A review by ed_moore
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

adventurous dark mysterious fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.5

“And that is how someone who is unusually susceptible to nightmares, night terrors, the creeps, the willys and things that aren’t really there talks himself into making one last trip to the abandoned, almost certainly haunted house where a dozen or so children met their untimely end” 

‘Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children’ is the story of Jacob’s discovery, prompted by his grandfather’s dying wishes, of the group of orphans living in a 1940 time loop, each hiding due to their peculiar powers. Riggs’ story is absolutely YA in its written style which I never love but I can’t hold a criticism for reasons of genre, especially as it was a fast and fun spooky read, fitting well for the time of year. 

The standout of the book was the eclectic group of characters and the layers of personality that I am sure will only be developed (that being said the most disturbing of the children, the twins, hardly get a mention). Millard was really quirky and iconic and I am headcanoning Emma as autistic. I will however say the British accents in the audiobook were so jarring they were awful. 

It’s not often I have seen films before I have read the book but this is one of the rare incidents of it so will bring it to attention. The film mostly does the book justice, the endings were completely different however and I do think I preferred the book one, although it does lean a lot on cliffhanger and the ending is completely reliant on the sequel for there to be any form of closure.