Matilda Wormwood is brilliant, sensitive and brilliant. But her parents treat her as a scab, not a daughter—a scab to be endured until the time comes to flick her away to the next county, or preferably farther. But her father (car salesman) and mother (with platinum hair) are no match for her sharp genius. And when she is attacked by Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress, Matilda discovers she has an extraordinary psychic power that can save her school and her lovely teacher, Miss Honey.