The Houseful Reads: Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children

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. – via GoodReads

So, I think that it goes without saying that I’m pretty much getting my reading swagger back. It definitely feels good, I’ll tell you that much. And I’m reading honest to goodness books – not so much stuff on my Kindle Fire which has been taken over by the ladybug anyway.

This week, I’ve downed two books – one of them being this gem of a book written by Ransom Riggs and recommended by Miss Hootie Hoo herself, and I’m glad that she did. After hearing that I read Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter, she figured that I would enjoy another book intertwined with old photos and a bit of history to boot.

We open up the story to Jacob being regaled with his grandfather’s stories of growing up on a magical island, hunting monsters. It’s awesome to see their dynamic as hero and grandson. This of course sets the stage to what happens throughout the rest of the novel.

For the most part, this read like a grown up novel about teenagers. There are LOTS of horrible reviews stating lack of character development and all of that hodgepodge, but I took the book for the way it was offered. If I were a thirteen or fourteen year old child, I would love it as I do now. It even has a bit of a love story thrown in for good measure, although once you figure out a key element, it gets a little bit uncomfortable.

While this book also has its fair share of swear words in it, I would encourage the cellist to read it as well. He already knows that it’s not the type of language that we use, but he’s not stupid. I’m sure that the children that he has been around for years don’t always have the best language – maybe he’s even indulged in it as well. I mean, he IS a kid. *shrug*

Anyway, I like how this is a bit of fantastical, photography,  mixed with historical – and some psychology thrown in for good measure.

If you do decide to read it, come back through and let me know how you’ve enjoyed it.