Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

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.

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When Jacob witnesses his grandfather’s death and a terrifying face at the scene of the crime, he starts to question the whimsical but perhaps authenticity behind his grandfather’s fantastical stories of his childhood home and the curious photographs of his fellow orphan refugees. Daring to find the truth, Jacob travels to a small island off the coast of Wales where he discovers a group of very peculiar children and a way of life he never would have imagined.

Although some of the points or concepts in the book may not be entirely “new”(the fantasy part of it), the best part about this book is the beautiful but haunting authentic photographs that go with the story–I love this idea and it will really set it apart from anything else. Normally I don’t read too many books with this sort of gothic-fantasy plot but I made an exception because of the writing and well, the photos. Riggs is a wonderful writer and is very keen on visual feel–could definitely see this as being a good screen write.

Part fantasy, part paranormal, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children that combines stunning illustrations and photographs to create a strangely enchanting novel that is utterly irresistible and eerily unforgettable.

Recommendation: Readers of paranormal fiction or fantasy and those who just want a new literary experience will enjoy this book. Highly recommend. Ages 12+

Content: Violent and graphic scary images (PG)

|Pages: 352|Release Date: June 2011|Publisher: Quirk Books|

|Genre: Fantasy, paranormal fiction, family|

|Content Rating: 4/5|Cover Rating: 5/5|Overall: 5/5|

This review is copyrighted by Books and Literature for Teens.

Special thanks to Quirk Books.