THIS world-renowned children’s novel originally published in 1988 has gone through various equally whimsical and heartwarming iterations, from the 1996 film to the most recent movie musical released to Netflix only recently.
Having grown up reading the novel and rewatching the original film nearly every weekend, it’s my hope that this latest adaptation will find a whole new generation of children. This fantasy comedy is not only bright and witty but also effortlessly carries an emotional depth, and a sense of hope that cannot be defeated even by the saddest of days or worst of villains. This is why the story sticks with you – in whatever form it takes – into adulthood and forms a desire to share its wealth of lessons with the young people in your life.
Matilda Wormwood is an extraordinarily intelligent little girl born into a family who not only refuse to appreciate and nurture her abilities, but who truly see her as an outcast. In the face of the emotional abuse of her parents, she does all she can to find sources of joy in the increasingly challenging books she reads from the local library. When she starts school at the age of five and a half, she’s introduced to an environment in which she may be able to thrive, making new friends, particularly in the form of her gentle and encouraging teacher Miss Honey.
