Matilda by Roald Dahl

Book Review Oct 10, 2023

My review

5/5 stars

Matilda has been my favourite Roald Dahl book, and one of my favourite childhood books in general, for a long time. I cannot tell you how excited I was when my son asked me to read it to him. It's one of those moments that a parent looks forward to most when they find out they're going to be a parent - sharing the things they loved as a child with their children.

The experience did not disappoint. He proclaims confidently that Matilda is now his favourite Roald Dahl story as well (so far anyway, he has more to read). The magic element of the story really spoke to him and he loved the variety of different characters in his age range.

I had huge amounts of fun rediscovering my favourite elements of the book through my son's eyes. Matilda represents all the right component parts of a solid children's character for me. She is strong, driven to do the right thing, self-determined, not held back by difficulties in her life and just the right amount of cheeky to make her feel relatable. I've seen arguments against Matilda as a character, saying that she teaches children to defy their grown-ups when they disagree but she only ever challenges grown-ups who are actively cruel so I see no problem.

My favourite element of the book is Matilda's love of learning. It's something that makes her special in all the right ways rather than something that she is mocked or bullied for - I adore this message for children.

Book blurb

Matilda is a brilliant child with a magical mind.

But her parents have decided she's just a nuisance who wastes too much time on reading and stories.

And her headmistress Miss Trunchbull is a terrible bully, who thinks children are rotten and awful and should be locked up.

Now it's time for Matilda to find the power to change her story, and show them just how extraordinary children can be . . .