Whatever you think about Roald Dahl, he was and excellent author, writing fantastic stories for young children, older children, teenagers and adults that captured the imagination and were pure dark, humorous escapism. Storytelling at its best. First published in 1961, James and the Giant Peach is a scrumptious story of a very sad and lonely boy, and, of course, a GIANT PEACH.
Roll up, roll up, ladies and gentlemen, and feast your eyes on the marvel that is James and the Giant Peach! This is not just any old fruit we’re talking about; it’s a first-class ticket to adventure, served with a side of laughter and a dollop of whimsy.
James is James Henry Trotter (no relation to Delboy as far as I know). When he was just four years old his parents were eaten by a rhino that had escaped from the zoo. Still grieving, he was shipped off to live with his horribly selfish, lazy and cruel aunts – Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. They aren’t the nicest of people and used James as a slave. James had gone from a loving happy household to one of cruelty and neglect, leaving him a very sad and extremely lonely boy with no one to play with and certainly no friends.
3 long years go by and things are about to change when a strange old man gives James a bag of magic. In his rush to get them home without his aunts seeing he accidentally spills then under an old peach tree that never bore any fruit. Just par for the course in James’ life.
But then the magic starts to happen and a single solitary peach starts to grow on the tree. And it doesn’t stop growing until it is as almost as big as a house. James is about to make some very remarkable friendships and go on a fabulous adventure that will leave the reader flabbergasted and change James’ gloomy life for the better.
Overall, James and the Giant Peach really is a giant of a children’s adventure story. Obviously it has one massive giant peach but it also features oversized garden insects that create a wonderful world for children age 9+ (and adults) to lose themselves in a marvellous tale.
With a giant peach (no, it’s not a new genetically modified fruit or the latest health craze) creating a gateway to a fantastical journey, 2 wicked and despicable aunts, Sponge and Spiker, providing the fairytale villains (they are the kind of aunts who would make the Wicked Witch of the West look like a candidate for Aunt of the Year) and a variety of kind and fun overgrown, chatty garden insects providing James with the friendships he has be yearning for, together they embark on a magical adventure.
Readers will love this tale of adventure with extra-large insects, each with their own quirks and sass, horrible aunties and sinister men that live in the clouds.
As for the plot, it’s tighter than Aunt Spikers long wet narrow lips. The story rolls from one thrilling escapade to another, much like the peach itself. The narrative is so engaging that you’ll find yourself rooting for a centipede and conversing with a worm long after you’ve turned the last page. And it makes you think twice about evicting the spider that has taken up residence in your bathroom.
James and the Giant Peach is just scrumdiddlyumptious, a rambunctious tale of loneliness, friendship and wonderous adventure that you can’t put down. Dahl’s unique storytelling is as rich and satisfying as a chocolate river, while dark and funny with a pinch of scary.
And we can’t forgot about the illustrations sprinkled through the chapters by Quentin Blake, which are as essential to the story as ketchup to fries. They bring the characters to life with a stroke of genius that captures the essence of Dahl’s imagination.
A fantasy adventure story with a zest of the bizarre. It’s a book that proves no matter how small you are, you can still have big adventures.
And remember, in the words of the great Roald Dahl himself, “those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” So, believe in the magic of giant fruits and talking insects, and who knows, maybe your next peach could be the start of an extraordinary journey. Bon voyage, arrivederci, auf wiedersehen, or as Mr Dahl might have said, ha det bra, or just simply goodbye for now and embark on this excellent whiz-banger of a story.
Rating: 5/5
RRP: £10.99 (Hardback) / £6.99 (Paperback) / £6.99 (Kindle)
For more information, visit www.roalddahl.com. Available to buy from Amazon here.
