Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk Publishing
Published: June 7, 2011
Pages: 352
My Rating: 4.7/5
Misc.: --
First off, let me just say that the creepy vintage pictures throughout the book were amazing. I thought they really added to the story. When I bought the book, I was really excited for it and seriously considered only reading it when it was still light outside (I mean really. Just look at the cover. Creepy.). The book did live up to my expectations, and I'm happy to say only parts of it were creepy-ish.
So let's start with the characters. I liked the main character Jacob. He was down to earth, and generally a nice guy. But there wasn't really anything too special about him at first. He just seemed kinda uhh, plain. So it was nice to see his character develop into something more. And I also loved his relationship with his grandfather. I loved how his grandfather trusted him the most out of everyone in his family. His grandfather was definitely the most in-depth and mysterious character in the book. I was always waiting to learn about his past and what happened that lead to his present. And I loved his stories about the Peculiar Children.
That being said, the plot was also really well done. It starts off as a mystery with Jacob travelling to the island where his grandfather grew up to get more information about what had happened while he lived there. From there, it escalates to a much, much bigger adventure. I cant really say much without giving away the mystery, but it was very well planned out. The writing was very clear and funny, and Ransom Riggs did an amazing job tying in the pictures to the story. The book was pretty fast paced, with the exception of the beginning, which was kinda slow in my opinion. But overall, it flowed nicely.
The one thing that stopped me from giving the book a 5/5 rating was the ending. When I read it, I thought it was a standalone novel, but now I've heard rumors of a second book which I'm still not entirely certain about. Anyways, if there is a second book, the ending would make much more sense. It's not that it ends on a cliffhanger (it doesn't), it's just that as I was reading it, I felt like it just stopped in the middle of a chapter. There were a few loose ends, but other than that the ending just felt abrupt. I still think the book would've made a fine standalone, but the ending just left me a little bit confused.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and adventure. Or even anyone willing to try something new. This book isn't likely to be one I'll forget anytime soon. In fact, I may even re-read it when I get the chance. Overall, it was a great read.
A mysterious island.My Review:
An abandoned orphanage.
A strange collection of very curious photographs.
It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, 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.
Synopsis taken from goodreads.
First off, let me just say that the creepy vintage pictures throughout the book were amazing. I thought they really added to the story. When I bought the book, I was really excited for it and seriously considered only reading it when it was still light outside (I mean really. Just look at the cover. Creepy.). The book did live up to my expectations, and I'm happy to say only parts of it were creepy-ish.
So let's start with the characters. I liked the main character Jacob. He was down to earth, and generally a nice guy. But there wasn't really anything too special about him at first. He just seemed kinda uhh, plain. So it was nice to see his character develop into something more. And I also loved his relationship with his grandfather. I loved how his grandfather trusted him the most out of everyone in his family. His grandfather was definitely the most in-depth and mysterious character in the book. I was always waiting to learn about his past and what happened that lead to his present. And I loved his stories about the Peculiar Children.
That being said, the plot was also really well done. It starts off as a mystery with Jacob travelling to the island where his grandfather grew up to get more information about what had happened while he lived there. From there, it escalates to a much, much bigger adventure. I cant really say much without giving away the mystery, but it was very well planned out. The writing was very clear and funny, and Ransom Riggs did an amazing job tying in the pictures to the story. The book was pretty fast paced, with the exception of the beginning, which was kinda slow in my opinion. But overall, it flowed nicely.
The one thing that stopped me from giving the book a 5/5 rating was the ending. When I read it, I thought it was a standalone novel, but now I've heard rumors of a second book which I'm still not entirely certain about. Anyways, if there is a second book, the ending would make much more sense. It's not that it ends on a cliffhanger (it doesn't), it's just that as I was reading it, I felt like it just stopped in the middle of a chapter. There were a few loose ends, but other than that the ending just felt abrupt. I still think the book would've made a fine standalone, but the ending just left me a little bit confused.
I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes mystery and adventure. Or even anyone willing to try something new. This book isn't likely to be one I'll forget anytime soon. In fact, I may even re-read it when I get the chance. Overall, it was a great read.
