Invercargill City Libraries

Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children

Posted by Donald on 23 December 2011 | 0 Comments

Tags: Pursue 100, your reviews, fantasy, book trailers, top reviews

By Ransom Riggs

To understand how I am going to review this book, you may need to know a little bit about my brother. He is not a reader. I can easily list all the fiction books he has read willingly. He has read all in the Harry Potter series but not the Deathly Hallows (odd, I know). In addition to these six he has also read the Scott Pilgrim manga but that is about it. Both of these series required movies to be made to encourage him to read them. Therefore, it is a huge recommendation to say he has actually read a book that does not have a movie and enjoyed it immensely.

 

The book in question is Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs. I actually received it as a present from my brother for my birthday. This in itself is even a bigger recommendation for a book as it was the first fiction book he bought and first ever book he has bought for someone else. Admittedly I was shocked and hesitant about a book my brother bought for me but that soon changed when I read it.

 

The book begins in modern day with 16 year-old Jacob retelling the stories his Grandfather had told him. These stories were about a Welsh orphanage of incredible children who were all fleeing from something evil. However, cynical Jacob believes these are myths and just his Grandfather’s way of explaining his escape as a Jew from Nazi Germany. Even the strange photos showing children doing impossible things he denies and puts down to ‘archaic’ photo doctoring skills. Yet after a strange attack, a heartbreaking death and weeks of psychiatric help he finally sets out in search for the truth.

 

The majority of the action is set in Wales with the backdrop of a small fishing village, the sight of an Orphanage bombing in World War II. The tale begins to unreal as he discovers a hidden world, strange talents and peculiar children. Riggs creates a wonderful fantasy world within our own filled with lurking evil and adventure.

 

The story is amazing by itself, but what really adds to it is the photographs throughout. Riggs has used real vintage photographs from actual collections to tell his story. The very photos Jacob sees are real so we are able to see them too. This adds even more depth and reality to the story as they actual exist and not just for the book. Being able to see the photographs of a girl in a bottle and a child levitating that are part of the story add a level of reality to the fantasy which makes it even more enthralling.

 

This book is an amazing read. Riggs keeps you guessing (I couldn’t see where it was going and was pleasantly surprised where it went) and weaves a flawless story of intrigue and love as the credible Jacob pursues his sanity and truth. If this is not enough to convince you to read it, remember my brother. He doesn’t read books, barely even Harry Potter, and he enjoyed this to the point of buying his sister a copy. This is a milestone in his life that really stands for the quality of the writing and additional photographs. However, be prepared to be left hanging. The story has an opened ending inviting a sequel that I long to read.

 

(Reviewed by Morgan)

At the moment the library only owns a digital copy of Miss Peregrines home for peculiar Children (I have ordered a hard copy. It's just not here yet). You can get the digital copy through our ebook site the South Island Downloadable Zone. In the meantime here's the book trailer Ransom Riggs created for his book.