Matilda (novel)

Imagine being tucked away on a library shelf, nestled between a book of dusty maps and a collection of fairy tales. That was me. From the outside, I looked like any other book, with a sturdy cover and pages full of black and white words. But inside, a whole world was buzzing, just waiting for someone to open it. If you listened closely, you could almost hear the whisper of my pages, eager to share their secrets. I smelled of fresh paper and rich ink, the scent of a brand-new adventure. My story is about a very special, very clever little girl who felt a bit out of place in her own home, a girl who found magic not with a wand, but with her own brilliant mind. It’s a tale full of mischief, surprising friendships, and the incredible power that can be found between the covers of a book. I am the story of a girl named Matilda, and I have been waiting for you to turn my first page.

I didn't just appear out of thin air. I was dreamed up by a wonderful storyteller, a man with a mischievous twinkle in his eye named Roald Dahl. He had a special talent for creating worlds where clever children were the heroes and foolish grown-ups usually got what they deserved. I can picture him now, sitting in his cozy writing hut in his garden, a pencil in his hand and a yellow notepad on his lap, spinning my tale. He carefully chose every word to bring my hero, Matilda, to life. But I wasn't made alone! A brilliant artist named Quentin Blake gave me my look. With his wonderfully wiggly, scratchy, and expressive drawings, he made Matilda look small but mighty, Miss Honey look gentle and kind, and the terrifying Miss Trunchbull look as scary as she sounds. On October 1st, 1988, my story was complete. My pages were printed, cut, and bound together for the very first time. I had a birthday, and I was finally ready to be sent out into the world, to find my way into the hands of children everywhere.

My story begins with Matilda Wormwood, a little girl with a mind like a supercomputer. She could read enormous books and solve difficult math problems before most children even started school. But her family, the Wormwoods, couldn't have cared less. They spent their time watching silly television shows and cheating people at Mr. Wormwood's used car lot. To them, a book was just a coaster for a drink. So, Matilda found her escape at the public library, where she traveled to faraway lands and met incredible characters, all by turning a page. Soon, she started school at Crunchem Hall, a place ruled by the terrifying headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Miss Trunchbull was a former Olympic hammer-thrower who thought children were nasty little creatures. Can you imagine a principal who throws children across the playground? Luckily, Matilda also met the sweet and gentle Miss Honey, a teacher who saw right away that Matilda was a genius. As Matilda faced the unfairness of Miss Trunchbull and her own family, she discovered a secret power bubbling inside her. She could move things with her mind! This power was called telekinesis, and Matilda decided to use her cleverness and her magic to teach the cruel grown-ups a lesson and stand up for her friends and for Miss Honey.

Ever since I was first published on October 1st, 1988, my journey has been more amazing than I could have ever imagined. Children all over the world have opened my covers and found a friend in Matilda. They cheered for her when she stood up to Miss Trunchbull and felt her joy when she finally found a loving home with Miss Honey. My story grew so big and so loved that it couldn't be contained on just my pages. In 1996, I leaped onto the movie screen, and later, I became a spectacular, singing and dancing musical on big stages in London and New York! My story shows everyone that it doesn’t matter how small you are or where you come from. If you have a good heart, a brave spirit, and a curious mind, you have the power to change your own story. I am a reminder that the greatest magic of all can be found inside a book, and that sometimes, being a little bit naughty can be a very good thing indeed.