MatildaMatilda
What it's about
Matilda Wormwood is a genius: she taught herself to read at three, and by four she has moved on to the adult shelves of the public library. Her parents, a crooked used-car dealer and a bingo-obsessed mother, think she's a nuisance. At school she's adored by her gentle teacher, Miss Honey, and hated by the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, a former hammer thrower who swings children by their pigtails. Then Matilda discovers she has a power of her own.
Why it's worth reading
It's one of Roald Dahl's most popular books and a pick on the BBC's Big Read. It's a joyful story about a clever child taking on terrible adults, and it's become a film and a hit musical.
You'll love it if you liked
Charlotte's Web, The Hobbit or The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
Good to know
It's a children's book, wonderful read aloud. Dahl's cruelty to adults is part of the fun.
By the numbers
- Readers92 out of 100 · counts 40%+42
- Critics0 out of 100 · counts 14%+0
- Bestseller52 out of 100 · counts 32% (its stronger lane)+19
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 15%+0
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero.
On the BBC's The Big Read list. 4.34★ from 1.2M Goodreads ratings.
Where it ranks
- #100 of the 519 classics we rank
- #246 of the 1,404 books we rank
On the lists
- BBC's The Big Read
Reads as
Epic
If you like this, read next
The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
The Hobbit
Charlotte's Web
Watership Down
Bless Me, Ultima
The Lord of the Rings