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.
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