A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow impossible though it seems they may still be alive.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children really took me by surprise. It wasn't what I was expecting AT ALL. I'd seen the film trailers, but not the actual film and picked this up on a whim from my local charity shop, thinking it would be a nice but spooky children's novel that might fill the void of "scary books" that my class are always clamouring for. How wrong I was.
First up, this is definitely a Young Adult novel, not your usual "middle grade" book. This is mainly down to the swear words used infrequently throughout though rather than the actual plot. Secondly, this is not the whimsical story I thought it would be - it's filled with action, terrifying creatures and time travel and it really does make an enthralling read.
The book revolves around the life of Jacob after the death of his Grandpa. Desperately searching for answers to Grandpa's last words he takes a life-changing trip to Wales in order to find the derelict home (of the title) where his Grandpa grew up. Once there he discovers the truth behind the stories Grandpa told him - about the monsters, the magical children and the "Bird".
Interspersed throughout the narrative are photographs which really help to bring the characters alive. It was interesting to read in the author's note at the end of the novel, that Riggs actually collected the photos first and then began to create the stories around them. They certainly add a spooky element to the whole plot and some were quite nightmarish!
The book combines magic, thriller, horror and adventure all neatly in one package and the action continues right to the very end, at which point I was very disappointed when I realised all the plot lines wouldn't be tied up and I'd have to buy the next one! I've not seen the film (although apparently it is a good adaption) but whether you have or not this is definitely a gripping piece of young adult literature quite worthy of all its awards. A great read for that awkward Year 7/8 age where they're growing out of their old favourites.
A gripping mystery filled with danger and magic brought to life with cleverly placed photographs.
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