Entertainment, Review

Review: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

0 238

By Dane Harrison

Described as a ‘Tim Burton-esque tale’ by CNN, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children had me hooked right away. It’s dark and strange tale is supported by a collection of odd and old photographs, collected by the author, which help make the tale  descriptive and entertaining.

The story follows the young Jacob Portman who is brought up to strange tales and peculiar photographs by his grandfather, Abe. But years later, he is left pondering his sanity after seeing a monster kill his grandfather and disappear, leaving him wondering if the stories his deceased grandfather told him were true.

Our protagonist then follows a trail of clues left by his grandfather that lead him to a small island off the coast of wales where he explores a derelict and seemingly abandoned orphanage. As he explores the decaying house he realises that the children were more than peculiar; they could be dangerous and very much still alive, as impossible as it seems.

From the moment I heard about this book, I knew I had to read it. Nothing excites me more than tales of strangeness and magic and Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children certainly did not disappoint. Despite it being a children’s book, I found it darker than expected. But nevertheless I enjoyed it immensely. The plot is full of twists and turns, and is littered with photographs collected by the author that make it more engaging to the reader. The characters, although a little cliché, are pleasurable to read about and I personally find Emma Bloom my favourite. She is a daring and fiery individual that seems to be ready for anything and loyal down to the bone.

So if you are in need of something new to read and have a taste for the peculiar, then look no further because this book with be perfect for you. The book is only the first in a trilogy, and is also being produced as a film to be released in early 2016 starring famous actors including Samuel L. Jackson, Eva Green and Judi Dench.

Dane is studying Multimedia Journalism and is often found reading or watching films. He aspires to be a film/book/TV critic. 

About the author / 

aAh!

aAh! Magazine is Manchester Metropolitan University's arts and culture magazine.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

More News Stories:

  • A Mural for Mani – Manchester music legend to be immortalised with mural in his hometown

    Following the passing of iconic Stone Roses and Primal Scream Bassist Gary ‘Mani’ Mountfield, there have been growing calls for him to be immortalised in a way that reflects both his cultural impact and the deep affection shared between the musician and his home city. GRIT Studios has answered the calls from fans, announcing plans…

  • London Fashion Week A/W 2026: The new designers shaping tomorrow

    Featured image: Evie Peattie  Often overshadowed in popular narratives by the heritage houses of Paris or Milan, London’s fashion ecosystem has long traded on creative freedom. As London Fashion Week prepares for its 42nd year, running from the 19 to 23 February, the British capital is poised to reaffirm its reputation not simply as a…

  • “It’s easy to lose yourself to this music”: Deptford Northern Soul club lead new wave of Northern Soul

    Featured image: Sebastian Garraway Beats vibrate through a polished floor. Bodies move with a swinging grace, surrendering to the rhythm without hesitation. An instinctual sliding jig sways wide-legged jeans cut just above the ankle. Sweat drips from sharp scissor-cut hairstyles onto porous Fred Perry polos. You’ve guessed it: Northern Soul. The late 1960s phenomenon is…

  • Harry is Home: From the BRITs to a Manchester one-night-only show – everything to know about Harry Styles’ return

    Featured image: Evangeline Causton  Local lad Harry Styles will take to the stage at Manchester’s Co-op Live for the city’s first-ever Brit Awards, before returning for his one-night-only show on March 6 to celebrate the arrival of his fourth album, Kiss All The Time. Disco, Occasionally. When cryptic billboards bearing the words “WE BELONG TOGETHER” appeared across Manchester city…