The Peculiar [Deckle Edge] [Hardcover]

Stefan Bachmann (Author)

Book Description

Release date: September 18, 2012 | Age Range: 9 and up

The international bestseller and debut novel by teenage author and classical musician Stefan Bachmann is part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part clockwork adventure. Best-selling author Rick Riordan said of The Peculiar, "Stefan Bachmann breathes fresh life into ancient magic."

Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged. In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew and his little sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are Peculiars, and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them. But when Peculiars start showing up in London murdered and covered with red tattoos, Bartholomew breaks all the rules and gets himself noticed. Full of magic, dazzling inventions, and intriguing characters such as Mr. Jelliby and Lord Lickerish, this story of friendship, bravery, and nonstop action adventure was hailed by best-selling author Christopher Paolini as "swift, strong, and entertaining. Highly recommended." The Peculiar ends with a spectacular cliff-hanger, and the story concludes in The Whatnot.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-This gripping debut novel opens with a prologue that describes how the fairies left their own land, came to England, fought a war with the humans, and lost, leading to a mechanical Age of Smoke where church bells, iron, and mechanics are used to prevent magic. In this alternative world, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister, Hettie, are changelings, also called Peculiars, children of a human mother and a faery father who has abandoned the family. They live in the faery slums of Bath and follow their mother's rule, "Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged." When Bartholomew watches a beautiful lady from his window, she notices him, and his adventures begin. The lady is involved in a plot whose victims are changeling children, and when Hettie is kidnapped, Bartholomew joins forces with Arthur Jelliby, a member of Parliament who is investigating the plot and sees the boy as a person, not just a Peculiar. Arthur and Bartholomew begin to understand the scale of the plan and the danger that faces all of England, and they travel across the country to gather clues and save Hettie. Bachmann began writing this novel when he was only 16, and he's still a teenager, making the atmospheric writing and tense plotting even more of an accomplishment. The Peculiar combines fantasy, mystery, and suspense with a wry humor and unusual characters to create an intriguing, thought-provoking whole that will leave readers looking forward to sequels. Fans of Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins, 2008) and young steampunk enthusiasts will find much here to enjoy.-Beth L. Meister, Milwaukee Jewish Day School, WIα(c) Copyright 2011. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

From Booklist

First-time novelist Bachmann crafts an elaborate alternate steampunk Britain, set after the Smiling War, when a door to the Old Country was opened and faeries of all types streamed into Bath. Bartholomew and his younger sister, Hettie, are changeling children, outcasts even amongst faeries. But someone is extremely interested in changelings, kidnapping and murdering nine of them in attempts to open a new door into the Old Country. When Hettie is taken, Bartholomew must try to save his sister from becoming the gateway that will destroy the world. Imaginative, highly descriptive writing includes faerie lore and mystery, thrilling adventure and friendship, and bursts of the fantastic and whimsical, all of which is tempered with a darkness that permeates the story. Alternating points of view from Bartholomew and Mr. Jelliby, a bumbling yet good-hearted member of the Privy Council who is helping him, keeps the story moving quickly, and the faerie Lord Lickerish is an appropriately creepy villain. Grades 4-7. --Charli Osborne

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Age Range: 9 and up
  
• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Greenwillow Books; First Edition edition (September 18, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0062195182
• ISBN-13: 978-0062195180
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 1.5 x 8.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (44 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #289,345 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Stefan Bachmann was born in Colorado, but only stayed there for about five minutes before his parents moved him to Switzerland, which is where he lives now in a hundred year old farmhouse next to a forest. He's a student of classical music at the Zürich Conservatory, and when he's not practicing instruments he likes watching movies and writing stories. THE PECULIAR, his first book, was published by Greenwillow/HarperCollins in 2012, when he was nineteen years old.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful surprise September 19, 2012

By Michael Muller

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

There are so many new fantasy books out in the market rehashing so many of the same themes.This one seems different to me .I was so so surprised on how much I enjoyed this book. I love to read children's literature and am drawn to Victorian settings. The Peculiar gives you lots of characters to root for. I love that there are twists and turns and that Characters start out one way and end up going in a different direction than you thought. As an adult I love the homage to Dickens and it has just the right blend of steam punk which does not distract from the story but enhances it. It is one of those great books where you feel you need to stop reading to do some other work and then you find you go back and pick it up to read just a bit more. I hope there is more to come from this author.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Just For Kids September 27, 2012

By A. Bergeron

Format:Hardcover

This is one of those books for "kids" that adults can enjoy every bit as much, if not more. Complex, engaging world, and amazing writing. I expect great things in the future from this author.

Oh, and my 14-year-old daughter also approves. She can't wait for the next book in the series. Neither can I.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable and unexpected November 9, 2012

By Alexa (Alexa Loves Books)

Format:Hardcover

I picked up The Peculiar when I saw that Rick Riordan and Christopher Paolini had written blurbs for it. Though I wouldn't pronounce it as one of my favorites, the story was enjoyable and unexpected.

I'm not one to read books about fae, but I really enjoyed this one! The fact that the fairies are portrayed as human-like is probably why it appealed to me. I'm curious to learn more about their world and the magic they possess though.

Though I didn't strongly connect with either of them, Bartholomew and Mr. Jelliby were both interesting characters. As they attempted to attain their goals, they experienced a shift in personality, which definitely interested me.

All in all, The Peculiar was an enjoyable, imaginative read geared towards a younger audience. It's a simple story, but it's satisfying. It's a quick, fun and well-crafted book - Stefan Bachmann definitely has a way with words.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I absolutely loved this book September 25, 2012

By Beatrice31

Format:Hardcover

The world in THE PECULIAR is truly unique and also extremely well-imagined. The characters are deep and interesting (I LOVED Mr. Jelliby as the reluctant hero). The story a wonderful combination of adventurous, scary, and sweet.

I'm looking forward to the sequel.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars A fun read October 21, 2012

By Concerned Reader

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

Steam punk Dickens meets Harry Potter. Very well crafted by the author, and an entertaining read. I look forward to seeing more from this young author.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars A murder mystery/alternate history/faery steampunk/brave brother/unwilling hero/utterly gripping story October 8, 2012

By Charlotte

Format:Hardcover

I like the cover of The Peculiar very much--it is a most intriguing clockwork bird, and the feathers add a nicely mysterious touch. What the cover does not convey is that this is a book about a 19th-century England in which the gates to the land of faery opened, and a vicious and bloody war resulted--the Smiling War, so called because of all the grinning skulls that covered the fields. But fairy magic proved to be no match for the British military, and with the gate now closed again, the faeries had no choice but to remain in the human world...constrained both by laws and by the inimical effects of iron and church bells.

Yet some humans and some faeries found each other not unobjectionable....and Changeling resulted--Peculiar children despised by both races. Bartholomew and his little sister, Hettie, are two such children, confined by their mother for their own protection to the inside of a rundown home in a marginal area of war-torn Bath, now a predominantly faery town. Bartholomew can pass as human, from a distance; Hettie, with branches growing from her head instead of hair, is much too Peculiar...

But danger finds the two of them, nonetheless. Nine changelings have been horribly murdered...and all unwillingly, and rather unwittingly, Arthur Jelliby, a gentleman of means and a junior member of Parliament, finds himself embroiled by conscience and coincidence in keeping the tenth changeling alive. And Barthlomew might be that child. Or perhaps Hettie...little branch-haired Hettie, with her raggedy handkerchief doll, who can never play with other children...

Oh gosh, how to describe this murder mystery/alternate history/faery steampunk/brave brother/unwilling hero/utterly gripping story?...

Perhaps it would give you some idea of the taste and texture of it if I said it reminded me at times of Terry Pratchett, Neil Gaiman, and Jonathan Stroud, with a generous dash of Diana Wynne Jones, but you have to add steampunk-ness.

I could tell you that Mr. Jelliby becomes lost in passageways that cannot exist, chases a mechanical bird across the streets of London, and is almost eaten by his furniture...and would much rather be sleeping late and drinking tasty drinks than actually doing anything forceful, but that makes him sound too absurd--he is a true hero. I could say that Bartholomew is a boy scarred by loneliness and poverty, whose one sure place in the world is at his sister's side--almost pitiable, but without self-pity. I cared, very much, for both these heroes...pitted against an enemy much more powerful, knowledgeable, and capable than either of them.

Because in this world where monsters and magic (beautiful and grotesque) and the steam stink of industry live side by side, there is a dangerous plot afoot that might bring about an even more destructive conflict between humans and faeries than the previous war. With Bartholomew and Mr. Jelliby the only ones trying to stop it.

Short answer: this was a truly excellent, gripping read that should utterly knock the socks of 11 to 13 year old readers Read more ›

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Not Quite for me. February 25, 2013

By jennifer

Format:Hardcover

I have been trying to open op to more middle school age books and this one looked interesting. I took the chance and grabbed the audio. I want to say that I think it's a good story but the book just wasn't for me. I liked the plot, the concept, and the characters, but for some reason it didn't work together well for me, the reason why, I love a great character driven story. This book had some great characters but was written more for the story than the characters, and though it was a very creative and unique story, it was just lacking for me.

The story is about two young Halflings, half human, half faery. They are called peculiars in this book and they don't belong anywhere. The faeries don't think they are good enough and the humans think they are trouble. Bartholomew and Hettie live with their mother hidden away in the house. Bartholomew looks human enough, but Hettie does not. Their mother loves them and wants to keep them safe. Therefore they are restricted to stay in the house out of view. Bartholomew dreams of leaving the house, making friends, and living a normal childhood. He sees interesting things and people outside his window and wants to escape into the real world. Looking out the window one day he sees a lady in a plum dress and sees her talking another Halfling away, he wants to be taken away, and in the process of looking he is noticed. This gets him and Hettie in a lot of trouble. In the meantime there are Peculiar children disappearing and then showing up dead. One man, Mr. Jelliby, decides to solve the mystery of the Peculiars abductions and deaths which leads to his world colliding with Bartholomew's world.

This was a very well written and creative story. It just didn't capture me.... The world building was amazing and it was very interesting but it was a little slow and at times I was lost because it dragged. I found myself spacing at times from the story and then catching up. I love creative worlds and well written stories, but I have a hard time when the descriptions overrun the characters and stories. That is what happened to me in this book. As wonderful as the world created was, it could have been shortened in detail and more time spent on the characters and story, which were also wonderful, just not there enough to keep me invested in the story.

The characters were a wonderful addition to the story and I feel that I wasn't given enough time to get to know them the way I would have liked. From what was there Mr. Jelliby was just a superb gentleman that had too much curiosity. I did enjoy his part in the story as an unusual hero. I also really liked Bartholomew and Hettie but feel like I only knew them by descriptions of their looks and a few amazing things they did throughout the story. Bartholomew is curious and kind to his sister. He tries to have good manners and behave for his mother but he can't help but get himself in trouble. Hettie is quiet and reserved. I really wish I was given the chance to fall in love with the characters, as they seem to be pretty awesome in the rare moments I spent with them.The pacing of the book is probably where I had the most trouble, the story dragged and I found myself having trouble staying grounded in the book. I often had thoughts of wishing the book would just hurry up and be over.

I really don't want to give a really bad impression of this book and this review was very hard for me to write. I think that this book is just right for many readers out there who love a book with fantastic world building and a story that takes its time to delve into everything in its surrounding. It just not for me.

I would recommend this book to ones who love a colorful story with lots of unique elements, but if you need a character driven, fast paced novel, it's not for you. I enjoyed it enough to finish it but I will not be continuing on with the series. Read more ›