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A review by abby_ace_of_books
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Movie Tie-In Edition) by Ransom Riggs
3.75
I've committed a book crime...I've watched the movie so many times I kept thinking to myself as I was reading, "This didn't happen in the movie."
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one of those books that relies a lot on vibes. I've lost count of how many books I've read that feature "peculiar" children who are all abandoned in some way but now live together, and it's even better when some gothic or horror element is involved as well. It's a formula I've come to love, and this was the book that introduced me to it nearly ten years ago, so it comes with a level of nostalgia that probably makes me remember this as better than it actually is.
After the traumatic death of his grandfather, Jake is left with only the memories of the stories he heard growing up...stories featuring a house full of "peculiar" children. The story itself is relatively predictable, especially if you've read other similar books. Honestly, I don't find the plot nearly as enticing as the vibes of a whole. I remembered the book to be more eventful than it actually is (which is probably the fault of the movie), and the images featured throughout the book feel very forced. It works well as a set-up for a series, but on its own, I can see why many people find it disappointing.
I also agree that there isn't much character development throughout the story. Jake is kind of whiny as a narrator, and I almost wonder if the book would have been improved if it had been told in the third person. Without his personality, he has an intriguing character, but he's a bit self-centered. Emma also comes across as a bit creepy due to the nature of her relationship with Jake and his grandfather. Most of the other characters are even more flat; the children can be labeled by their "powers" alone. I feel like I remember the other books being more exciting, so I'm hoping that's the case.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a YA fantasy/horror novel with a claim to fame from the vintage photos incorporated in the story, but if you're interested in the same vibes (but better), I'd highly recommend J.M. Miro's Ordinary Monsters.
3.75/5
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is one of those books that relies a lot on vibes. I've lost count of how many books I've read that feature "peculiar" children who are all abandoned in some way but now live together, and it's even better when some gothic or horror element is involved as well. It's a formula I've come to love, and this was the book that introduced me to it nearly ten years ago, so it comes with a level of nostalgia that probably makes me remember this as better than it actually is.
After the traumatic death of his grandfather, Jake is left with only the memories of the stories he heard growing up...stories featuring a house full of "peculiar" children. The story itself is relatively predictable, especially if you've read other similar books. Honestly, I don't find the plot nearly as enticing as the vibes of a whole. I remembered the book to be more eventful than it actually is (which is probably the fault of the movie), and the images featured throughout the book feel very forced. It works well as a set-up for a series, but on its own, I can see why many people find it disappointing.
I also agree that there isn't much character development throughout the story. Jake is kind of whiny as a narrator, and I almost wonder if the book would have been improved if it had been told in the third person. Without his personality, he has an intriguing character, but he's a bit self-centered. Emma also comes across as a bit creepy due to the nature of her relationship with Jake and his grandfather. Most of the other characters are even more flat; the children can be labeled by their "powers" alone. I feel like I remember the other books being more exciting, so I'm hoping that's the case.
Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a YA fantasy/horror novel with a claim to fame from the vintage photos incorporated in the story, but if you're interested in the same vibes (but better), I'd highly recommend J.M. Miro's Ordinary Monsters.
3.75/5