PUBLICATION DATE: 1989 (first published October 1, 1988)
FORMAT: Paperback
LENGTH: 232 pages
GENRE: Childrens
ISBN: 9780141326221
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 she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge.
She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings.
MY REVIEW:
Oh, what fun, this one was!
Matilda is a precocious child, much to the dismay of her parents. They don't understand her thirst for reading and wish she'd just sit in front of the television and watch with the rest of the family! While her dad is off working as a smarmy used car salesman, her mother is hitting the bingo halls and leaving four-year-old Matilda alone at home. Matilda walks to the library and spends her afternoons reading. The librarian, at first, is astonished that Matilda is there alone. She is even more amazed that Matilda can read, and Matilda eagerly reads anything that the librarian recommends to her. Soon, Matilda has finished all the children's books and Matilda is reading and comprehending classics written by Charles Dickens and others.
When Matilda starts kindergarten, her teacher is equally astounded at Matilda's abilities. Miss Honey tries to reason with the boorish principal, Mrs. Trunchbull, to put Matilda into a higher grade level but Trunchbull will have none of it. So, Miss Honey gives higher level books to Matilda to read during class so that she will continue to learn new things.
My daughter and I loved this book! Mrs. Trunchbull was such fun to hate. She mistreated the children, holding them up by their ears and flinging them by their hair. Her antics were preposterous, but it made for a funny story. We also loved how Matilda came to Miss Honey's rescue and hatched a plan to get back at Mrs. Trunchbull. Matilda is so sweet and clever, and you can't help but love her! I so loved the librarian, Mrs. Phelps, who took Matilda under her wing and encouraged her love of reading. Each child needs a librarian like her!
We also watched the 1996 film adaptation, and Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman were perfectly cast as Matilda's parents. We enjoyed it.
Matilda is a precocious child, much to the dismay of her parents. They don't understand her thirst for reading and wish she'd just sit in front of the television and watch with the rest of the family! While her dad is off working as a smarmy used car salesman, her mother is hitting the bingo halls and leaving four-year-old Matilda alone at home. Matilda walks to the library and spends her afternoons reading. The librarian, at first, is astonished that Matilda is there alone. She is even more amazed that Matilda can read, and Matilda eagerly reads anything that the librarian recommends to her. Soon, Matilda has finished all the children's books and Matilda is reading and comprehending classics written by Charles Dickens and others.
When Matilda starts kindergarten, her teacher is equally astounded at Matilda's abilities. Miss Honey tries to reason with the boorish principal, Mrs. Trunchbull, to put Matilda into a higher grade level but Trunchbull will have none of it. So, Miss Honey gives higher level books to Matilda to read during class so that she will continue to learn new things.
My daughter and I loved this book! Mrs. Trunchbull was such fun to hate. She mistreated the children, holding them up by their ears and flinging them by their hair. Her antics were preposterous, but it made for a funny story. We also loved how Matilda came to Miss Honey's rescue and hatched a plan to get back at Mrs. Trunchbull. Matilda is so sweet and clever, and you can't help but love her! I so loved the librarian, Mrs. Phelps, who took Matilda under her wing and encouraged her love of reading. Each child needs a librarian like her!
We also watched the 1996 film adaptation, and Danny Devito and Rhea Perlman were perfectly cast as Matilda's parents. We enjoyed it.
MY RATING:
5 stars!! I loved it, and you should definitely put it on your TBR if you enjoy MG fiction.
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