Some Things Aren't So Peculiar at All

Emily Butler

Some Things Aren't So Peculiar at All

For years, movies based on books have been an absolute joy for avid book readers. We love to see the characters we've read about imagined on the big screen. However, when it comes to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, I watched the movie before I had even read the book. I thought the movie was great, but this isn't a movie review. So, I set out to discover if the renowned novel, by Ransom Riggs, is just as good as it's visual rendition. 

In Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, Jacob's grandfather tells quite the stories - stories of a strange orphanage full of children with impossible abilities, paired with photographs. As Jacob grows however, he deems his grandfather's stories fictitious and the pictures tampered with. One fateful night, our protagonist ends up finding his grandfather dead in the woods, and secrets return to the surface. Throughout the book, Jacob discovers that the impossible is much less impossible than he expected, and he finds himself in a whimsical battle of good against evil. As our protagonist is told, "there's a grand plan in motion, Jacob, and you'll be part of it" (195)

Let me be honest - it's quite hard to write a whimsical novel while still remaining sophisticated and targeted towards an audience above the age of 10. However, I find that Riggs manages to combine fantastical elements with a relatable and believable protagonist. Throughout the novel, Jacob continues to feel the same way many teens do about several aspects of life: work, friends, and family. This adds a sense of realism to the novel that lures in young adults looking for an adventure on the page. The imagery is absolutely magnificent and dark, while being complimented by a humorous and sarcastic edge to the diction. As the reader progresses, they will find themselves in a state of suspense and pure admiration for the well-written characters. Specifically, Jacob's grandfather provides a humor to the beginning of the story, being the stereotypical crazy grandpa. However, his death scene in the woods reveals a sinister side to his life that is pleasantly surprising, when he gives Jacob cryptic instructions as his last words: "Find the bird. In the loop. On the other side of the old man's grave. September third, 1940" (23). Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will continue to surprise you and change the way you think about what is possible in this world. 

There are so many strengths of this book that it is hard to find a downside to Riggs' work. Occasionally, I found myself tripping over sentences that seemed much too long for the style of the story, although they weren't grammatically incorrect. Other times, I found that some truths that were eventually revealed were no surprise to me - there is a drop of predictability among the twists and turns. The Jacob and Emma love story was inevitable - their relationship was full of the clichés you may find in young adult literature. These setbacks are easy to overlook, however, after acknowledging all the wonderful parts of the story. 

Random Riggs manages to bring out the child still hidden deep within a reader's mind. The storyline seems more plausible than some realistic fiction novels. For that, I give this book an A. Summer is approaching, and if you're looking for a book to read by the water, I recommend checking this one out!