Monday, March 5, 2012

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

Hello, all!
Sorry for the long absence - things have been busy busy busy!  We have reorganized the library by genre, redecorated (to update the look a bit), and I have been getting all of my extra-curricular school duties in working order (webpage, sports, yearbook photos, etc).
Today I want to let you know about a book I read that I absolutely LOVED.  Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one part mystery, one part horror, one part fantasy, one part romance, but all parts good!  The photos peppered throughout the book are great, and add a creepy vibe that I felt was pure awesomeness!  They helped to create a unique book that kept my interest the entire time!  In this book we follow Jacob, who's life is all planned for him.  He will go to college, inherit a chain of drug stores, and be happy forever.  Jacob, however, is not excited about this prospect.  Add to the mix his grandafter who has always been "peculiar".  He has crazy stories from his youth during World War II, and lately he has been convinced that the monsters are out to get him.  When Jacob discovers his grandfather murdered, he thinks his grandfather might not be so crazy after all - the problem is, everyone thinks Jacob has gone a little mad himself.  Jacob decides he would like to visit the orphanage where his grandfather grew up, and his shrink agrees that this would be good for him - it will let Jacob see that the monsters are not real.  When Jacob visits the remote island with the orphanage he begins to realize that things are not always what they seem.  He is thrust into a fantastical world of amazing children and must decide which path he will take.  Will he help Miss Peregrine in her hour of need, or will he return to his perfect life that has been planned out for him? 
Many of the reviews I have read did not like the fact that the "mystery" of the island orphanage was solved half way through the book.  I did not mind that so much because the story had layers. To make it only about one aspect would have made the book very bland to me.  I was waiting for an "aha!" moment, and, luckily, there were several throughout the novel. I hope that Riggs continues to develop his voice as an author, and creates a sequel to the story.  I would like to see both grow!