Summary:
A mysterious island.
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.
Review: Good fairy tales take time to build. Good fairy tales are passed down generation to generation. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children builds a world, characters, plot and, best of all, provides pictures. This twisted Alice in Wonderland starts off with a murder. A peculiar murder that plays with the mind of our 16-year-old protagonist, Jacob Portman. Jacob witnesses the last bizarre moments of the life of his beloved grandfather, Abe Portman.
This
relationship coupled with the odd circumstances of his death serve as
the foundation for Jacob's quest for truth. Abe loved to tell stories of
a childhood that he spent with orphans with peculiar abilities. Abe's death haunts Jocab to the point of paranoia, leading him to the care of a psychiatrist who recommends Jacob face his grandfather's past as a method for coping with the loss.
Now
Jacob is forced to see how deep the rabbit hole goes, and
the opportunity for him to peel back the curtain on the
fantastical stories Abe would tell. Often books that play with this type
of wonder bring the "truth" of reality crashing down on
the protagonist. Instead of that this book accepts its peculiar nature
and uses it to showcase its characters as well as provide insight into
who Jacob really is.
The
book is peppered with fantastic pictures to aid the reader in
understanding the peculiar nature of the children Jacob is meeting. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children also creates a locale that is perfect for a boy dealing with self discovery: an island with limitless possibilities. The
story speeds along with great imagery both literary and photographic.
As Jacob faces his grandfather's past and begins to discover a new
purpose, he also builds the self confidence of a young hero. All along the way we are treated to the amazing abilities of the peculiar children.
The plot of this book starts off as a quest for the truth then transforms the plot into an action adventure. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
straddles that line very well. It does not ditch the mystery, it simply
chages its focus and adds an antagonist. The antagonist
My decision not
to spoil specifics in the book is really in the hopes that you will go
enjoy it all on your own. The book tackles the familiar literary tropes
of love, friendship, feeling like an outcast in adolescence and mixes in
the oddities of Miss Peregrine's peculiar children.
The biggest
complaint that we had in reading this book was the incomplete ending.
The book very clearly leaves the reader wanting to continue on
Jacob's journey. It however, closes on a mediocre half ending; many plot
points are closed and clearly addressed; however, a larger quest is
about to begin. I think that is a strength, it leaves the reader wanting
to join in on the new adventure, so be forewarned - it may leave you
wanting to read on past the last chapter.
