Hollow City (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #2)

Riggs, R. (2014). Hollow city. The second novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children. NY: Quirk Books.

YA Fantasy / Paranormal / Historical Fiction

I gave this book 4 out of 5 stars.

CHECK OUT THIS CREEPER TRAILER 
 (watch to the end)



THE ENDING! BAM! Game changer! The next book will be able to go an entirely different direction, and I love the possibility of where and how it will unfold.

Though this is definitely a middle book, again, I thought Riggs nailed it. How he wrote workable storylines to fit around vintage pictures was truly amazing. I loved reading along, coming to a description, and turning the page to see it. This just worked for me. It's an incredibly creative way to write.

There is a lot of action in this book, and the tale is somewhat more dark and grim than the prior book. There are lots of new characters introduced, and a few scenes that seemed unnecessary; however, I feel like they are going to come into play later. Without giving a spoiler, I will just say I loved the one word whispering hospital patient in London.

Some may be disappointed in the romance element that was building pretty strongly in the first book. I am not one of those people. There is enough going on that a realistic, sixteen-year-old boy's first love story would have been a distraction. It's good that Jacob's love interest is in her 80s. There is a little schnogging, but it's not the focus of the book. Sensitive readers, there is violence, and several pretty horrific scenes with pictures to help the imagination along. There is a bit of historical fiction woven into the story, which adds to the horror. 

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Riggs, Ransom. (2011). Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children.  Quirk Publishing.

Young Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal

I gave this book 4.5 out of 5 Stars.

Imaginative, fantastic, inventive! I really liked this book and pretty much read it straight through in one sitting. What seemed to be a turn-off for some(that the cover was creepy but the story wasn't quite creepy enough) was fine with me. The creepiness was not found in the peculiar children (though the child who can reanimate the dead is CREEPY) so much as in the creatures hunting the peculiar children -- but make no mistake, there was a creepy element. 

And as for the pictures: I loved them! They harkened back to carnival side shows of old and the fascination with the freakish, and in later years, of being drawn to something that had been defined as politically incorrect and inappropriate, but - like the proverbial train wreck - you can't stop looking. Whew!

I found myself quite impressed with how Riggs found these pictures and then incorporated them into the story. True, some pictures were simply mentions, but not one seemed like it didn't belong. He weaves a great story, with plenty of plot twists and turns, and richly described characters. Some of the characters seemed familiar (hello Charles Wallace from A WRINKLE IN TIME?), but overall, this book was unique and entertaining, and as soon as I finished it, I ordered the sequel.

The book is appropriate and entertaining for anyone over the age of twelve (adults included), I'd think, though younger readers may find the monsters and their attacks a little too intense.  There is some fairly bloody violence and disturbing situations, war, and death. Adults drink alcohol readily, and heavily. Also, there is reference to adultery, a budding romance and some kissing, but the language is clean.

Why not a 5? Can't go into that without revealing spoilers, but let's say that I found our main character's relationship with his parents and decisions and situations in relation to them a bit unrealistic.