Matilda has always been a classic in my mind. It is an imaginative book about a young girl who discovers that she has a strange power that sets her apart from others. Ever since she was born, Matilda showed signs of being a child prodigy, despite her parents’ efforts to have her watch more T.V. instead of reading books. Matilda reads all of the children’s books in the library before even beginning school, and moves on to literary masterpieces such as Charles Dickens’ Great Expectations. Matilda’s father finally sends her to school, but to her dismay the school is run by a child-hating, ogre of a headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Matilda’s teacher Ms. Honey however, realizes immediately that Matilda is a special child and they form a close relationship. Matilda soon realizes that she has the special ability to move things with her brain-power, and she uses this to drive Miss Trunchbull away from the school, getting Ms. Honey back the home that the Trunchbull had stolen from her years before. Meanwhile, her father has been caught for selling stolen cars, and is planning on taking the family to Spain to get away. Matilda asks to stay behind with Ms. Honey, and all parties agree that this is a good choice. Matilda is finally moved into challenging classes, and loses her powers, as her brainpower is being used to think and learn instead of accumulating. This is a very enjoyable book to read. What could be interesting for the students is to read the book, then watch the movie and compare and contrast the two. The book is really so much more detailed, and it would give them a good idea of how much more can be done in writing than on film. One of the themes in the book is a feeling of loneliness, and how reading can take you places where you get away from life. Some students may really be able to connect to this feeling of loneliness, and hopefully they are motivated to read more often.
