matilda book review template

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.

Buy the Book

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.

I think this is a good report and would encourage me to read it because it tells me exactly what personality and characteristics each character has and made me want to find more events and information about them in the book .📚 📖 📕

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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.

Matilda: Book Review (Roald Dahl)

Description

Book Review worksheet concentrating on summarizing, forming opinions and concluding on Matilda by Roald Dahl.

*US and UK versions included*

In this book review, children are asked to summarize the main parts of the story, give their opinion on the story as a whole, state the funniest, scariest and favorite parts, rate the story from 1-5, explain if they would recommend the book, and discuss who their favorite and least favorite characters were.

This works great as a post-text exercise, and also works as a movie review if you are following the feature film instead. Reviewing books helps children know that it's okay to like or dislike a book, and also allows them to work out what their favorite genres are.

Included in this download:

• UK and US versions of PDF and Word documents
• PDF version of the book review
• .docx Word document version of the book review for editing purposes
• 'Lost in Chalk' font to help you edit the resource and keep the style

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Looking for more Matilda resources?

X 4-Week Matilda English Unit

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I hope this resource helps you to save time and save stress !

Thank you, and happy teaching!

Miss Austin

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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

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.

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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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Matilda book review

About This Lesson

A simple book review template based on the story. Has a self assessment section at the bottom.

bookreview_matilda[1].doc

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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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Friday 19 March 2010

Review: matilda.

Matilda PACKAGE

Add to calendar, add to favourites, description.

This Matilda book package has all you need to ensure your students’ comprehension of the text.

The book package includes:

• 4 chapter reviews/character comparisons
• 3 hands-on book response tasks
• 8 general comprehension skill templates.
• A template that has all the pieces you need to create a lapbook with pockets, flaps and designs that allow your students to share what they thought of the characters, events and feelings of the novel.
• The display set includes a banner, posters and word wall cards containing some of the trickier vocabulary encountered in the text.

Some templates are to be completed before reading the book, some have students returning to them as they read and some are to be completed after reading.

The Chapter Reviews situated throughout the booklet give you a rough guide as to where in the book your students should be to complete each page.

Print the booklet back-to-back joining on the long edge. Cut out pages have blank white pages situated behind them so that nothing is being cut away.

Additional information

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• Children's Book Reviews

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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5 Responses

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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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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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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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