl and illustrated by Sarah Walsh, was reviewed by Bianca Schulze. Discover more books like  Wilderlore: The Accidental Apprentice by following our reviews and articles tagged with Classics , Illustrated Chapter Books , and Roald Dahl .

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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.

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by Roald Dahl

• Matilda Summary

Matilda Wormwood is a young girl who is extraordinarily brilliant. At a young age, she can solve complex math problems in her head and read books meant for adults. Unfortunately, though, Matilda has grown up with parents who do not give her the attention and love she deserves. Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood and their son, Michael, are quite different from Matilda, preferring to watch television than read books. They do not understand her, and often treat her badly.

Rather than feel hopeless, Matilda plays tricks on her family to get back at them for the way they treat her, replacing her father's hair tonic with platinum hair dye and using a parrot to convince them that their house is haunted. These tricks give Matilda some agency, and distract her parents from mistreating her.

Matilda starts school late for a girl her age, and is placed in the lowest form in Crunchem Hall Primary School. Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey , is a wonderful, sweet woman, and she immediately recognizes Matilda's intelligence and seeks to move her into the highest form, where she can maximize her potential. Unfortunately, though, Crunchem Hall is run by a terrible woman named Miss Trunchbull . She is massive and muscular, having been a former Olympic athlete for Britain. She absolutely loathes children and treats the students horribly, keeping them in line with terrible punishments such as the "Chokey," a thin closet with walls made of nails where students have to stand straight up for hours when they misbehave.

Miss Trunchbull will not move Matilda to the highest form, so Miss Honey keeps her in her class, giving her advanced books to study while the rest of the class learns basic lessons. She does her best to nurture Matilda's mind and allow her to learn new things. Meanwhile, Matilda quickly befriends the other students in school and learns about the ways they resist Miss Trunchbull's terror. The peak of Miss Trunchbull's horrible antics is reached when she calls a school-wide assembly, and makes a boy named Bruce Bogtrotter eat an entire giant chocolate cake on his own in front of everyone as punishment for stealing a slice of hers. To her surprise he does it without getting sick or quitting, a small victory for the students against her.

Miss Trunchbull comes into Miss Honey's class for one period each Thursday to take over, and she terrorizes the students with difficult math and spelling questions and punishes them with physical abuse when they cannot answer. Matilda's friend Lavender , seeking to get revenge on Miss Trunchbull, sticks a large newt in her drinking glass, sending Miss Trunchbull into a frenzy. Miss Trunchbull blames Matilda for placing the newt there, even though she did not do it, and Matilda gets so angry that a peculiar sensation of power comes over her and she manages to knock the water glass over with her mind, pouring the newt onto Miss Trunchbull's bosom.

Matilda is awed and frightened by her newfound power, and when she demonstrates it for Miss Honey, the teacher invites her back to her cottage to talk. Matilda is mystified when she sees Miss Honey's cottage, a tiny, sparse place hardly fit for living. Miss Honey reveals her life story to Matilda: her parents died when she was young, leaving her in the care of her cruel aunt, who has bullied her and forced her to work ever since. This terrible aunt takes nearly every cent of Miss Honey's salary, so she cannot afford to live anywhere but this tiny shack. At last, Miss Honey reveals who this aunt actually is: Miss Trunchbull.

Matilda comes up with a plan to get back at Miss Trunchbull and help Miss Honey. She hones her power until she can make objects move in the air at her will, and then the following week when Miss Trunchbull comes in to teach their class, she has the chalk move on its own and write an ominous message to Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull believes that the message has come from Magnus , Miss Honey's deceased father. Panicked, she disappears, moving out of his house and leaving Crunchem Hall.

When Magnus's will mysteriously appears, it is revealed that his house belonged to Miss Honey all along, as do his life savings. She moves in immediately, and Matilda is a frequent visitor. Under the new head teacher, Matilda is moved up to the highest form, where she finds that because her mind is challenged with hard work, she has lost the ability of telekinesis. She discusses this with Miss Honey but decides she does not mind that it is gone.

When she returns home that day she sees her parents and brother in a frenzy, packing up to move to Spain because her father has finally been caught for being involved with criminals who sell stolen cars. Miss Honey offers to adopt Matilda so she can stay and live with her, and Matilda's parents, who never truly cared about her, agree to the plan.

Matilda Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for Matilda is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Compare and contrast the characters of Matilda and Ms Honey.Under what circumstances do they grow up?How do they each respond to their circumstances? What is the significant of the two of them becoming a family at the end of the novel?Provide detaild from

This is only a short answer space. I can make a general comment.Miss Honey is Matilda’s school teacher and the first person to appreciate and foster Matilda’s extraordinary intelligence. She attempts to bring Matilda’s gift to the attention to...

who is matilda? describe her with 5 words

Matilda is the titular character and the protagonist of Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Unlike her other family members, who are selfish and dull, Matilda is a precocious child with a love of books and a high aptitude for mathematics.

-intelligent

What is the purpose of paragraphs 1-5

Can you quote the whole sentence that you mean?

Study Guide for Matilda

Matilda study guide contains a biography of Roald Dahl, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About Matilda
• Character List

Essays for Matilda

Matilda essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of Matilda by Roald Dahl.

• Language, Power, and Gender: The Power Dynamics of Language and Social Class in Three Children’s Books

Lesson Plan for Matilda

• About the Author
• Study Objectives
• Common Core Standards
• Introduction to Matilda
• Relationship to Other Books
• Bringing in Technology
• Notes to the Teacher
• Related Links
• Matilda Bibliography

Wikipedia Entries for Matilda

• Introduction

By Roald Dahl

'Matilda' by Roald Dahl is one of the most popular children's books of all time. It tells the story of a highly intriguing 5-year-old protagonist capable of performing miraculous acts.

Article written by Neesha Thunga K

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

The novel is the last long children’s book written by Roald Dahl. It features a sprightly young girl named Matilda Wormwood, who overcomes tremendous difficulties through her wit and grit. The character is a role model for young children, especially young girls who read the book.

The Female Protagonist 

Matilda is one of the few female protagonists in Roald Dahl’s stories. She is a witty and plucky 5-year-old girl who is left to fend for herself in various ways. Her self-centered parents are neglectful and, at times, abusive toward her, but such annoyances do not faze the young girl. Instead, she stands up for herself through her inner resources and, of course, practical jokes. learns from her family’s mistakes and grows up to be quite different from them. Matilda is a super-nerd. She can read at an extremely young age, and no book is too daunting for her. Matilda is also a staunch upholder of justice – taking matters into her own hands when the adults in her life are of no use. The fact that she has the magical ability to move objects with her mind is the frosting on the cake for this protagonist.

As a result, Matilda becomes a character that readers would look up to. Children who read the novel wish to be like Matilda in every way – which is something that Roald Dahl wanted to accomplish in his novel in the first place. Matilda inspires children with the fascination to read, to perform exceptionally in academics, and, of course, to be fair and just in all of their activities.

Matilda  as a Feminist Novel

Published in 1988, ‘ Matilda ‘ has been influenced by the political climate of the 1970s and the 1980s in several ways. The novel itself can be seen as a byproduct of the feminist movement of the 1970s. With an exceptional young girl who saves the day, the novel carries strong undertones of feminism. 

Several of the important characters are also female, with the antagonist being the former hammer-throwing champion, Agatha Trunchbull, and Matilda’s mentor being sweet Miss Honey. Both of these women demonstrate different ideas of feminism. While the diabolical Trunchbull is fiercely independent, confident, and intimidating (all qualities that are generally not depicted in women), Miss Honey shows strength, courage, and saintly patience despite having fallen into hard times. 

A Reflection of the Times

The story of ‘ Matilda ‘  is a reflection of the times that it was written in. The education system mirrors what is seen in English public schools around the late 1980s. This is why corporal punishment is banned in Matilda’s school as well – something which is lamented sorely by the big bully, Miss Trunchbull. 

People across the world were also embracing television in the 1980s, and television made a big appearance in ‘ Matilda ‘. It is used as a foil for books and shown as a thing of evil. 

Dynamic Characters 

Roald Dahl is known for writing memorable characters in all of his books . The characters in ‘ Matilda ‘ are no less. They are as varied and as dynamic as one could hope for in a children’s book, and each of them has vivid descriptions attached to them. This helps children create a concrete image of the characters in their minds. Further, the description of each character matches their personality in some form or another. For instance, while the gentle and kind Miss Honey possessed a pale oval face, the kid-hating terror of a headmistress had mean and arrogant eyes and an obstinate chin. 

Although ‘ Matilda ‘ is a children’s book with a simple plotline, the characters undergo development in the story. The protagonist, for instance, is a superhuman genius and a true pupil, learning about herself from beginning to end. She understands more about the world and the people around her, learning compassion and modesty along the way despite her hapless parents and a busty nightmare of a school Principal. 

Miss Honey is another character who transforms herself. With the help of Matilda’s remarkable power, Miss Honey gains back control of her life to such an extent that she is capable of bringing up Matilda all by herself when she is left on her doorstep by Matilda’s parents.

Playful Writing Style

The writing style of Matilda is playful and engaging. Roald Dahl has mentioned how writing for children can be challenging. This is because he believes it is easy for them to get bored. As a result, he introduces several plot points throughout the novel, including real feelings and emotional truth, to keep things moving at an intriguing pace. 

The story is narrated from the first-person point of view of an unnamed narrator. The narrator helps to add flavor to the story. This is because, unlike other novels, the narrator is not a silent observer. Instead, they side with Matilda very often and provide their own perspectives and innate predilection on situations.

Roald Dahl uses hyperbole in his novels to grab the attention of his young audience. As such, ‘ Matilda ‘ is littered with descriptions that are usually exaggerated.

The author has provided a satisfying conclusion to the novel. Not only is the biggest bully in Matilda’s life taken care of, but Matilda is also allowed to stay with her benevolent teacher, Miss Honey, for the rest of her life. She satisfies her thirst for knowledge by moving up to an advanced class and, as the cliché goes, lives happily ever after. This can be thought of as a didactic conclusion in a way because it teaches children that things will go right for them if they do the right thing, just like they did for Matilda.

Matilda Review: Roald Dahl's Magical Children's Novel

Book Title: Matilda

Book Description: 'Matilda,' penned by Roald Dahl and released in 1988, is a children's novel recounting the tale of a precocious 5-year-old named Matilda. Possessing both advanced intelligence and the extraordinary power to manipulate objects using her mind, Matilda's journey unfolds within the pages of this enchanting narrative.

Book Author: Roald Dahl

Book Edition: Puffin Books

Book Format: Paperback

Publisher - Organization: Puffin

Date published: March 26, 2023

Illustrator: Quentin Blake

ISBN: 978-0141346342

Number Of Pages: 256

• Writing Style
• Lasting Effect on Reader

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 school, whom she defeats through the clever use of her abilities.

• Clever use of language
• Useful for young readers to begin their literature journey
• The use of the first-person point of view helps children understand the story
• Intriguing plot
• The main character is too unrealistic
• Might be too violent for children
• Children might miss the slightly more adult themes in the novel

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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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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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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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Most parents think highly of their children and (incorrectly) believe their children are geniuses. This is not the case with Mr. Wormwood and Mrs. Wormwood , who have two children, Michael and Matilda . Matilda is a genius, but her parents are counting down the days until they can get rid of her. They’re not impressed when Matilda can speak like an adult by 18 months, or when she asks for books at age four. Instead, they tell her to be quiet and that she’s spoiled if she’s asking for books—she should watch television instead.

Since Matilda is left alone every afternoon, she starts walking to the library every day. The librarian, Mrs. Phelps , points Matilda to English-language classics, like novels by Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, and Jane Austen. As Matilda devours books, she develops a moral compass. So when Mr. Wormwood, a used car salesman, tells Michael about how he puts sawdust in the gear boxes of old cars and runs the speedometers back with an electric drill, she tells him this is dishonest. He scolds her, so Matilda decides she must get back at him. She sneakily puts a line of Superglue in Mr. Wormwood’s hat the next morning, which successfully sticks the hat to his head—Mrs. Wormwood has to cut it off. Then, when Mr. Wormwood tears up one of Matilda’s library books, Matilda borrows a neighbor boy’s parrot and stuffs it up the chimney—her parents believe there’s a ghost in the house. Not long after, as Mr. Wormwood tries to coach Michael through adding up daily profits, Matilda mentally does the math and gets the answer right. In retaliation for her father calling her a cheat and a liar, Matilda replaces some of Mr. Wormwood’s hair oil with Mrs. Wormwood’s platinum blonde hair dye.

Matilda finally starts primary school when she’s five-and-a-half. She goes to the local public school, Crunchem Hall Academy, and is in Miss Honey ’s first-form class. Matilda wows Miss Honey in the first few minutes of class by demonstrating that she can read and perform complex mental math. Knowing that Matilda is a genius and needs to be moved up, Miss Honey works up her courage and goes to speak with the formidable headmistress, Miss Trunchbull . Miss Trunchbull is a former Olympic athlete who’s muscular, loud, and hates both children and education. She talks over Miss Honey and refuses Miss Honey’s request to move Matilda up. Miss Honey attempts to speak to Matilda’s parents that evening. She tells them that with some tutoring, Matilda could be ready to attend university soon. But the Wormwoods insist that college is terrible—girls should focus on appearances and getting married.

Meanwhile, at school, Matilda and her new best friend, Lavender , learn about the Trunchbull from older kids. One 10-year-old, Hortensia , earns the girls’ admiration when she tells them about the tricks she’s played on the Trunchbull, such as putting Golden Syrup on her chair or itching powder in her knickers—and the time she’s done in the Trunchbull’s lock-up, the Chokey. Hortensia also shares that the Trunchbull threw a boy out the window for eating in class. Just then, the entire playground watches as the Trunchbull—who hates plaits and pigtails—picks up a little girl with golden plaits named Amanda and throws her into the playing field. The very next day, the Trunchbull accuses a round little boy, Bruce Bogtrotter , of eating a slice of her special cake. To punish him, she makes him eat a whole 18-inch cake by himself while the other students watch. Bruce manages to finish the whole cake, which enrages the Trunchbull.

On Thursday afternoons, Miss Trunchbull takes over Miss Honey’s class for a period. In preparation for her first visit, Lavender offers to fetch and prepare Miss Trunchbull’s water jug and glass. Wanting to impress Matilda and Hortensia, Lavender captures a newt and puts it in the jug. Miss Trunchbull enters Miss Honey’s classroom and immediately begins punishing and tormenting students. For having dirty hands, Nigel has to stand on one foot in the corner; for not being able to give the answer to a math problem, Miss Trunchbull picks Rupert up by his ears. When she finally pours herself a glass of water, the newt plops into the glass. This terrifies the Trunchbull—and she blames Matilda.

Incensed at this injustice, Matilda screams she didn’t do it. But the Trunchbull won’t listen. Angrier than she’s ever been, Matilda sits in silence. She begins to feel peculiar: her eyes feel hot and as though there are invisible arms reaching out of them. With this odd power , Matilda pushes the glass containing the newt over—right onto Miss Trunchbull’s bosom. Enraged but unable to blame Matilda, Miss Trunchbull leaves.

When Miss Honey dismisses the class, Matilda hangs back and tells Miss Honey about her odd power. Miss Honey believes Matilda is telling stories until Matilda repeats the trick. Stunned, Miss Honey invites Matilda back to her cottage for tea. They walk out of the village and down a rural road until they reach a tiny farm worker’s cottage. Matilda is shocked; the cottage looks straight out of a fairy tale, and it’s clear that Miss Honey lives in dire poverty. As they eat their bread and margarine, Matilda asks about Miss Honey’s financial situation. Miss Honey agrees to tell her story.

Miss Honey’s mother died when Miss Honey was two. Her father , a doctor, asked his sister-in-law to come help with Miss Honey—and then he died mysteriously, supposedly by suicide, three years later. Miss Honey’s aunt was abusive and controlling, and things were so bad that Miss Honey was—and still is—too afraid to fight back. Her aunt forced her to do all the housework, and even now that Miss Honey has a job, she takes all of Miss Honey’s paycheck except for a one-pound allowance every week. The aunt lives in the Honeys’ house and, since Miss Honey’s father’s will disappeared, there’s no way for Miss Honey to take ownership of anything. It was Miss Honey’s greatest achievement to find this cottage and move out. Matilda greatly admires her teacher—but she realizes Miss Honey needs help when Miss Honey admits she doesn’t have a bed, and then admits that her aunt is Miss Trunchbull.

Miss Honey walks Matilda to the Wormwoods’ gate. There, Matilda asks Miss Honey three questions: what Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey’s father called each other (Agatha and Magnus, respectively), and what they called Miss Honey as a child (Jenny). With this information, Matilda concocts a plan. Inside her house, she grabs one of her father’s cigars, places it on her dressing table, and practices using her power to move it every day after school until she can do exactly what she wants to with it.

The following Thursday, when Miss Trunchbull is in Miss Honey’s class tormenting a boy named Wilfred , Nigel shouts that the chalk is writing on the chalkboard all on its own. The chalk writes that it’s Magnus’s ghost, and he asks Agatha to give Jenny her house and paycheck back. Miss Trunchbull turns white and faints—and over the next 24 hours, she runs away. Lawyers contact Miss Honey, who gains ownership of her family’s home, her paychecks, and her father’s fortune. Matilda is moved into a higher form and visits with Miss Honey every afternoon. The two form a close friendship. Matilda’s power disappears, but she’s happy it did.

When Matilda returns home after a visit with Miss Honey one afternoon, Mr. Wormwood informs her that the family is moving to Spain and is never coming back. Matilda races back to Miss Honey’s; she wants to stay with Miss Honey, not move to Spain. Miss Honey agrees to take Matilda if the Wormwoods agree, so they run back to the Wormwood house. Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood agree that leaving Matilda would be one less thing to deal with and don’t look back as they drive away.

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