I enjoyed this short book. It was hard not to compare it to the movie, which was more focused on Matilda developing her powers and which included more scenes than were in the book. Matilda never goes to the Trunchbull's house, for example. I felt like the book moved too quickly toward the end, but that could also be because I expected more from the movie to happen. Regardless, Matilda is such an endearing character to whom I slightly relate. I like how much more savvy she is depicted in the book ; the Trunchbull is simply another bully Matilda takes down. (The Trunchbull is horrible, I know, but she's pretty hilarious in the book). The illustrations accompany the story well and make the book a do-able read for reluctant readers. This is an enduring and fun classic I would recommend as a read-aloud, especially for a third-grade class.