Cover of Matilda by Roald Dahl

4 book recommendations

Books Like “Matilda” by Roald Dahl

If you fell in love with Matilda's extraordinary intellect, telekinetic wonders, and triumph over tyrannical adults, you are not alone. Readers cherish this whimsical blend of bookish charm, magical powers, and underdog justice. Explore this handpicked collection to discover your next delightfully clever and enchanting adventure.

  1. Cover of A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning by Lemony Snicket

    Cover not available

    A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning

    by Lemony Snicket

    Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.

    In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odour.

    In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted. Never before has a tale of three likeable and unfortunate children been quite so enchanting, or quite so uproariously unhappy.

    Ages 10+

    Why it's similar

    Both books feature highly intelligent, book-loving children who use their sharp intellects to outsmart grotesque, neglectful, and cruel adult guardians. They also share a satirical, slightly dark narrative tone that treats children's perspectives with seriousness.

    What's different

    Unlike Matilda, which features telekinetic powers and culminates in a triumphant, happy domestic ending, this story is realistic gothic absurdity characterized by persistent misfortune and a pervasive sense of gloom.

  2. Cover of The Girl Who Could Fly by Victoria Forester

    Cover not available

    The Girl Who Could Fly

    by Victoria Forester

    A fantasy adventure perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers, in which "The story soars, just like Piper, with enough loop-de-loops to keep kids uncertain about what will come next" (Booklist, starred review)

    A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!

    You just can't keep a good girl down . . . unless you use the proper methods.

    Piper McCloud can fly. Just like that. Easy as pie.

    Sure, she hasn't mastered reverse propulsion and her turns are kind of sloppy, but she's real good at loop-the-loops.

    Problem is, the good folk of Lowland County are afraid of Piper. And her ma's at her wit's end. So it seems only fitting that she leave her parents' farm to attend a top-secret, maximum-security school for kids with exceptional abilities.

    School is great at first with a bunch of new friends whose skills range from super-strength to super-genius. (Plus all the homemade apple pie she can eat!) But Piper is special, even among the special. And there are consequences.

    Consequences too dire to talk about. Too crazy to consider. And too dangerous to ignore.

    At turns exhilarating and terrifying, The Girl Who Could Fly is an unforgettable story of defiance and courage about an irrepressible heroine who can, who will, who must . . . fly.

    This title has Common Core connections.

    Why it's similar

    Both stories focus on an exceptional young girl with supernatural abilities who is sent to an oppressive institutional setting overseen by an authoritarian adult. In each book, the protagonist uses her powers and moral resolve to stand up to adult tyranny.

    What's different

    The setting shifts from a quaint, domestic English village to a high-tech, dystopian government facility, presenting a higher-stakes sci-fi conflict rather than a grounded, comic schoolroom satire.

  3. Cover of Savvy by Ingrid Law

    Cover not available

    Savvy

    by Ingrid Law

    NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A magical, heartfelt journey into the uncertainty of adolescence, bursting with humor, determination, and hope.

    A NEWBERY HONOR BOOK • A KIRKUS REVIEWS BEST MIDDLE GRADE BOOK OF THE CENTURY

    Thirteen is when a Beaumont’s savvy hits—and with one brother who causes hurricanes and another who creates electricity, Mibs Beaumont is eager to see what she gets. But just before the big day, Poppa is in a terrible accident. And now all Mibs wants is a savvy that will save him. In fact, Mibs is so sure she’ll get a powerful savvy that she sneaks a ride to the hospital on a rickety bus with her sibling and the preacher’s kids in tow. After this extraordinary adventure—full of talking tattoos and a kidnapping—not a soul on board will ever be the same.

    From New York Times bestselling author Ingrid Law comes an unforgettable adventure series, perfect for emerging fantasy fans, that reminds readers of the importance of family, and to take their time growing up.

    Why it's similar

    Both books deal with a young girl discovering and learning to control an innate, extraordinary power as a metaphor for growing up and claiming personal agency. Each protagonist must navigate the anxieties of being different from the ordinary people around her.

    What's different

    Rather than facing neglectful, abusive guardians, the protagonist is surrounded by a warm, supportive family, and the plot unfolds as an American road-trip adventure rather than a British school-and-home narrative.

  4. Cover of The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart

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    The Mysterious Benedict Society

    by Trenton Lee Stewart

    For fans of Lemony Snicket and Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, this first book in the bestselling, award-winning Mysterious Benedict Society Series is now on Disney Plus!

    "Are you a gifted child looking for special opportunities?" Dozens of children respond to this peculiar ad in the newspaper and are then put through a series of mind-bending tests, which readers take along with them. Only four children--two boys and two girls--succeed. Their challenge: to go on a secret mission that only the most intelligent and inventive children could complete. To accomplish it they will have to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. But what they'll find in the hidden underground tunnels of the school is more than your average school supplies. So, if you're gifted, creative, or happen to know Morse Code, they could probably use your help.

    Why it's similar

    Like Matilda, it highlights extraordinarily intelligent children outwitting cruel or manipulative adults in a slightly exaggerated world, combining puzzle-solving, school-like tests, and a playful yet sinister tone.

    What's different

    This book uses an ensemble cast and a larger-scale conspiracy plot, with more intricate puzzles and adventure elements, offering a more sprawling narrative than Matilda’s intimate focus on one girl’s home and school life.

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