# James and the Giant Peach

**Author:** Roald Dahl
**Lexile:** 870L
**Grade range:** Grades 3–6
**Age range:** 8–12
**First published:** 1961
**Page count:** 146
**Genre:** Middle Grade Fiction
**ISBN-13:** `9780142410363`
**ISBN-10:** `0142410365`
**Canonical URL:** https://readinglist.school/book/james-and-the-giant-peach
**License:** [CC BY 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) — please credit ReadingList.school when citing.

## About this book

Orphaned James escapes his cruel aunts inside a giant peach that grows from a magic crystal, joined by a band of oversized insects as they roll across the Atlantic. Dahl's first children's novel is a staple of 3rd-5th grade read-alouds and independent reading.

## Themes

- escape
- friendship
- imagination
- overcoming cruelty

## Content notes

- abusive guardians
- cartoonish violence

Common Sense Media age recommendation: 8+

## Where this book is assigned

### Common Core State Standards (ELA)

- **recommended** · 4th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)
- **recommended** · 5th grade — [source: CCSS ELA Appendix B, grades 4-5 exemplar](https://achievethecore.org/page/2699)

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