James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl

GENRE - Children's fiction (9-11 years), adventure, fantasy. 

FIRST PUBLISHED - 1961

PUBLISHED BY - Alfred A Knopf

(Our version published in 2016 by Puffin Books)

THEMES - Friendship. Magic. Adventure. Child neglect/abuse. Bereavement/parent loss. Isolation. Acceptance. Travel. 

PLOT - At four years old, James lost his parents, who were eaten by a rhinoceros that escaped from London zoo. An orphan, he goes to live with his horrid aunts who keep James a prisoner in their house, making him do chore after chore. They do not allow him to go anywhere, not even to school. James is sad and lonely. 

One day, after three years of living with his aunts, something magical happens and James is filled with hope. A giant peach begins to grow in the garden, and inside it live giant bugs, who are ready to escape with James, far away from his mean aunties. James begins a magical adventure of friendship, wonderous discoveries and dangers he must use bravery and creativity to champion. 

The ending is thankfully a happy one!

MY REFLECTIONS - Typically Roald Dahl in its darkly comic and surreal style. I read this with Jack a few months ago, just before he turned 8, and he loved it (he gives it, he says, 10/10). However, he found the beginning upsetting - the descriptions of James's aunts being unkind to James and how this makes James feel. In hindsight, he was probably a little too young and thoughtful for the sensitive introduction, but on the whole the story  suited him very well - massive magical fruit rolling away with a boy around his age inside, along with talking bug companions! 

I loved this story myself as a child and enjoyed it as an adult with my son. It has an Alice's Adventures in Wonderland tone throughout - lonely child protagonist on a strange, magical adventure with peculiar characters. If you and/or your child like Alice's Adventures in Wonderland then you/they probably will like this. With peach-

attacking sharks, lassoed seagulls and cloud men, song, dance and merriment on the way, topped off with Quentin Blake's quirky and entertaining illustrations, this story will be appreciated by readers who are fond of the unusual. Just be aware of the initial triggers.