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.