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

Genre: Children's Fiction
Author: Ransom Riggs

(As of today, it is #3 on the New York Children's Chapter List)

Book 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.

Noe's Review: As I strolled down the endless array of novels within the many tunnels at Barnes & Noble, I passed by an almost iridescent glow coming from the New York Times Best Sellers shelf. Its cover drew me in like a mule to a carrot, a moth to a flame, a hipster to a coffee shop that "nobody knows about". I guess it was the creepy title or maybe even the morbid photos that made me desire this book... And so I forced asked my mother to purchase it for me.

Rule #1 about reading books: Never develop an expectation or you will always be disappointed, though typical me has to go and break every rule known to readers. What I had thought to be a spine-chilling ghost story had turned out to be a sci-fi adventure... not at all what I had expected, but good none the less.

Essentially, the book is about Jacob, a young boy looking for excitement. This leads him - us -  from one world to another as we discover kids with hidden talents and a universe were time ceases to exist. And that's all I can reveal!

The only problem I can find with the novel, is the story is not at all what I had wanted it to be. This I agree, is my fault, but regardless made me feel slighted somehow. I just saw so much potential with the cover, I couldn't help but create my own preconceived notion of how the story would unfold. However, the writing is still very good, great I might add! And the plot, after adjusting, was very well developed. Although I felt clueless at times, the characters were very likable and I had cultivated a strong bond between myself and the characters, to the point, I wanted to see them prevail.

In the end, I felt my time was well spent with a really good story and that's all that matters. I give this book four peculiar stars! - Noe