Book Review: Miss Peregrine's School for Peculiar Children

A book that was not at ALL what I thought it was, but EVEN better!

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Ransom Riggs

When Jacob's grandfather is found dead, and Jacob sees the creature that killed him, he begins to believe all those crazy stories his grandfather told him about "The Bird" and the peculiar children he lived with when he was young, during the war. 

Jacob convinces his dad to travel with him to Great Britain in order for Jacob to try and locate Miss Peregrine and her home on the mysterious island he's heard about for years.  When Jacob spots a mysterious girl, he follows her and is thrown out of time into a "loop" of the same day where he meets all the children from Miss Peregrine's home.  Together, Jacob, Miss Peregrine, and the children must work to stop the wights and ghosts that lurk on the island attempting to destroy the home, and everyone in it.

This IS a peculiar story, and not what I was expecting at all! I thought this book was about old carnival shows and the crazy stories of people with different abilities and physical deformities we hear about from the "olden days." It was a pleasant surprise when I picked this book up and realized it was a fantasy story that meshed two time periods into one incredible story!

Jacob is an investigator. He's curious, and he is sure his grandfather is telling him the truth.  He quickly forms bonds with all the children and Miss Peregrine, and while it takes Jacob quite a few chapters to get to Miss Peregrine, when he does, he sweeps the reader up in his whirlwind adventure and quest to save all of his new friends!

Riggs does an amazing job setting this story up. From the tales from the grandfather, to the perhaps mistaken culprit of Grandfather's death, to the time travel, the story is solid.  I'm excited that there is a second book out! I shall be reading that one too!

Book #2: Hollow City