Pub. Date- 2011 Publisher- Quirk Pages- 352 Readership- Young Adult
Series- Miss Peregrine (Book 1) Genre- Fantasy Rating- 3 Stars
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.
When I read the synopsis of this story I was so excited it sounded creepy, slightly scary and like nothing I had ever read before. I was tricked, these faults may sound silly but I feel like the synopsis was to a different book. First off the mysterious island isn't very mysterious is in Wales. Yes it may be a little behind the times in many aspects but that makes it antiquated not mysterious. Next abandoned orphanage I can't fully explain my annoyance with this without giving spoilers but don't be expecting a lot or for it to be anything like the synopsis describes.
Ransom Riggs does write beautifully throughout the book, but it is sometimes very choppy and disconnected with the placing of some of the photos. In certain parts it felt to much as though story was written around the photos, rather then the photo fitting in and flowing nicely throughout it. The book starts out perfectly, creating a mysterious creepy feeling that soon gets killed by a whiny protagonist and a loss of momentum by over explanations of the photos.
The major redeeming factors were it's original idea's that were wonderful and unique, but not written to full potential. With a decent climax that ended to soon and to many undeveloped side characters I was left wanting. Now for my favourite part of the whole book how was amazingly beautiful the cover, dust jacket, title pages, and even the page numbers. Everything was lavish and just has a vintage feel to it.
With all this I could still get into the story so it wasn't a total loss and I'm not sorry I picked this up and will be buying the second book Hollow City just to see where everything goes.
The major redeeming factors were it's original idea's that were wonderful and unique, but not written to full potential. With a decent climax that ended to soon and to many undeveloped side characters I was left wanting. Now for my favourite part of the whole book how was amazingly beautiful the cover, dust jacket, title pages, and even the page numbers. Everything was lavish and just has a vintage feel to it.
With all this I could still get into the story so it wasn't a total loss and I'm not sorry I picked this up and will be buying the second book Hollow City just to see where everything goes.
Is this on your tbr? Have you already read it?
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