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Title: Matilda

Author: Roald Dahl

Copyright Date:1988, Puffin Books USA

Brief Character List: Matilda, Mom Wormwood, Dad Harry Wormwood, Brother Michael Wormwood, Miss Honey, Miss Trunchbull, Lavender

Summary in my Words: Matilda is a 5 year old girl who is extremely gifted. Her parents are self-absorbed and neglectful. She spends her days reading. When her dad is very mean to her, she plays tricks on him as “punishment”. Upon entering school she falls in love with her wonderful teacher Miss Honey, who recognizing Matilda’s specialness. Matilda succeeds in foiling the evil headmistress Miss Trunchbull.

What I Thought: I spent a good amount (most) of the book, wondering why Chloe loves this book so much. I can see how she can appreciate Matilda’s love of reading, but the horrible horrible treatment of Matilda by her parents, coupled with the awfulness of Miss Trunchbull made me wonder what redeeming quality there was in the book. In the end, when things unfold and work out a certain way, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

This was our Mother/Daughter Book club book this month. During the discussion of the book, one of the girls compared it with The Report Card by Andrew Clements for the similarity of having a girl genius in the book, and one of the mothers thought the basic premise of Matilda’s upbringing was very much like Harry Potter’s. All the girls loved Miss Honey because she was so nice. And there was great debate as to if their own parent’s would believe them if they were in the book and told of the things that Miss Trunchbull did to the children at school.

Author’s Website: http://www.roalddahl.com/

Other Books by Roald Dahl: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Fantastic Mr. Fox, The BFG, The Witches, The Wonderful Story of Henry Sugar and Six More