Review: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children

Book: Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Pages: 352
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Available Formats: Hardcover / Ebook
Publication Date: June 7th, 2011
How Did I Get This Book:  From Publisher, For Review
Description: A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. And 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 who once lived here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate 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.

Miss Peregrine's Home For Peculiar Children is a  captivating and intriguing story that is absolutely filled to the brim with wit and charm. Riggs does an amazing job crafting a story that somehow seems to defy genre standards. Honestly, I’ve never experienced a  book like this before. And that’s exactly what it is – a complete experience.  It’s quirky, witty, charming, creepy, mysterious and beyond entertaining.  It almost reminded me of a Tim Burton story, with a little bit of Coraline mixed in.  In any case, Miss Peregrine’s is sure to appeal to a broad range of readers.

The storyline was incredible. Everything was well-planned out and flowed together beautifully. The vintage photography added a quirky touch to things and played along perfectly with Riggs’ writing. Speaking of, let’s have a little chat about this amazing writing. Riggs creates such a fantastic atmosphere and tone with this book, it’s a little off-kilter and incredibly dynamic. Everything about Miss Peregrine’s is well executed - this is one of those books that you get lost in. all of the sudden, you will come back to reality and realize that you’ve been reading for hours. 

The characters are yet, another highpoint. In a word, these peculiar children are unforgettable. Each one is unique and delightful in their own way. They are all known as peculiars – children with special, shall we say talents.They range from the gift of flight to invisibility; there is a little girl with a green thumb and a boy who can bring things to life.  They are certainly captivating and undeniably easy to love.

The main protagonist, Jacob is just as much fun as the rest of the gang. He goes on this incredible journey (literally and emotionally) in which he investigates his grandfathers fantastic childhood stories. It is a joy to follow him as he begins to grow up and sort of come into himself. He starts off as almost a shadow, he’s just sort of going through the motions of life. When he comes to his grandfathers childhood home, he truly lights up and begins to live. Plus, his internal dialogue is incredibly hilarious. Honestly, I had a smile plastered on my face every time I picked this book up. 

Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children is sure to dazzle readers of all ages, no matter their favorite genres. It is one of those rare books that possesses so much pizzazz. It’s simultaneously fanciful, eccentric and creepy in a quirky sort of way. I mean, this book absolutely sparkles. There is something here for everyone – time travel, monsters, curious characters and beautiful writing! Miss Peregrine’s is sure to delight readers everywhere!

Favorite Quotes

"I loved hearing Welsh people talk, even if half of what they said is incomprehensible to me."

"When my eyes had adjusted, I realized that hole was a pretty accurate description of the place: tiny leaded windows admitted just enough light to find the beer tap without tripping over tables and chairs on the way."

"Kev was out running an errand, and because asking one of his drunken regulars to chaperone me seemed like a bad idea, I went into the nearest shop to ask someone who was at least gainfully employed."

"And that is how someone who is unusually susceptible to nightmares, night terror, the Creeps, the Willies, and Seeing Things That Don't Aren't Really There talks himself into making one last trip to the abandoned, almost-certainly-haunted house where a dozen or more children met their untimely end."

"I went back to the staircase, knowing this time I would have to climb it. The only question was, up or down? One strike against going upstairs was its limited options for quick escape (from squatters or ghouls or whatever else my anxious mind could invent) other than hurling myself from the upper-story window. Downstairs had the same problem, and with the added detractor of being dark, and me without a flashlight. So upstairs it was."

"I'm no expert on girls, but when one tries to pinch you four times, I'm pretty sure that's flirting."

"She took my hands and looked at me, and I looked back. It was almost more intense than kissing, the just looking."

"At times, young man, you tread a precariously thin line between being charmingly headstrong and insufferably pigheaded."

"Brief prayers were muttered for Martin's soul, and then people began trading theories. Within minutes the place was a smoke-filled den of tipsy Sherlock Holmeses."

"Before we worry about that, we'd better find my psychiatrist and take away his gun."

"Will you quit shouting and let me bleed in peace!"

"If you must fail," he said grandly, "fail spectacularly!"

"Sometimes it's better not to look back."