Reviews

Matilda by Roald Dahl

icanread17's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

wizafer's review

4.0

This story is such a delight and will forever be one of my favourite Roald Dahl books. A magical story with fantastic characters, beautifully written.

marusik_'s review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

darcyharper's review against another edition

2.0

The adults are terrible and call children all kinds of awful names. I didn't prefer it. 

proudjosh's review against another edition

inspiring lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

lemonaves's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

kallmekirby's review

5.0

Childhood favorite re-read and I'm still just so in love with Matilda and Miss Honey. I read this one every now and then because it was one of the first books I really loved as a child and that made me feel normal for loving to read so much. Even though it is a children's book - I think every avid reader should read it.

fablec's review against another edition

hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

mariahistryingtoread's review

3.0

I really like Matilda. I’ve read it a couple times before along with a couple other Roald Dahl books. It’s beloved for a reason. For me it’s also a comfort read. I know what’s going to happen and I know that even through her mistreatment there will eventually be a release to the pressure she’s facing.

The found family trope is a top 3 trope for me. Matilda eschewing the awful people around her to create the family she wants is nothing short of inspirational. I wish at her age I just intrinsically knew that I deserved better. It would have made the years since a lot easier.

Matilda is a fairly big piece of popular culture now so I think most people probably have a good idea of what happens. Especially since there’s a movie as that increases its accessibility as a story. It’s a good book. It’s got an old school charm to it very reminiscent of early twentieth century classics though not as dry as those can be. I’m American so some of the stuff that’s normal for England remains novel to me.

It’s a fast read so even if you don’t dig it, it’ll go by fast. It’s special to me, but even outside of that it’s at least an enjoyable average read.

chapita4's review

5.0

The Boo's review (he's 7). I don't know that he will ever give a book less than a 5 star review at this point in reading. He says: My favorite character is Miss Honey, because she's a great teacher. She is kind and caring and in the end takes care of Matilda which is the best! The meanest character in the book is Miss Trunchbull...she's really mean, even worse than Matilda's parents and they are terrible. Matilda is my second favorite character and she is the main character of the story. She gets to go to school and then she meets Miss Honey and even gets to go to her house for tea in the afternoon. Kids who read this book will really like the ending!