The Again List / Ages 9 to 12

Matilda

Roald Dahl & Quentin Blake

A small genius, the worst parents in fiction and a headmistress who throws children, and all of it is very funny.

Why they ask for it again

Matilda is underestimated by every adult around her, and she gets even. Every child has wanted to do that.

Our review

Matilda Wormwood teaches herself to read, works through the children's shelves of the library by the age of four, and is treated like a nuisance by her awful parents. At school she meets gentle Miss Honey and the terrifying Miss Trunchbull, who swings a girl around by her pigtails and locks children in the Chokey. Matilda has had enough.

Dahl is at his cruelest and funniest here, and the book is, under all of that, a love letter to reading. Quentin Blake's scratchy drawings are the perfect partner. Be warned that Dahl's own later reputation, including his antisemitism, is a real part of the conversation for some families.

How to read it aloud

Miss Trunchbull is the part you came for. Go huge, go furious, and spit a bit. Then make Miss Honey almost too quiet to hear.

The catch

The cruelty is played for laughs, and a few kids will take it to heart. And the author's personal views are worth knowing about.

Is it scary?

Child-throwing, a cupboard lined with nails and broken glass, and a hint of past family tragedy. Funny, but it does land on sensitive kids.

Books like Matilda, and what to read next

Also good for

Make them laughReady for chaptersGirls who go their own way

Quick answers

What age is Matilda for?

Ages 6–12. The sweet spot, in our opinion, is age 7 to 10.

How long does Matilda take to read aloud?

About 5 hours in total, or 20 minutes a sitting. This is our estimate at a calm bedtime pace.

Is Matilda scary?

Child-throwing, a cupboard lined with nails and broken glass, and a hint of past family tragedy. Funny, but it does land on sensitive kids.

What should we read after Matilda?

We would suggest The Wild Robot, Pippi Longstocking, Charlotte's Web.