While walking around Book Expo America this past May, one of the best book covers I caught a glimpse of (in big poster format no less) was the cover of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is a Young adult novel, a coming of age story about Jacob, a teenager living an oh-so-normal life with his parents in Florida. Jacob has a very close relationship with his grandfather Abe, even if Abe seems to be a bit on the eccentric side. When Jacob was little, Abe would tell him fantastic stories of a children’s home in Wales where he claimed to spend a good portion of his own childhood, being sent there when the Nazi’s invaded Poland. He showed Jacob a few photographs, all of children with strange, super-natural abilities. As Jacob grows older, he starts to doubt his grandfather’s tall tales and isn’t forced into thinking about them until, with his dying breath, Abe cryptically encourages Jacob to find The bird on the island where the supposed Children’s home stands. When Jacob and his father trek to the remote island, Jacob only finds the ruins of the home, left over from bombings during WWII. But with the finding of a chest full or strange photographs, what is real and fantasy blur and Jacob finds himself face to face with some very strange, very peculiar children.
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children is an fantastic gothic fantasy, made even better with hauntingly beautiful vintage photography collected by the author. Riggs masterfully weaves the photographs and story together, until you can hardly tell the difference between truth and fiction. I found myself drawn to Jacob’s character (and all the children in the book) and was really rooting for Jacob in his search for the truth.
I don’t remember caring so much about a young protagonist since I read 12 year old David’s story in John Connelly’s The Book of Lost Things (my review here) which was another beautifully written fantasy novel, with creepy undertones. I would also say that this book reminded me of a children’s book that I read a few years ago – The Mysterious Benedict Society by Trenton Lee Stewart (my review here). Even though Stewart’s book is far less sinister than Miss Peregrines (and targets a younger audience – my nine year old is currently reading it) I think that they are both extremely imaginative, whimsical stories that are fully realized.
Overall, I loved Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children and enjoyed spending time in the incredibly inventive world.
Great news for fans of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children! Quirk books just announced that there will be a sequel to the book (currently untitled) due out Spring 2013. Also, film rights have been sold to Twentieth Century Fox! Thanks again Quirk for sending me this wonderful book for review. I read this book for Carl’s RIP challenge.
This sounds like the perfect book for October!
Yes Kathy, if you like creepy reads around Halloween then I would highly suggest you read Miss Peregrines!
This was my first book for RIP and I really enjoyed it as well. Such a bummer we have to wait until 2013 for the sequel though. I’ll be curious to see what might come out a film for it.
Elizabeth – Miss Peregrine’s was the perfect book to start off RIP with! I’m glad to hear that you enjoyed it too!
I haven’t paid much attention to this book but reading your review it does sound really good. And I love feeling attached to the characters (I think of Oskar from EL & IC). I definitely need to read this before the sequel and the movie!
[...] Steel Droppings ; Capricious Reader ; Much madness is divinest sense ; Here there and everywhere ; Stephanie’s Written World This entry was posted in Books and tagged 9 Stars, atmospheric, coming of age, creepy, Miss [...]
This was great fun wasn’t it? And the photos were such a lovely touch.
I just finished this one, too, and like you, I loved it! It was a great kickoff to the R.I.P. Challenge.
I have had my eye on this book since it came out. I saw a few of the creepy pictures in EW, and I’d buy the book based on that alone! I had intended to get this on my shopping spree with Dawn and Marie yesterday but I couldn’t find it!!!! I’m going crazy, I have to have it.
Sandy – lucky you to hang out with the girls! I’ve met Dawn three times already and she is a doll! I do hope you get a copy of Miss Peregrine as it was a great read. Enjoy!
Yay! I knew you’d love it. It’s such a great book. I can’t wait to read the sequel or see the movie. If done right, the movie should be fantastic!
Heather 1 If the movie has the same feel as the excellent book trailer it would be good!!
Film rights, hmmm. I don’t know how I feel about that. I don’t think I could watch the movie because it would creep me out too much. It’s one thing to read (and enjoy!!) the creepy gothic fantasy, but I’m a wuss when it comes to seeing it live and in person!
(and THANK YOU again..
)
Cat – I’m TOTALLY the same way – I enjoy creepy, scary novels but cannot handle watching scary movies!
I am glad you enjoyed this! I would have loved to read it for the R.I.P. challenge, but since my library wound up buying me a copy I read it a bit earlier… I really enjoyed it, though, and loved the addition of the photos.
just finished this book myself and found it very enjoyable. I also loved that the book was made so well with the pictures and graphics and the whole quality of the book is excellent.
Deslily, yes, the hardcover book had a really good feel to it, like it was high quality. And the pictures totally creeped me out!
I’ve been contemplating checking this one out from the library for the past week or two. Looks like I should go ahead and put a hold on it as all I’ve read are good reviews. Sounds like my type of read!
I am pretty confident that this is one that is hard not to like. It is just so good. The pictures add so much to the creepy factor but also make the story feel much more plausible, despite its very unreal elements. Happy to hear that you enjoyed it so much.
I’m really hoping to get to this either by the end of September or before October is through for the R.I.P. Challenge. It looks really good and there’s only a small window in the year where I can actually handle creepy things.
I’m glad you liked this one! I did, too. It’s just so creepy and quirky and fun. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It sounds amazing! I can’t wait to read it.
~Sherry
Sherry Soule Official Website
Yes! I was thinking that this really reminded me of The Mysterious Benedict Society. Really enjoyed both books!