Ransom Riggs' very first novel " Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children" appears to be aimed for young adult audience but manages to capture the interest of a wide range of people partly due to it's reference to WWII, and especially the treatment of Polish Jews. It also captures interest by use of eerie, unsettling photographs which look like they come right out of a freak show. The author managed to weave a plot around it, which later in the story becomes burdened with technical problems. Riggs has limited the vague explanations just barely enough to allow it to work logistically for the reader.
But in doing so, it immediately loses most of the mysteriously eerie beckoning which captured the reader's interest in the first place. It is replaced with fairly common themes being thrown at audiences today in just about every scif-fi movie of good versus evil, and those with special powers vs those without powers. However it is not necessarily clear on who is good/evil, and that manages to help keep the reader's interest.
In order to continue to keep the reader's interest in the upcoming books, he will need to tie together some of these glaring details. This will take some doing, as there seems no way to weave the eerie haunting appeal back into the story and hopefully the author has a workable plan.
What is impressive is the fact that Ransom Riggs also produced his own book trailer, and did a very excellent job at it. A quick web search using the Author's name you'll be sure to find his personal youtube site, where you can also see other videos he has made.
The making of the book trailer, (and the book) required significant time on the author's part from finding old photographs (apparently one of his hobbies) to traveling to Europe to get video footage of abandoned mansions. The acting in the trailer is quite adequate as well, and it manages to immediately make you want to buy the book.
Rigg's writing style is a big plus, although the 1st person narrations of the 16 yr old hero seem much more eloquently phrased than your average American teenager. Because the boy was raised in a post WWII Jewish family lends credence to this in spite of the odds that most American kids would not talk that way. The grandfather's use of the Jewish pronunciation of Jacob's name also lends credence and adds to the historical/cultural flavor. It's a nice twist, which tends to make the main character more believable (and likeable).
Rigg's vivid descriptions of physical/visual/taste/smell seemed to be just right, and the reader is not overly bogged down with meaningless detail. This tends to make the novel a very fast reader, one which is filled with believable well described action. However I couldn't help noticing that at the beginning of the book, I was savoring every detail, while towards the end I was doing more speed reading.
There are a few incidents of religious cursing, and some otherwise minor objectionable language (British Pub language). There is some violence, death, and creepy talking to the dead. There are no lewd sex scenes, but a relationship that very well may lead in that direction in upcoming books.
As some have already pointed out... the problem with reading on a Kindle is that much of the picture detail is lost...many with handwritten notes scribbled on them. It may be that those people do not know how to zoom in on a picture in a Kindle. While I own a Kindle, I'm not sure about the Kindle zoom function, as I read my copy of this novel on my laptop using Amazon's online Kindle Viewer. I used the internet web page zoom function. So this issue seems only a minor nuisance.
My gut feeling is the book should be rated a 3 for logistical problems, and the fact that the "haunting beckoning" aspect is lost 2/3 into the book, causing many readers to feel let down. But there is a chance the author can pull it off on the next book, and so I give it 4 stars.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Spoiler Warning - Read no further = Technical Detail Problems:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Here are just some of the issues I see that will need to be worked out:
1. Miss Peregrine seemed to have a sixth sense in that she knew that Jacob was on the island, and actually flew in his window, but didn't seem to know anything about how to avoid the wight when it came, in spite of being told it was on the island by Jacob, and especially at being so experienced in protecting the children for years. She even stated that she was concerned Jacob was followed, but fails to fully explain to Jacob how the monsters/wights work. She is either a very wise bird or a complete birdbrain. Which is is? The inconsistency needs explaining.
2. The operation of the birds and time loops seems to indicate that the bird ladies are also able to induce a "feel good" effect in the loops, keeping the "children" somewhat sedated & immature even though they are of great age, and are literally "bored to death". So much so that for years they go behind Peregrine's back and cause havoc with the townsfolk. Like 'Groundhog Day" gone sick. This power of the bird ladies goes well beyond manipulation of time and shapechanging. It is also manipulation of people's minds. So if the birdies are so powerful, how can a wight capture them unawares so easily? Just because they're using contacts? (BTW, having white eyes mean no pupils or irises - minor technical flub on author's part in only saying "no pupils" - I'm surprised the editors didn't catch it)
3. It's unexplained why Jacob's grandpa didn't spot the wight hanging around the house for years (gardener & neighbor) in spite of being experienced at dealing with them. It might be good to do a book focused mainly on grandpa and events around WWII to solve this. This might also revitalize the "haunting appealing" aspect which was lost in the latter half of 1st book. Cantankerous Polish grandpas help with that. Could flash back/forth in his life.
4. The way the time loops work seems inconsistent. If an apple (or a person) was taken from the loop, and rots in present day (in a few hours) as if the years of time were applied to it, but the opposite is not true, isn't that inconsistent? If Jacob enters the time loop in the past why isn't he reduced to a chromosome? Needs explaining.
5. The explanation was given that if the kids left the time loop into present day for more than a few hours, they would die. So how is it that the kids can go talk to Jacob's dad in the end of the book? This seems unexplainable especially considering the fact that the loop did not reset in 1940, how are they even able to get to present day? You no longer have a resetting loop, but you somehow still have a time tunnel between 1940 and present day? The author completely fails to explain this, and simply rushes the reader right through it. This will need to be explained (likely whenever Miss Peregrine comes to her senses).
6. With the explanation of item 3, should also come the explanation of how "loop traveling" works (mentioned at the end of the book, wights using it). Since the children have a map of the time loops, its only expected that they'll be doing some traveling of their own.
7. Hopefully it will be explained why they kept a body of a dead boy around and continued to awake him even though he would beg to be allowed to die? That is just a weird...cruel... scene which leaves you wondering, and has no explanation? Is Miss Peregrine some sort of pervert?
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Follow the Author
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
| Price | New from | Used from |
|
Audible Audiobook, Unabridged
"Please retry" |
$0.00
| Free with your Audible trial | |
|
Hardcover, Illustrated
"Please retry" | $3.80 | $1.58 |
|
Paperback, Large Print
"Please retry" | $12.99 | $3.33 |
|
Audio CD, Audiobook, CD, Unabridged
"Please retry" | — | $6.49 |
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Popular Highlights in this book
They were orphans of war, washed up on that little island in a tide of blood.Highlighted by 3,187 Kindle readers- He made a grab for me, but slow and drunk is no match for fast and scared shitless.Highlighted by 3,136 Kindle readers
- Males lack the seriousness of temperament required of persons with such grave responsibilities.Highlighted by 2,865 Kindle readers
From the Publisher
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children | Hollow City | Library of Souls | A Map of Days | The Conference of the Birds | The Desolations of Devil's Acre | |
| Book 1 of the Miss Peregrine series. A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. An unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. | Book 2 of the Miss Peregrine series. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them—but she’s trapped in the body of a bird. | Book 3 of the Miss Peregrine series. A boy with extraordinary powers. An army of deadly monsters. An epic battle for the future of peculiardom. | Book 4 of the Miss Peregrine series. New wonders, and dangers, await in this darkly brilliant next chapter for Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, illustrated with haunting vintage photographs- in full colour. | Book 5 of the Miss Peregrine series. With enemies behind him and the unknown ahead, Jacob Portman’s story continues as he takes a brave leap forward. | The fate of all peculiardom hangs in the balance as Jacob and his friends face deadly enemies and race through history's most dangerous loops in this epic conclusion to the #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. |
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Tales of the Peculiar | Miss Peregrine's Museum of Wonders | |
| A companion to the #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children series! | A deluxe companion guide to the #1 bestselling Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series. Everything you need to know about the peculiar world, written by Miss Peregrine herself. |
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
The story is amazing, definitely better Thabo the movie. But what really got me was this physical copy, the dust cover covers a gorgeous signature from Mrs. Peregrine herself.The story is pretty spot on to the movie but the changes are worth it. I advise watching the show first then definitely read it. I can't wait to read the second book. Also these are Young Adult fantasy books, each of the characters have more growth than the films obviously too.
Images in this review
Top reviews from other countries
Susan
Good description and lots of pictures / A brilliant book to read
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on November 23, 2017
Louise Rhodes
Miss Peregrines Home for Peculiar Children
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on October 13, 2016Neelam
Book Review
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 4, 2019
Neelam
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on May 4, 2019
This book was so unique and I was completely hooked once I started. I was up reading late into the night and I really loved the way the photos were incorporated into the story and the book. It was a unique experience to be able to see the characters and added a new dimension to the story. The photos really brought the story to life.
The story was the right amount of eerie and creepy especially as I am not really into these types of books usually.
All the characters were really interesting to read about and the children were especially interesting as they may have been children but they were also over 80 years old due to living in the time loop for so many years. So they were much wiser and mature than you would expect from a child or teenager. They all had distinct personalities and were all really interesting.
They all had really interesting abilities which made them peculiar. And I’m looking forward to seeing more of them and hopefully we will meet new peculiars too.
They also had a lovely family dynamic where they all love and care for each other which contrasted starkly with jacob’s family, who didn’t seem to understand each other even though they did care for each other in their own way.
I also really enjoyed the way time loops were incorporated into the story and it was an interesting way to see time travel as you can essentially go back in time when you enter a time loop.
I enjoyed how we got the backstory of the peculiars through Jacob trying to follow the clues left by his grandfather and having to piece everything together. And then by the end there was some plot twists which I did not see coming at all!
I think the only thing I’m unsure about is the romance between Emma and Jacob. Especially as Emma was romantically involved with Abe, who is Jacob’s grandfather. It felt a little weird to me.
Overall I really loved the story and it wasn’t what I expected it to be. I am really looking forward to continuing the books to see what the children will do next.
Images in this review
H
Not just for YA - fantastic to read as an adult
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on March 2, 2022
Kimberley
A brilliant story with some creepy pictures
Reviewed in the United Kingdom 🇬🇧 on August 12, 2017
