Age rating and parents' guide:Matilda

by Roald Dahl

Ages 9–11

Matilda by Roald Dahl is best for children aged 9–11. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Mean adults (comic).

Gifted Matilda survives cruel parents and a tyrannical headmistress, discovering friendship and extraordinary telekinetic powers.

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Content ratings

How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.

Violence: Mild
Scary moments: Mild
Romance: None
Bad language: None

Worth knowing: Mean adults (comic)

Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on 21 September 2026.

At a glance

Early chapter book
Easy to get into from the first page
Plenty of illustrations
Emotionally light
A good pick for reluctant readers

Great for kids who like

Action & Adventure
Friendship

Reading mood

Adventurous
Suspenseful

Good to talk about

Friendship
Survival & resilience

Books like Matilda

Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

Ages 9–11
Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
by Chris Grabenstein
Children trapped overnight in an extraordinary library must solve elaborate puzzles created by famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello.
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Ages 9–11
Frindle
by Andrew Clements
Nick invents the word “frindle,” sparking a classroom battle that grows into a national language phenomenon.
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Ages 9–11
The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane
by Kate DiCamillo
Proud china rabbit Edward is lost and passed between owners, gradually learning empathy, grief, and love.
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Ages 8–12
Dadi, Dantkatha and the Djinns
by Avanti Sopory
Kashmiri family folklore, a grandmother's stories and a touch of djinn magic come together in a contemporary adventure.
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Ages 9–11
I Survived (series)
by Lauren Tarshis
Young survivors experience famous disasters—including shipwrecks, wars, fires, and attacks—through fast-paced historical adventures.
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Ages 6–11
The Cherry Tree
by Ruskin Bond
A lonely boy nurtures a cherry seed in the Himalayan foothills and patiently watches it survive into a tree.
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Questions parents ask

Q: What age is Matilda for?

Matilda suits children aged 9–11. It is an early chapter book: easy to get into from the first page, plenty of illustrations.

Q: Is Matilda appropriate for a 9 year old?

Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–11. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing before reading: Mean adults (comic).

Q: What should my child read after Matilda?

Try Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Frindle and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.

Age rating and parents' guideMatilda

by Roald Dahl

Ages 9–11

Matilda by Roald Dahl is best for children aged 9–11. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Mean adults (comic).

Gifted Matilda survives cruel parents and a tyrannical headmistress, discovering friendship and extraordinary telekinetic powers.

Books like Matilda

Similar stories for the same ages, none more intense than this one should be for its youngest readers.

Ages 9–11

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

by Chris Grabenstein

Children trapped overnight in an extraordinary library must solve elaborate puzzles created by famous game-maker Luigi Lemoncello.

Know more Get book

Ages 9–11

Frindle

by Andrew Clements

Nick invents the word “frindle,” sparking a classroom battle that grows into a national language phenomenon.

Know more Get book

Ages 9–11

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane

by Kate DiCamillo

Proud china rabbit Edward is lost and passed between owners, gradually learning empathy, grief, and love.

Know more Get book

Ages 8–12

Dadi, Dantkatha and the Djinns

by Avanti Sopory

Kashmiri family folklore, a grandmother's stories and a touch of djinn magic come together in a contemporary adventure.

Know more Get book

Ages 9–11

I Survived (series)

by Lauren Tarshis

Young survivors experience famous disasters—including shipwrecks, wars, fires, and attacks—through fast-paced historical adventures.

Know more Get book

Ages 6–11

The Cherry Tree

by Ruskin Bond

A lonely boy nurtures a cherry seed in the Himalayan foothills and patiently watches it survive into a tree.

Know more Get book

Questions parents ask

Q: What age is Matilda for?

Matilda suits children aged 9–11. It is an early chapter book: easy to get into from the first page, plenty of illustrations.

Q: Is Matilda appropriate for a 9 year old?

Yes. Bookstaken rates it for ages 9–11. It has mild violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing before reading: Mean adults (comic).

Q: What should my child read after Matilda?

Try Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Frindle and The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane. They share the same kind of story and suit the same ages.