Book Review: Matilda - Holly

Holly Arlow, 10

Matilda

Roald Dahl

1988

April 2016

Brief Summary/description

Matilda is a sweet little girl who is astonishingly clever and meats a lovely lady [her teacher] and she ends up living quite a nice life.

Who was your favourite character and why?

Matilda was my favourite character because she reminded me of myself, good at reading, good at spelling and lives a nice life. I Don’t have horrible parents though.

What was your first favourite part of the book?

My first favourite part of the book was the ending. I just loved that miss honey took her away and they lived a nice life together and matilda didn’t have to live a horrible life with her parents.

What was your second favourite part of the book?

My second favourite part of the book was when Bruce bogtrotter ate the chocolate cakes in assembly for punishment for ‘sneak eating’ a cake

What was your least favourite part of the book?

I didn’t have a least favourite part of the book

How would you feel if you were the main character?

I would feel excited and worried at the same time because I would feel happy I have miss honey but worried when miss trunchbulls about

Is the story believable?

Yes, and no Miss trunchbull swinging Amanda by the piggy tails No miss honey being matildas friend Yes

Describe a positive moral in the story?

Stay well behaved and try not to get into trouble

What advice would you give the main character?

I would advise Matilda to carry on being like she is and not change the way she is

Did you enjoy the book/would you change anything?

The only thing I would change is add the things that are in the film to the book.

Additional thoughts/comments

No not really I enjoyed the whole book

*****

Book Review: Matilda - Anab1

Anab1

Matilda 

Roald Dahl 

1988 

April 2016 

Brief Summary/description 

Matilda is about a small, 5 year old girl who is very clever.  She had learned to read and do arithmetic by the time she was 3 years old.  She reads lots of books from the library before she even starts school.  When she does start in her first year at school at age 5, her teacher recognises her brilliance and tries to get her moved ahead, but the horrible head mistress, Mrs Trunchbull refuses.  Mrs. Trunchbull is a very mean woman and the story carries on about the adventures Matilda has with her rotten parents, the mean Mrs. Trunchbull, her teacher Miss Honey and her school friends. 

Who was your favourite Character and why? 

My favourite character was Matilda.  For such a small girl, she has a very big brain.  She's read books I've never even read. 

What was your first favourite part of the book? 

My favourite part of the book was actually when we followed Matilda's friend, Lavender, to the pond to collect a newt to put in Mrs. Trunchbull's water.  I thought it was a very funny and exactly what such a mean person deserved.  Also, the pictures in the book of the newt were quite funny. 

What was your second favourite part of the book? 

My second favourite part of the book was when Miss Honey took Matilda home after school and fed her the last bits of bread she had, they drank tea and talked very much like grown-ups.  It was then that the very clever Matilda figured out how to help Miss Honey. 

What was your least favourite part of the book? 

My least favourite part of the book was the beginning.  When you realise that Matilda has the stupidest, worst parents ever.  They are mean, unloving and certain that Matilda is a horrible little worm.   

How would you feel if you were the main character? 

I don't think I would have been as brave as Matilda to ignore the mean behaviour of her parents or to play tricks on them like she did with the hair dye and Superglue.   

Is the story believable? 

I don't think the story is believable because in reality, the actions of Matilda's parents and Mrs. Trunchbull would be considered abusive.  Mrs Trunchbull would definitely not be able to swing little girls around by their pigtails and hurl them over the school fence without the police getting involved.  Though even less believable than any of that is the sudden power that Matilda develops in being able to move things with her eyes.   

Describe a positive moral in the story? 

The moral in this story is that good things happen to good people and bad people don't win.  Eventually, the police caught up with Mr Wormwood's dodgy dealings at the used car dealership and Matilda's family had to flee the country to go live in Spain.  Mrs Trunchbull, after being given a big scare, finally fled town.  After that, Matilda was allowed to stay with Miss Honey and I'm sure they lived happily ever after. 

What advice would you give the main character? 

I don't think I need to give Matilda any advice.  She makes good choices and is a bright and clever girl, but maybe I'd tell her not to switch any of my hair products with extra strong hair bleach. 

Did you enjoy the book/would you change anything? 

I enjoyed the book but sometimes I cringed at how mean Mrs. Trunchbull was and worried that the consequences of her actions didn't quite match up with the actions.  If she had really picked up a little girl by her pigtails and hurled her over a fence, I think the little girl would have been very hurt and Mrs. Trunchbull would be going to jail for assault.   

Additional thoughts/comments 

I think the book can come across quite negative and hostile when the story centres around situations with Matilda's parents or Mrs Trunchbull.   I also think that the illustrations in the book are lovely and help in the telling of the story.  The drawings of the newt were funny and the drawings of Matilda helped to express how tiny she is for being so clever. 

Book Review: Matilda - Andy

Andrew Arlow, 38

MATILDA

Roald Dahl

1988

April 2016

Brief Summary/description

Matilda is a story about the early life of an extremely bright and extraordinary girl and the struggles she faced due to being brought up by arrogant parents who refused to acknowledge her abilities. 

Who was your favourite Character and why?

My favourite character was the Librarian.  Without her support and encouragement, Matilda would have been sent home and she would not have developed her abilities.  She was able to recommend a great list of books to read and with this Matilda matured very quickly.

What was your first favourite part of the book?

I enjoyed the parts where Matilda secretly got her own back on her Dad after each time he was horrible to her.  She smeared superglue into his favourite hat, put bleach in his hair lotion and scared her family with a hidden Parrot.

What was your second favourite part of the book?

The Introduction to the book.  Roald Dahl talks about how, if he was a teacher, he would be brutally honest with the parents.  I found it amusing how most parents believe their children to be “the prettiest, cleverest or most gifted”.  Roald would take the opportunity of the Parent Evening to say it how it really was……if he was a Teacher.   I found this section to be very witty and made me want to read the rest of the book.

What was your least favourite part of the book?

How could Matilda put the borrowed Parrot up a Sooty Chimney??......I’m still upset by this. L

How would you feel if you were the main character?

I would feel very lonely and isolated.  When you are little your parents are so important to you, you don’t see their flaws and trust/depend on their care.  Matilda matured very quickly and was wise enough to form a (justified) negative opinions of her parents.  Matilda’s Parents had very little time for her and refused to acknowledge her needs.    

Is the story believable?

Yes: from the feelings of isolation you can feel as a Child when caught up in Stupid Adults behaviour.

No: from developing telekinetic powers through frustration.

No: Olympic Hammer/Child throwing head teachers

Describe a positive moral in the story?

Don’t mess with 5-year-old geniuses with super-powers.  O and be kind.

What advice would you give the main character?

It’s a Parrot…..jeez Louise!!.....Papa cheese.

Did you enjoy the book/would you change anything?

I really did enjoy this book, I found it enthralling and read it in one sitting.  I would happily read a sequel to the story

Additional thoughts/comments

It was interesting to see an adults view of the world through a child’s eyes. It made me think about the impact adult’s behaviour has on a child.  I actually felt sorry for the children in Matilda’s school that weren’t able to irrationalise the adult’s behaviour and naturally accepted it as normal.

Book Review: Stig of the Dump - Holly

Holly Arlow,10

Stig of the dump

Clive King

1963

March 2016

Brief Summary/description
This story is about a boy staying at his grandmas during the summer holidays. He meets a caveman and has loads of adventures with: the caveman, stig; sister, Lou and the horrid snarget  brothers

Who was your favourite character and why?
My favourite character was definitely barney because he was so ambitious to do the things he wanted to do, also I liked that he was so kind to stig even though he was a lot different .
I also thought stig was awesome the way he sharpened knives ate raw food and also adventured the way he does as if it was an everyday thing. also I think stig was A very good friend too.

What was your first favourite part of the book?
My first favourite part of the book was when barney met stig the way Clive described the cave and what stig looked like was amazing I had never felt as excited as I did then while reading a book that isn’t Narnia

What was you second favourite part of the book?
My second favourite part of the book was the hunt the way when they were hiding and the fox was amazing description again and also when lou was with all the posh people that was really good too I just loved that whole chapter

What was your least favourite part of the book?
My least favourite part of the book was when barney was in the tree and the ‘TV aerial ‘ men came but actually stole the cutlery and then stig hurt them and chased them off . I also didn’t like that the police man didn’t even believe him.

How would you feel if you were the main character?
If I was barney, I would I think I’d been thinking nonsense the whole time but id act as if I thought it was real

Is the story believable?
Yes, and no some of it is believable and some of it wasn’t


Describe a positive moral in the story?
A positive moral for this story is to be friends with everyone even if they are different to you

What advice would you give the main character?
I would advise barney to carry on being like he is and not change the way he is


Did you enjoy the book/would you change anything? 
The only thing I would change is the paragraph about the robbers and the police.

Additional thoughts/comments
No not really I enjoyed the whole book

*****

Book Review: Stig of the Dump - Anab1

Anab1, ??

Stig of the Dump

Clive King

1963

March, 2016

The story is about a boy named Barney and his adventures with a caveman named Stig who lives in a dump by Barney’s grandmother’s house.

Who was your favourite Character and why?

My favourite character was Barney.  He is a brave and adventurous boy who is resourceful and friendly, even though Stig doesn’t look like him or speak
.
What was your first favourite part of the book?

My favourite part of the book is when Barney discovers Stig living in the dump and is amazed by all the interesting stuff that Stig had found or made.  I also like how they built the chimney together out of old tin cans and made a window out of jam jars.

What was you second favourite part of the book?

My second favourite part of the book is when Barney scares away the thieves from his grandmother’s house and inadvertently drives the getaway car into the dump.  Then Stig happily decides to ransack it for supplies, ‘skinning’ the leather seats and using other parts for things in his hut.

What was your least favourite part of the book?

My least favourite part of the book is when Lou and Barney ride out in the night and end up back in time at the caveman camp.  It was lucky for them that Stig was there too but the story didn’t give much detail about how this happened, how they got back or how Stig travels back and forth in time, or why he doesn’t just stay back in time with his own people.  I also didn’t like the part where Stig and Barney went hunting and Stig almost shot Lou’s pony with a bow and arrows.  Barney’s attitude toward the fox was a little bit unpleasant but I had to remember that at the time the book was written, things were different and fox-hunting was tolerated more than it is now.

How would you feel if you were the main character?  

I think being Barney would be interesting.  He’s a little braver than me because I don’t think I would have been able to scare away the robbers or climb trees like Barney.
Is the story believable?  Yes and no.  I think the parts in the dump where Stig and Barney find and make things for Stig’s hut were fun and interesting.  I enjoyed the part where they came across the three brothers who were really quite naughty at first but then became friends with Stig and Barney.  I didn’t find the parts where Barney and Lou went back and forth in time very believable because they weren’t really explained very well in the book.  I also didn’t like how Barney ‘forgot’ about Stig between visits.

Describe a positive moral in the story?

I think the main moral was about friendship and not judging other people on their appearance or ability.  Ultimately, Barney was a kind and tolerant little boy who made friends with an unusual hairy boy who lived in a dump.

What advice would you give the main character?  

I would tell Barney to share more of his adventures with his sister.  I think he thought Lou wouldn’t believe him, but in the end, Lou was part of the story and much more accepting than he probably expected.

Did you enjoy the book/would you change anything? 

I would give this book a 3 out of 5.  I think the story was a bit disjointed because it only followed Barney during his brief holidays with his grandmother.   It reads more like a series of very short stories that are connected only by virtue of the characters.  It never expanded on Stig or how he got stuck in the dump.  It also never expanded Stig’s feelings or whether he enjoyed Barney’s visits or wondered where Barney was when he didn’t show up between holidays.

Additional thoughts/comments  

I think this story would be more difficult to reproduce in our more modern world.  It is definitely a product of its time.  Today, Barney would have a mobile phone and when the robbers came around he could have rung the police.  I also think that his grandmother wouldn’t let him go and play by himself in the dump because it would be considered dangerous.

Book Review: Stig of the Dump - Andy

                               

 Andrew Arlow, 38

STIG OF THE DUMP

Clive King

1963

March 2016

Brief Summary/description

Stig of the Dump is about a young boy called Barney who stays at his Grandmothers during School Holidays.  They live near a large pit that is used as a rubbish tip.  Barney discovers a boy living in the dump who behaves like a Caveman.  Barney calls the boy Stig and they become friends.

Who was your favourite Character and why?

Barney:  He was obviously very bored staying with his Sister and Grandmother.  They didn’t seem to pay him much attention and would leave him on his own while they went shopping.  Barney wanted to explore, make adventures for himself and was very brave when he needed to be.

                I especially liked his inventive side when making Stigs Den better and I wanted to try out the ideas myself.

What was your first favourite part of the book?

My favourite part of the book was when Barney was left on his own and the Con-men came and stole the Jewellery from the House.  Barney and Stig were able to stop the Robbers from escaping and they saved the day.  Although his Grandmother never believed him and just thought he was making up a story.

What was you second favourite part of the book?

After meeting Stig, Barney took some useful items from the Shed and took them to the Dump.  Instead of walking all the way around the dump, Barney ended up lowering the Hand Truck and a basket of Glass Jars down from an overhanging tree.  It was very dangerous and he could have fallen to his death.

What was your least favourite part of the book?

To be honest I didn’t like the ending.  Although there was always doubt about whether Stig was real or not, the endings use of being whisked away to the Past was not believable. 

I would have preferred an explanation to who the Cave Boy really was.  Either a confused modern boy or a caveman who had come out of an Ice Coma.

How would you feel if you were the main character?

I would have loved to have been Barney.  When I was his age all I wanted to do was be out all day on mini adventures.  I can remember finding a box of matches when I was around 6 and instead of taking them home, we striked them all on a concrete wall. 

Is the story believable?

Yes (and No).  Building dens in an old Dump and running around all holiday making adventures is believable.   The time travel ending was not.

Describe a positive moral in the story?

The Snargets were very cheeky and mischievous brothers.  They were very competitive, got in to a lot of trouble and were probably just very bored.  Once they met their match with Stig and Barney they quickly calmed down and were friendly.

What advice would you give the main character?

Be careful!!!

Did you enjoy the book/would you change anything?

Yes, I read this at School and was looking forward to reading it again.  Stig is the perfect companion for a School Holiday

Additional thoughts/comments

I would have preferred a better explanation of why and how Stig was in the Dump and for it to have not gone “magical” at the end.  Also there were some parts where Barney seemed to forget that Stig was in the Dump which I thought was odd.