Matilda

When I had my son almost nine years ago, I dreamed of the day I’d be able to share my favorite childhood books with him. Matilda, which I remembered as a riveting, oddball page-turner, did not disappoint. As I read to him, we cheered for tiny Matilda to topple the mythically bad school principal, Miss Trunchbull, and we laughed until we cried when Matilda’s mother scolded her kind-hearted teacher, Miss Honey, for reading too much.

We still quote the line to each other that cracked us up: “Looks is more important than books, Miss Hunky.” I don’t know why… show more.

My kids love the dark and witty humor of Dahl's books.

There is something a bit morbid about his work, but not morbid enough to scare them or give them nightmares. They also love the absurdity and the vivid imagination behind all his plots. Their favorite is Matilda.

Matilda—both in prose and musical form—is one of my favorite stories about bullies getting what’s coming to them, and the victim emerging with a better life.

Matilda’s parents and older brother are terrible people; her schoolmates and headmistress are not any better. But Matilda has a champion—an ally—in her corner: her teacher Miss Honey. With the confidence and support that just one friend brings, Matilda stands up to all the others.

She speaks up for herself and won’t let the bullies get away with their bad behavior. In doing so, she charts a happier course for her life—an end result… show more.

Anyone who’s ever felt misunderstood will adore this book.

It’s my favorite of all Roald Dahl’s books (and the funniest in my opinion!) I’m still laughing over the part when Mathilda’s dad accidentally dyes his hair platinum blonde and then superglues his hat onto his head.

Plus, who doesn’t wish they were smarter than everyone in the world? 

During my childhood, I was an avid reader and not a little lazy, I was desperate to have Matilda’s powers.

For days you’d catch me trying to make a pencil move off a table with the power of my mind. Unfortunately for me, I wasn’t a genius like Matilda so it was never going to work.

Roald Dahl was a prolific and very funny writer. His ideas would spark the imagination like no other writer, and the fact the story is about a clever plucky girl, who wouldn’t want to read that?

Matilda is a genius and a rebel. When her parents neglect her, she gets back at them with (seriously funny) pranks. 

At school, Matilda and the other children are bullied and terrorized by the headmistress. Matilda has a superpower. She can move physical objects without touching them. Her other superpower is her super brain. She combines them to drive away the evil headmistress.

Three reasons: 1. I like the idea of the brain being a superpower. 2. I’m partial to books with strong girls and Matilda is as strong as they come. 3. Sadly, child neglect happens. Child abuse happens.… show more.

Again, loved the play and the movie, but the book is still the best. Humor, wit, courage, love, action, terror, this book has it all. And who can beat Roald Dahl at telling a tale? Matilda is quite the intrepid heroine who overcomes an unloving, criminal family and a cruel and dangerous school headmistress to persevere in love and life. Still one of my favorites, especially as a read-aloud.

This book captured my imagination as a child and it just never let go! Matilda is a true whimsical classic, that is delightful and smart and that makes you feel like you can do anything. There are so many things I love about this book, and as a bookish girl myself, Matilda’s connection to books and reading made me feel seen in ways I didn’t feel seen before. It’s a book about standing up for yourself and being true to who you are no matter who’s against it.

A children’s book, film, and musical. Matilda is born to abusive, neglectful, crooked parents, who deprive her of fun, particularly books. School brings wider horizons, and telekinetic powers, but the school is terrorised by the ghastly Miss Trunchbull, who abuses children, and oppresses the delightful form teacher, Miss Honey. With Dahl you know payback is coming, and here book and film diverge. In the film, Matilda goes all Carrie on Trunchbull, using her telekinesis to throw her around. In the book it is more subtle – Matilda uses telekinesis to write a message revealing Trunchbull’s secrets, as if from beyond… show more.

Oh, c’mon. Do you have to ask? Roald Dahl was a genius, and it was hard to pick just one of his books. Honestly, I waffled between this book and three others. But what sets Matilda apart is its heart—and when a book has heart it makes the funny parts funnier, and those grow inside you a little bit (it also makes the suspense parts feel more suspenseful and the sadder parts feel sadder). Matilda is a sweet girl who doesn’t get along with the school’s kid-hating headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. In fact, things look bleak for Matilda until she discovers… show more.