Reviews tagging 'Physical abuse'

Matilda by Roald Dahl

30 reviews

idesofmarch's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gaslighting

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder

the_true_monroe's review against another edition

adventurous funny fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Physical abuse, and Death of parent

Minor: Ableism, Confinement, Suicide, Murder, and Gaslighting

meetmeinthebookstore's review against another edition

adventurous emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Misogyny, Sexism, and Death of parent

spineofthesaurus's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Confinement, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Ableism, Body shaming, Fatphobia, Torture, Gaslighting, and Abandonment

Minor: Body horror, Grief, and Injury/Injury detail

sassmistress's review against another edition

emotional hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, Confinement, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Body shaming, Fatphobia, Violence, and Abandonment

Minor: Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicide, and Death of parent

maseface's review against another edition

adventurous hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.75

This book meant a lot to young me. Reading it again I realize I saw it helped me through some of my darkest times. I imagine for other kids going through similar circumstances as me this book is so helpful and comforting.

Matilda is the hero every single abused and neglected child needs.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Minor: Suicide, Death of parent, and Murder

thaliareads's review against another edition

dark emotional funny hopeful fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

I've read this book a lot throughout my life and enjoyed it just as much as an adult as I did as a kid. There's a little something for everyone, and as an adult, I almost wish the book could have been longer because I would have loved to spend more time with these characters and to have an opportunity to fill in some of the time gaps jumped to allow the plot to advance more quickly. Still a great read, no questions about it. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Violence, and Abandonment

Small spoiler, shouldn't take away from reading the book.

Matilda's parents don't directly abuse her emotionally in a clear way, but their lack of attention is akin to a type of emotional abuse. In addition it's notable that the school headmistress does physically abuse the children at the school but in outrageously outlandish ways, and the children while traumatized are never seriously injured and the goal of the book is to see Matilda get herself and the other students out of these situations with adults who don't care.

indigo_book_dragon's review against another edition

dark hopeful lighthearted sad fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

The book starts lighthearted with pranks that cause some discomfort but not too much bodily harm. When you look past the cartoonishly extreme reactions, it is a sad story of Matilda’s situation with some darker things left unsaid.
However, it ends on a hopeful note. Though there isn’t much character growth, and Matilda is not the best role model for young children, it’s a mostly light story with happy ending.

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Content Warnings

Minor: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse

scarlettoliver's review against another edition

adventurous inspiring lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Bullying, Child abuse, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Death of parent, and Gaslighting

Minor: Confinement, Torture, and Murder

katharina90's review against another edition

adventurous dark hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? No

3.0

The message at the heart of Matilda is so hopeful and uplifting. A David vs. Goliath story that encourages kids to fight their bullies and stand up for what's right. But you have to be ok with descriptions of pretty severe abuse and look past countless other issues including fatphobia and body shaming, sexism and misogyny, classism, and ableist language. Re-reading this now, I don't find it particularly funny and have to work hard to connect with the positive message at the story's core.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Body shaming, Bullying, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Fatphobia, Physical abuse, and Abandonment

Moderate: Misogyny, Sexism, and Classism

Minor: Ableism and Suicide