JAMES AND THE 

GIANT PEACH

JAMES AND THE GIANT PEACH

by Roald Dahl

James and the Giant Peach is the story of a young boy who escapes an abusive home in a magical peach .Along the way, he makes new friends, and discovers the joys of freedom and friendship, which had previously been alien ideas to him.

James is living with his two terrible aunts after an accident at the zoo claimed the lives of both his parents. Upon moving in with his aunts, James' life of abuse begins immediately. His aunts treat him terribly, forcing him to work all day long, denying him any friends or schooling, and calling him names.

One day a man gives James a bag of magic beans and warns him to be very careful with them as they are extremely powerful.He becomes really happy.

While he is running back to his house, James  spills the beans in his Aunts' garden. The beans immediately produce a massive peach at the top of the peach tree. When no one is around, James sneaks up to the peach and finds a magical tunnel there. He climbs inside and is greeted by a host of giant insects, including a Grasshopper, a Ladybug, a Spider, and a Centipede. These insects become James' closest friends.

The next day Centipede cuts the stem of the peach, causing it to roll away. James's two aunts unwittingly find themselves in the way of the peach, and it rolls over them, crushing them to death. Eventually, it reaches the sea and floats away. James and the others are astounded that they managed to travel out to sea so fast. The pessismistic Earthworm fears they'll either drown or starve, but the peach is floating nicely and there's more than enough of it for them to eat for weeks.

Finally, the peach is lifted off the water. High above the clouds, the crew celebrates their escape, but it's short-lived, as the Centipede while singing falls off. James is able to use the Silkworm's silk to rescue him.

After their encounter with the Cloud Men, the travelers safely reach New York City where they land and are welcomed with a massive parade. Upon arriving in New York City, each of the travelers leads a life of wealth and success.

But perhaps James has the brightest future of all: he moves into Central Park, having converted the giant peach pit into a makeshift home, and spent the rest of his days telling stories about his adventures to all the hundreds of visitors who flocked to his door each day. The boy who once had no friends at all now has all the friends and playmates in the world.