When young readers transition from picture books and early readers to those more involved chapter books, there’s just something magical about those longer stories. And when you reach that first chapter break, it’s electrifying. That is the moment you realise a book can transport you to new worlds, spark your imagination, and become your new BFF. There are few stories that capture this thrill better than Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Matilda is a celebration of books, bravery, and the unbreakable spirit of a child who loved to read.
Matilda was first published in 1988 and was the last full-length children’s novel Roald Dahl wrote before his death in 1990. It remains a shining testament to his genius for mixing uproarious humour with heartfelt wisdom. A fun story that celebrates the power of books, learning, and creativity as well as courage, bravery and doing what’s right. A story that continues to delight readers nearly 40 years later.
So let’s meet Matilda Wormwood, the world’s brightest bookworm.
Matilda Wormwood is extraordinary; brilliant with a quick and nimble mind, and an intelligence beyond her years. By the age of three she had taught herself to read. At four she would take herself down to the local library and devour book after book after book. She read so much that she finished reading the children’s section in the library and had moved on to more grown up books by authors such as Charles Dickens, Charlotte Brontë, Jane Austen, Rudyard Kipling, Ernest Hemingway, George Orwell and lots of others. Although in her house, reading was not encouraged – television was king, her parents dismissed Matilda’s love of books and knowledge.
Mr and Mrs Wormwood are not the greatest of parents, showing no real interest in their children – especially Matilda, she is viewed as an unwanted annoyance. The horrible Mr Wormwood is a dishonest used car salesman while Mrs Wormwood spends every afternoon in the bingo hall, leaving Matilda to find refuge in pages filled with adventure, drama, and ideas far bigger than her living room. Mr and Mrs Wormwood are just ignorant and cruel people.
Matilda’s parents are so wrapped up in their own business that they forget to arrange for Matilda to start school. When they finally get around to it, Matilda’s brilliance shines through – much to the horror of the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull. Here she meets the lovely Miss Honey, who sees the potential in Matilda and does everything she can to try and help her.
Matilda has had enough of the cruel, bullying, meanness and dishonesty of her parents and plots revenge every time they do something she doesn’t like. And what better way than pranks. She wanted something better than the usual childish pranks, so hatches some very clever pranks with superglue inside Mr Wormwoods favourite hat, a talking parrot up the chimney to make her family think that the house is haunted by a ghost and hair dye in her father’s hair wax.
But then young Matilda discovers she has another talent, a mind-blowing ability: telekinesis. Armed with wit and newfound powers, she sets things right for herself, her kind teacher Miss Honey, and every child who’s ever felt powerless.
Overall, I absolutely loved reading Matilda, as will all Young Page Turners. The story is pure Dahl: larger-than-life characters, laugh-out-loud moments, and a message that knowledge is true magic. Matilda is an extremely intelligent little girl who loves to read and learn, expanding her knowledge. She is a kind-hearted child and hates injustice, whether that’s her parents or the dreaded Miss Trunchbull. With her new telekinesis abilities she gets her own back on her horrible and ignorant parents, but then puts them to very good use to help someone in a dire situation – which helps improve her own life too!
Matilda is a heart-warming story with hilarious pranks and a powerful message about children standing up for themselves and their friends. Young readers will be rooting for the Matilda on every page.
The characters are vivid and memorable. Matilda is excellent – smart and intelligent with a good moral compass. The villains of the story, and there are a few, are exaggerated and comical such as Miss Trunchball who picks up kids by their pigtails, swings them around and throws them like the hammer in her favourite sport. And we can’t forgot the characters with some excellent names, such as Bruce Bogtrotter.
And no Roald Dahl book is complete without the illustrations by Quentin Blake. These illustrations that are dotted throughout the story are fantastic, adding charm and humour to help readers visualise this great tale. They dance off the pages, guiding readers through this rollicking tale of justice, resilience, and the joy of turning a page.
For anyone who’s ever found solace in stories or dared to dream of a better world, this book is an absolute must. While it has themes of bullying and neglect, ultimately it is a story of courage, resilience, bravery, and the importance of standing up for what is right. If children’s books should be fun to read, then you can’t go wrong with Matilda. Get ready to cheer, giggle, and maybe even pick up a new favourite.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £12.99 (Hardback) / £7.99 (Paperback) / £3.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.roalddahl.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
PUBLISHER:
PUBLICATION DATE:
ISBN:
PRINT LENGTH:
COVER ART: