I have to admit that
I am a pretty picky reader when it comes to fiction. Mostly, I read realistic
fiction but when survival and remote locations are involved I can be coaxed
into giving a wider-range of stories a try.
So, when a friend’s
sixteen year-old daughter recommended Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs, I gave it try.
From the back cover:
A mysterious island. An abandoned
orphanage. And 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 who once lived
here—one of whom was his own grandfather—were more than just peculiar. They may
have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a desolate island for
good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.
In short, this book
really operates outside of the box, using authentic, vintage photographs that
the author has collected at flea markets to help drive and shape the story and
the characters.
I liked the book so
much that now I’m almost finished reading the sequel, Hollow City, and it is just as good as
the first book.
Please note that
these books are not classified as middle grade novels. Really, in my opinion,
they defy classification in a good way. The plot is twisty and page-turning, and
the photos included match the well-developed, unique characters the author has
created. In terms of choosing these books for a middle grade audience, I would
say upper middle grade would be as young as I would go, and then it would
depend on how individual readers react to potentially scary stories. I’m
curious what others think who have read one or both of these books in terms of
recommending them for specific age groups, something I’m not an expert at. If
you have thoughts, please leave them below.
I totally recommend
these books both for a great read and for a fresh look at story-telling technique.
To top it off, the
movie of the first book is due out in 2015.
Thanks for stopping
by.
