“Charlie and The Chocolate Factory “
Author: Roald Dahl

Sweets. Every child’s dream- sweet, indulgent, available in every flavor and form one could imagine.

This was certainly young Charlie’s fantasy. When Willy Wonka Candies, the largest sweets manufacturer at the time, decided to host an international event inviting a select group of children into his factory, something that had forever remained a mystery, Charlie was excited beyond control. However, the only way one could receive such an invitation was to obtain a Golden Ticket, which were hidden within the many products that the factory produced daily. The children of the rich bought chocolates, truffles, sweets of every kind by the trunkful, all hoping to land their greedy hands on a golden ticket, but, living in a rather poor area of the city, Charlie could not afford to do this. The story of Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, by the world revered author Roald Dahl, follows Charlie’s miraculous journey of obtaining a Golden Ticket and traversing into the world of candy manufacturing.
 

While light-hearted, creative, and expressively written, this story also brings a deeper meaning. It reminds children and parents alike of the much needed virtue of humility, of respecting others regardless of their socio-economic status, of not basing one’s identity and self-worth upon the meaningless attributes of wealth and possession. Moreover, it sends a message of hope to all those in doubt, following a journey based on serendipity and luck, telling us that sometimes not everything is within the realm of our control and that sometimes it is better to just be optimistic and positive.

This book, which has also been adapted into a movie, has won numerous international awards and sets the bar for one of the best children’s books of all time is a tale that every child would enjoy- after all, who doesn’t love a story about candy?

English review written by Vania Chow.
Vania is a vibrant and passionate student who is interested in many global affairs- human rights, food insecurity, and politics. She thoroughly enjoys reading and writing about these issues as she believes that words and education are one of the best ways to make an impact. Outside of school, she is an active member of her community and loves spending times outdoors with her family and friends. With these values in mind, she hopes that the book reviews she has written will empower children today to love reading.