Take a photo of a barcode or cover
967 reviews by:
elementarymydear
I LOVE THIS BOOK SO MUCH!!!!!!!
Like probably most people on this website, this was a childhood favourite of mine. Having been moved up a year in school early on and reading a lot more than most of my peers, Matilda was (and, let's face it, still is...) one of my heroes. I read this book so, so, so many times, possible even more than Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and was definitely a firm favourite. I could go on all day here about loving it as a kid, but let's face it; you all understand.
I couple of months ago - about ten years since last reading the book - I saw the West End play. The play expands a lot more on, and gives a lot more emphasis to, Miss Honey's back story, and I have to say that after seeing the show (which is brilliant - would definitely recommend!) I had a new-found hatred of Miss Trunchbull. It's unsurprising really; when we read things as a child, things go over our heads. I still can't believe that I spent so many years laughing at the Dursleys, who I now have a... somewhat different opinion of. So, I went back to the book, reading it through different eyes; as someone who, rather than being the quiet, mathematical book-lover in the corner, had now been the teacher (or, in my case, teaching assistant) who loved to talk to those kids, recommend books, and discuss our favourite characters and stories. (It was a rather sobering realisation that I am now much closer in age to Miss Honey than to Matilda...) The story still held all the same magic that it did for me 10 years ago, only with that bit more depth to some different characters than before. I think that is the mark of a brilliant children's book - something that you can go back to time and time again, all at different stages of life, and take something new from.
A book I will definitely cherish for ever, and either as a parent or teacher pass down to the next generation. And hopefully I won't leave it another 10 years for another re-read!
Like probably most people on this website, this was a childhood favourite of mine. Having been moved up a year in school early on and reading a lot more than most of my peers, Matilda was (and, let's face it, still is...) one of my heroes. I read this book so, so, so many times, possible even more than Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, and was definitely a firm favourite. I could go on all day here about loving it as a kid, but let's face it; you all understand.
I couple of months ago - about ten years since last reading the book - I saw the West End play. The play expands a lot more on, and gives a lot more emphasis to, Miss Honey's back story, and I have to say that after seeing the show (which is brilliant - would definitely recommend!) I had a new-found hatred of Miss Trunchbull. It's unsurprising really; when we read things as a child, things go over our heads. I still can't believe that I spent so many years laughing at the Dursleys, who I now have a... somewhat different opinion of. So, I went back to the book, reading it through different eyes; as someone who, rather than being the quiet, mathematical book-lover in the corner, had now been the teacher (or, in my case, teaching assistant) who loved to talk to those kids, recommend books, and discuss our favourite characters and stories. (It was a rather sobering realisation that I am now much closer in age to Miss Honey than to Matilda...) The story still held all the same magic that it did for me 10 years ago, only with that bit more depth to some different characters than before. I think that is the mark of a brilliant children's book - something that you can go back to time and time again, all at different stages of life, and take something new from.
A book I will definitely cherish for ever, and either as a parent or teacher pass down to the next generation. And hopefully I won't leave it another 10 years for another re-read!
I loved this book so so so much after reading it, then loved it so much more after going to a talk Patrick Ness did about it (which was fabulous :D)
It is the perfect antidote to YA tropes; I snorted several times throughout, particularly at lines like "This isn't as bad as when they were all dying beautifully of cancer." The two story lines - Mikey, our main character, and the indie kids, the chosen ones - were both brilliant, and I did giggle at the indie kids' names: Finn, Satchel, Dylan, Finn, Finn, Lincoln, Finn...
The main story line - Mikey and his friends, each dealing with their own issues, and trying to graduate high school - was so wonderfully moving, but still felt completely natural. The danger with a lot of books, especially YA, is that you feel like they've dealt with a lot of 'Issues' but not much else, and you feel educated but not entertained. That was certainly not the case here! The strength of the characters, the amusing backdrop of an invasion of Immortals, and Patrick Ness' immaculate writing combined to make this something really special.
It is the perfect antidote to YA tropes; I snorted several times throughout, particularly at lines like "This isn't as bad as when they were all dying beautifully of cancer." The two story lines - Mikey, our main character, and the indie kids, the chosen ones - were both brilliant, and I did giggle at the indie kids' names: Finn, Satchel, Dylan, Finn, Finn, Lincoln, Finn...
The main story line - Mikey and his friends, each dealing with their own issues, and trying to graduate high school - was so wonderfully moving, but still felt completely natural. The danger with a lot of books, especially YA, is that you feel like they've dealt with a lot of 'Issues' but not much else, and you feel educated but not entertained. That was certainly not the case here! The strength of the characters, the amusing backdrop of an invasion of Immortals, and Patrick Ness' immaculate writing combined to make this something really special.
