Modern Fantasy-Matilda By: Roald Dahl

          The parents of five-and-a-half-year-old Matilda Wormwood have no interest in their daughter, but if they did, they would discover that she is incredibly gifted. Matilda learned to read at age 3, though the only actual book in the house was a cookbook and magazines. When she asks for a real book for herself, her father rudely turns her down and tells her to watch television instead. In spite of this, Matilda looks up the address of the local library, where she finishes all the children's books within a short time. Matilda resolves to teach her parents a lesson every time they do something wrong, carrying out a variety of pranks. Miss Honey, the closest thing that Matilda has to a parental figure, appeals to Miss Trunchbull to have Matilda moved up into an advanced class, but the child-hating headmistress refuses. Miss Honey also tries, in vain, to reason with Mrs. Wormwood, but she is not welcomed, and both parents make it clear that they are not interested either in Matilda or the value of education and learning. Matilda quickly learns of Trunchbull's capacity for punishing children, as she carries out cruelties for minor reasons. When Matilda's friend Lavender places a newt in Trunchbull's glass of water, Matilda is blamed and Trunchbull refuses to listen to her. Mad about her friend's punishment, Matilda soon discovers she has psychokinetic powers, as she focuses on the glass with her eyes, and surprises everyone by tipping it over right on to Miss Trunchbull. This is the first of Matilda's exciting adventures due to her mysterious mind powers. 

         I would read this book with my children when doing a unit on modern fantasy texts. Matilda is a child that is misunderstood and underestimated (which is something that I know ALL of my students can relate to). While reading the book, I will have children keep a chart where they write events that happen to Matilda and the other characters that they think could happen in real life, and things that could not. By doing this, my children will be able to more easily separate events in a book that are considered fantasy over reality. Surprisingly, I have learned that kids in upper elementary have a hard time with this.