Common Sense Media Review
By Barbara Schultz
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Lonely boy's magical adventure still satisfies.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 8+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Read
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 8 parent reviews
Based on 18 kid reviews
Kids say that while the book presents an engaging and imaginative story, it contains themes and language that may not be suitable for younger children. Many reviews highlight the balance of sadness and adventure, though several parents express concern over inappropriate language and dark elements, suggesting it is better suited for older kids, typically over 10.
- imaginative story
- language concerns
- sad elements
- older kids recommended
- engaging adventure
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
When young James Henry Trotter is orphaned, he must leave his pleasant home by the seaside and go to live with two cruel aunts, Sponge and Spiker, who treat him like a slave. One day, an old man appears, offering James a bag of crystals that he says will make marvelous things happen. The old man's magic causes a dead peach tree to grow a piece of fruit the size of a house, and that is the start of James' fantastic adventure.
Is It Any Good?
JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH is a delightful children's novel full of adventure and singular characters. As in many of the great Roald Dahl's works, the central character is a poor, deprived child, and seeing James Henry Trotter rise from his lowly state to become a leader with true friends is immensely satisfying. Dahl also weaves funny singsong poetry into his fantastical tale, which helps make the book wonderful to read aloud.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how at first the insects inside the peach frighten James, but he quickly learns to see past their unusual looks and makes friends. Also, each of the insects has a particular talent. What is special about each one? Which one is your favorite?
James' aunts are very cruel to him. Kids' books often have villains who are mean to the main character. Why do you think that is? What does it do to the story?
Book Details
- Author :
- Illustrator : Quentin Blake
- Genre : Fantasy
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic )
- Book type : Fiction
- Publisher : Puffin Books
- Publication date : January 1, 1961
- Publisher's recommended age(s) : 9 - 12
- Number of pages : 146
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate