This is a spoiler free review!
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Written by Ransom Riggs
Genre: Young Adult/Paranormal/Mystery
Publisher: Quirk
Release Date: June 7, 2011
Pages: 352
Source: Library
Places to Get this Book: Amazon Barnes and Noble Book Depository
Recommended Age: 13 and up!
Summary:
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 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.
Review:
This book surprised me a lot. I originally expected it to be a type of horror YA book because when you see a black and white cover with a little girl, that's what you originally assume. But it turned out to be a lot different than what I expected.
This book surprised me a lot. I originally expected it to be a type of horror YA book because when you see a black and white cover with a little girl, that's what you originally assume. But it turned out to be a lot different than what I expected.
COVER
The cover actually really creeps me out. I mean, a little girl who is levitating? Please tell me that I'm not the only one who is mega creeped out by this.
The cover actually really creeps me out. I mean, a little girl who is levitating? Please tell me that I'm not the only one who is mega creeped out by this.
WORLD-BUILDING
The world building was a tad bit confusing but it became a little easier to understand after awhile. There is a lot of information for the reader to understand within the book and it comes spaced out.
The world building was a tad bit confusing but it became a little easier to understand after awhile. There is a lot of information for the reader to understand within the book and it comes spaced out.
Then there are the characters.
JACOB
"I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was."
Jacob was kind of a different character. I have been reading a lot about female protaganists lately but Jacob was still different within the male protaganist section. Jacob doesn't believe in anything mystical or fantastical at first. He does want to escape his 'ordinary' life but he doesn't realize how different his life is. Jacob was one of the characters that I liked the most, more than most of the other characters if I'm being honest.
EMMA
I feel like Emma wasn't in this book nearly as much as she should be. Emma seems to be a pretty strong character. She stood up for her own and didn't let anyone else control her. I really enjoyed Emma as a female character.
"I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was."
Jacob was kind of a different character. I have been reading a lot about female protaganists lately but Jacob was still different within the male protaganist section. Jacob doesn't believe in anything mystical or fantastical at first. He does want to escape his 'ordinary' life but he doesn't realize how different his life is. Jacob was one of the characters that I liked the most, more than most of the other characters if I'm being honest.
I feel like Emma wasn't in this book nearly as much as she should be. Emma seems to be a pretty strong character. She stood up for her own and didn't let anyone else control her. I really enjoyed Emma as a female character.
PLOT
I thought the plot was wonderfully done. There were twists and turns that I could have never seen coming. I admit the first part of the book was rather slow which annoyed me a tad bit. But overall it was just what I needed.
I thought the plot was wonderfully done. There were twists and turns that I could have never seen coming. I admit the first part of the book was rather slow which annoyed me a tad bit. But overall it was just what I needed.
ROMANCE
Emma and Jacob were cute but their relationship moved a little fast for my taste. I expect their relationship will progress in the next few books though.
WRITING
The writing wasn't to perfection but I still really enjoyed reading it.
The writing wasn't to perfection but I still really enjoyed reading it.
Final Thoughts:
I highly recommend this book. It isn't nearly as creepy as it looks and it has good characters and an interesting plot line. I can't wait to read the next one.
I highly recommend this book. It isn't nearly as creepy as it looks and it has good characters and an interesting plot line. I can't wait to read the next one.
Quotes from the Book:
“When someone won't let you in, eventually you stop knocking.”
“We cling to our fairy tales until the price for believing in them becomes too high.”
“When someone won't let you in, eventually you stop knocking.”
“We cling to our fairy tales until the price for believing in them becomes too high.”
My Rating: 5 out of 5 Crowns
