Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Title: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
Author: Ransom Riggs
Publisher: Quirk Publishing (June 7, 2011)
My Rating: ★★★★
Description:


A mysterious island.

An abandoned orphanage. 

A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, 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. 

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography,Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows.

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I was drawn to this book by the very mysterious cover. Did you notice that the girl wasn't touching the ground, but hovering? That is quite peculiar, indeed. The book is filled with other vintage photos that the author assures us are quite real (except for perhaps a few that have had minimal post processing work done). The pictures themselves are an integral part of the story, so I would dissuade anyone from listening to the audiobook for this reason.

I thoroughly enjoyed the protagonist of this book. Jacob felt like he was just an ordinary kid living an ordinary life. He hated his job, had no friends, and was full of that sixteen year old angst that most kids have at that age.  During the mysterious adventure that takes him halfway around the world, Jacob grows into the man that he wants to be. As cheesy as it may sound, he finds his destiny, but not in the future; in the past.

There are so many labels that one could put this book into, which shows how unique it is. It covers a wide range of genres and could interest many prospective readers. If you like, mystery, paranormal, historical, contemporary, a bit of fantasy then there is something in this book for you. The writing was top notch, not dumbed down like you sometimes see in other books marketed for teens.

I really only had one problem with this book. Another dastardly cliffhanger!! This book ends with a big slap in the face, leaving me wondering "Wha...wha..what? That's not fair!" I seriously wanted more. I am happy to know that there is a sequel in the works once the author finds more of his creepy photos. I seriously applaud Mr. Riggs for giving these old and sometimes abandoned photos a new life.

★★★★