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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs


Monochrome Read


Author : Ransom Riggs
Year : 2011
Language : English
Publisher : Quirk books
Genre : Horror, YA, Fantasy, History

****
A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of curious photographs.

A horrific family tragedy sets sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As Jacob explores its abandoned bedrooms and hallways, it becomes clear that the children were more than just peculiar. They may have been dangerous. They may have been quarantined on a deserted island for good reason. And somehow—impossible though it seems—they may still be alive.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography.

*****


At the first time when I saw this book in book shop, I knew sooner or later, it will be mine. I mean, who can deny the BW cover with photograph of a vintage girl levitating? Yep, I am that kinda cheap person who can impulsively buying book based on its cover! Because in my opinion, when someone carefully chose it's cover to represent book's content, that mean serious business inside!

Then, is it right call?

At first, let me tell you about what I write on the bold fonts above. Genre, it is mixed of Horror, Young adult and fantasy or to be precise, dark fantasy. When I read blurbs, I thought it will be a-fictional memoir about orphanage during World War II.

Then the journey is started with Jacob, at present time, 16 years old (spoiled) boy who adores his Grandfather very much. When he were just little boy, Jacob is being feed up with the story of orphanage where his grandfather lived during WWII. There were more than an usual orphanage, instead there live peculiar children and headmistress.

When his grandpop was died, Jacob is hurt and mourn deeply. Plus, He start to 'hallucinating'. His parents decide to bring him to psychiatrist to release his lost. Yet, he is not going better. Until when his parents decide to throw a party to celebrate Jacob Birthday, a gift is pay a visit to him, a letter wrote to his grandparents along with personal notes.

Jacob know that he should pursue his grandfather's past. Trailing the history, to let go his lost and an amend to the unclear imaginary of his brain. Approved by his psychiatrist, Jacob come to deserted island together with his low-motivation father.

In the island whereas bog and fog stood still, Jacob want to seek one thing, the truth about his grandfather's past.

Right there, when first I saw collections of photograph of peculiar children, I definitely sure it will be horror story! Then when Jacob start to open the ruins of the orphanage, the dark fantasy story begin.

Actually, I enjoying this book with only less than a week read. To be honest, first half of the book is moving too slowly. Here and there, Jacob try to make this book satyr and funny, it is at the right portion yet not too kicking Jacob character.

Jacob is rich kid whom only have one friend that he paid to be his friend. He is smart surely and have this kind dark humor-typical of American character. He is not a bravery person, and prefer to avoid a danger than challange it.

Then he came to the alternate world, found his peculiar friends, and in instant, he become someone whom brave, even face the danger right in front of him. I don't mind with the transition, he is the heroine actually (who likes a looser as heroine?Said no one), instead it is too drastically and I don't see the moment of change. I mean even Harry Potter is transform from being asshole (book 3-the prisoners of askaban) to a hero (and not really drastically).

Once more that made me wrinkle, the same cliche motives of the peculiar's enemies. Yet what can we ask from too many YA fantasy out there instead of the ambitions to prove the specific races, or domination to rule the world.

One thing for sure, when I read the book I can even imagine how it will be when Tim Burton's touch transform the book to a movie. It is definitely Tim Burton's kinda story, and for sure I can't wait to watch the movie.















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