Tuesday, January 26

Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs


Author: Ransom Riggs
Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Genre: YA, Paranormal, & Mystery
Pages: ebook
First Published: June 2011
Where I Got It: My shelf (Friend let me a borrow copy)

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.

Honestly, this is not a book I would have picked up for myself. One of my lovely co-book club members picked this for this month. At first I was meh about it, but once I started reading I was hooked! I finished this in three sittings (darn work and sleep getting in the way of me reading this). 

The pictures along with the text was awesome. It really added to the story and added a hint of creepy. Yes, some of those pictures were creepy. A couple were cute like the one with Abe and Emma; I really loved that one – I stared at it for 5 minutes even though I didn’t picture Emma that old. It felt like an adult picture book. Why are these not more of a thing? I feel like it would be big seller. 

Along with having a unique way of telling the story, the story itself was unique. Time loops, peculiar children, a creepy island, monsters, and a novel of growing up and finding oneself. It was honestly tragic in a way too. Poor kids. 

My only real issue with the book was the tempo and some of the horribly dry spots. I found myself skimming some of the parts that seemed to drag on and on. Also, the scene with Jacob and his dad near the end bugged me. It seemed too easy. I cannot say much more, but it bugged me a bit. 

Overall, though, I really did enjoy this story. It was vastly different then some of the other books I have read in the past. I’m not sure if I want to continue with the series…I think I need to let this sink in before I contemplate jumping into the next book of the series. I do recommend this to everyone. It was different, unique, and it is a photo book for adults in a sense. Out of five stars, I shall stamp this with 3 stars. 



4 comments:

Reece Darlene said...

I think you and I feel the same on this book (for once haha). However, I think the picture inspiring the text could have been done better. There were a lot of times where it got really campy just so they could introduce the next picture. "We were running away from danger when so and so just so happened to have this picture, looK!" and that took away from parts for me. I'm glad I read it, and I feel like it was a nice quick read even for us non-skimmers.

Blodeuedd said...

I will try it one day and see

Melliane said...

I think I'll see. I have this one but I haven't read it yet

Carole Rae said...

Reece, I have to agree.

B, curious to hear what you think the day you do.

Melliane, also curious to see what you have to say!