by tbc
First published 2018
Matilda Wormwood possesses an extraordinary mind that can move objects with pure thought. Her parents care only about television and their crooked car business. They ignore their brilliant daughter who devours books and solves complex problems before most children learn to read. At Crunchem Hall Primary School, the monstrous headmistress Miss Trunchbull terrorizes students with creative punishments. She forces young Bruce Bogtrotter to consume an entire chocolate cake as torture. She hurls children by their pigtails and locks them in a nail-studded cupboard called the Chokey. Matilda discovers her telekinetic powers when fury at injustice reaches its peak. She must decide whether to use her abilities for revenge or protection. The story follows her journey from neglected child to someone who can stand up to bullies and find the family she deserves. This special anniversary edition features new artwork imagining Matilda as an adult world traveller.
Genres: fiction, fantasy, contemporary
Vibes: emotional, thought-provoking, whimsical
Tropes: found-family, underdog
Setting: Crunchem Hall Primary School
Period: 20th-century
240 pages · Hardcover · Puffin
Content warnings: child-abuse, physical-abuse