Matilda

Dahl certainly has an affinity for poor mistreated children who overcome the situation they live in and become the hero at the end.  It is heartwarming and yet also disturbing.  In this book, Matilda Wormwood is an unloved, unwanted, ignored little girl who is exceedingly smart.  Matilda teaches herself to read by age 3 and later asks her father for a "real" book.  The only book in the house is a cookbook.  Mr. Wormwood tells her no so Matilda takes herself to the library on her own and reads everything she can get her hands on.  She plows through the children's books and moves on to the classics, devouring everything she can.  Mr. Wormwood is a used car salesman who is less than honest.  He works out a deal to sell a car to the headmistress of a local school and Matilda is finally allowed to attend school.  Matilda has already been doing pranks on her parents because she feels like they deserve to get into trouble.  Also, she has developed an "accidental" gift of telekenesis which she uses to knock a glass of water over.  Once at school she meets her teacher, Ms. Honey and loves her dearly.  Ms. Honey turns out to be the neice of the hateful headmistress and has an intense hatred for the children. Matilda uses her gift to drive Ms. Trunchbull out of the school by "haunting" her classroom.  Ms. Honey is then finally able to move back to her family home.  As the book ends, Matilda's parents are getting ready to flee the country before Mr. Wormwood is arrested for his shady dealings.  Ms. Honey asks the Wormwood's if she can keep Matilda with her and they agree without a second thought.  They leave and the only concern shown for Matilda is a wave that her brother gives her.
Good book for about age 8 and up.
[book:Matilda|39988]