At first glance, the small girl on the cover of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children does not look particularly unusual. Then you notice that her feet are a few inches off the ground- yes, she appears to be levitating. These are the kind of strange, haunting, photos that complement the story of this book by Ransom Riggs.
The book’s protagonist is Jacob Portman, an average American teenager who grew up listening to his grandfather’s fantastic stories about his childhood on a magical island. When his grandfather unexpectedly dies and leaves Jacob a cryptic message, Jacob thinks that there may be some truth to the tall tales. So he journeys to the island of Cairnholm, Wales to discover secrets about his grandfather’s past.
The story is interesting, but I find myself most intrigued by the vintage , black and white photographs scattered throughout the book. The author finds explanations for a boy crawling with bees, twins dressed in bizarre white costumes, and a man sleeping with a shotgun clutched in his hand. My favorite picture shows a young girl dressed all in white standing alone by a lake. Her reflection in the water shows two girls. The picture embodies the eerie quality of the images.
“I never finished [the book] because I thought it was really creepy,” says freshman Ella Marian. If you prefer cheerful, upbeat tales, this book may not be for you, but it is by no means a horror story. I think the book could best be defined as a supernatural mystery.
However, it is hard to classify such a unique book. It seems like every time a teen book becomes super popular, such as the Twilight saga, a slew of copycat books are instantly published. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children may appeal to readers looking for a change of pace. It has action, romance, and unforgettable characters.
The book’s protagonist is Jacob Portman, an average American teenager who grew up listening to his grandfather’s fantastic stories about his childhood on a magical island. When his grandfather unexpectedly dies and leaves Jacob a cryptic message, Jacob thinks that there may be some truth to the tall tales. So he journeys to the island of Cairnholm, Wales to discover secrets about his grandfather’s past.
The story is interesting, but I find myself most intrigued by the vintage , black and white photographs scattered throughout the book. The author finds explanations for a boy crawling with bees, twins dressed in bizarre white costumes, and a man sleeping with a shotgun clutched in his hand. My favorite picture shows a young girl dressed all in white standing alone by a lake. Her reflection in the water shows two girls. The picture embodies the eerie quality of the images.
“I never finished [the book] because I thought it was really creepy,” says freshman Ella Marian. If you prefer cheerful, upbeat tales, this book may not be for you, but it is by no means a horror story. I think the book could best be defined as a supernatural mystery.
However, it is hard to classify such a unique book. It seems like every time a teen book becomes super popular, such as the Twilight saga, a slew of copycat books are instantly published. Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children may appeal to readers looking for a change of pace. It has action, romance, and unforgettable characters.
From my understanding of the conclusion, a sequel is planned. While I enjoyed this book, I am not one hundred percent sure I will read the next installment – I will just have to wait and see the picture on the front cover.
