ABOUT THE BOOK:
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.
A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.
LISTEN TO AN EXCERPT:
MY REVIEW:
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom RiggsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs is a 2013 Quirk Books publication.
I believe I have been rendered speechless.
‘Sleep is not, death is not;
Who seem to die live,
House you were born in,
Friends of your spring-time,
Old man and young maid,
Day's toil and it's guerdon,
They are all vanishing,
Fleeing to fables,
Cannot be moored.’
-Ralph Waldo Emerson
Jacob grew up listening to his grandfather’s fantastical stories, never fully believing them to be true, and eventually outgrowing them altogether, until his grandfather dies, and Jacob witnesses something that day he can’t fully explain, which causes his parents to seek professional help for him.
What Jacob sees on that day, prompts him to dig into his grandfather’s past, which is how he soon discovers ‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’, and realizes his grandfather’s stories were real after all.
From here the story hinges on the age old good vs evil theme with Jacob fighting off the supernatural ‘Wight’ who is out to find the ‘peculiars’. However, this is, in my opinion, simply the foundation upon which the most important theme is built upon.
Jacob’s ‘coming of age’ is a theme that hinges on the discovery of ‘who we are’ what we want to do or be, our dreams, or our calling, along with other large areas of importance, such as friendship, loyalty, and trust that are mingled in with the fantasy, supernatural, and adventure.
Of course, I would be remiss if I did not mention these incredible photographs and images included in the book. One reason it took me so long to read this book was because I spent so much time looking at the pictures, all of which are authentic. I was amazed by this collection, which greatly contributed to the artistic value of the story.
As most people know, young adult and ‘coming of age’ tales are not my favorite genres, for many reasons, but which books like this one, where the author’s imagination is mind boggling, the appeal is certainly universal.
The story does lag in some places, and the writing is somewhat jarring. It is well written, but it is a style I’m unaccustomed to, which made it slow going in some places. But, other than that, I was buckled in for the ride, and what a ride it was!
The story is dark and haunting, spectacularly creepy, but it's also extraordinary, touching, and entrancing.
This story is still swirling around in my head and will probably stay there for a while, as will those eerily effective photographs!
I’m hooked! I know the whole world has already read this series, but I waffled on it for a time, unsure if its content was for me or not. But, my husband, looking for something for my birthday back in 2016, picked this one up on a whim, probably because of that insane cover and figured it would challenge me, and so it did! It just took me a little time to warm up to the idea.
Hubby did good with this one!!
GET YOUR COPY HERE:
https://www.amazon.com/Miss-Peregrines-Home-Peculiar-Children-ebook/dp/B004FGMDOQ/
https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/miss-peregrines-home-for-peculiar-children-ransom-riggs/1100388567
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Ransom Riggs grew up in Florida but now makes his home in the land of peculiar children -- Los Angeles. He was raised on a steady diet of ghost stories and British comedy, which probably explains the novels he writes. There's a nonzero chance he's in your house right now, watching you from underneath the bed. (Go ahead and check. We'll wait.) If not, you can find him on Twitter @ransomriggs.
