James is an orphan, living with his two horrible aunts, Sponge and Spiker. A mysterious man gives James some magic crystals that will make marvelous things happen to him, but James accidentally drops them on the roots of an old peach tree that doesn't grow any peaches. But then, the magic works on the tree, and it grows a giant peach. Inside the peach, James finds several giant insects, and when the peach breaks off the tree, they go on an adventure.
Most importantly are the insect characters that inhabit the peach, all play their part in the journey and help educate the reader on natural history.From the glow worms light to the spiders web used for hammocks. The combination of Dahl's bizarre imagination and complete disregard for rules makes him the perfect author for distracted and imaginative people