May 13, 2024 by Cecily Anastasia
Overview: A household favorite, Matilda, is a child prodigy who is surrounded by adults who find little value in children let alone one as brilliant as her. This bookish heroine discovers that with a little magic and bravery she could stand up to bullies big and small and could help others around her be brave too.
Audience: Matilda is a middle grade dark academia book. Middle grade books are typically intended for readers ages 8-12 or above. Adults will love this book too.
Triggers:
- Ms. Honey’s (Matilda’s teacher) story implies abuse and abandonment as she tells her story to Matlida of how she ended up living where she did.
- The Principal Ms. Trunchbull is a bully and puts kids in the “chokey” a rickety small closet as punishment, she throws children across schoolyards and bullies with little to no consequences initially.
- Mention of suicide. Non descriptive. Implies someone who committed suicide was possibly killed instead.
Treasures:
- Book worms love to read about fellow books lovers like Matilda.
- Beautiful female friendship.
- Encourages children no matter their upbringing books can bring comfort and they can still become who they are meant to be.
- Matilda’s brilliance and telekinetic powers will spark the imagination of your children.
Teachings:
- Reading this book together will open up conversations about being bold and brave to stand up to bullies in life.
- Beautiful reflections that adults just like children too have had bullies in their life and can connect on that topic. Together they can encourage one another.
- Being different and unique is something to be embraced. Pursuing education with excitement and curiosity led Matilda to even better things.
As a child I loved the film Matilda and had no idea it was a Roald Dahl’s classic. I am so glad to have enjoyed the lovely book with my children before introducing the film. We enjoyed getting to know Matilda more deeply and it was thoroughly enjoyed by the whole family.
