Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Do you know the story of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children? You might have seen the movie directed by Tim Burton. But it is not the same. The book is a thrilling reading experience that was a breath of fresh air when it was published.

An overview of Ransom Riggs’ novel – Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was published in 2011, and it was Ransom Riggs’ debut novel. The novel tells a story about Jacob Magellan Portman, who spent the majority of his childhood listening to his grandfather’s stories, and they were incredible. But as he grew older, he started to doubt these stories. The doubt continued to grow until his grandfather died.

At his death, Jacob’s grandfather, Abe Portman, was exhausted and covered in blood, and his last words were a riddle.

Jacob couldn’t just leave it at that. He had to understand the meaning behind his grandfather’s last words, and so his adventure starts. The thrilling story is something every thirteen-year-old will adore.

While the original version of the book was planned to be a picture book, Riggs’ editor convinced him to go for a mixture of narrative and photography. This is one of many things that make Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children stand out from the crowd.

It is the first book in the series, and there are eight entries in total. This fantasy book contains elements of science fiction, such as time loops and time travels, and it is perfect for anyone looking for something extraordinary.

Peculiar children in the story have superpowers, which is one of the reasons why so many people made a connection with the X-men comics and movies by 20th Century Fox. The children’s home is located on a fictional mysterious island off the coast of Wales.

Characters in the book are Jacob Portman, Emma Bloom, Miss Peregrine, Millard Nullings, Miss Avocet, Mr. Barron, Enoch O’Connor, Olive Abroholos Elephanta, Bronwyn Bruntley, and many others. Besides Miss Peregrine’s peculiar children, there are a few other grownups, but they are not the focus of the story.

Background context about the author – Ransom Riggs

Ransom Riggs was born in 1979, and he is an American writer. His first book Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, gained him popularity, and it was a great start to a book series.

Riggs studied literature and film, and he has a passion for photography. He also started making a collection of vernacular photography, and his plan was to use it in his book. After consulting the publisher, Riggs changed the approach and decided to release the book in a different way.

There are still numerous photographs that accompany the story and allow children to follow the plot with ease. Three years after Riggs’ debut New York Times best-seller, he published the second book in the Peculiar Children series called Hollow City in 2014.

Further sequels quickly followed with Library of Souls in 2015, Tales of the Peculiar in 2016, A Map of Days in 2018, The Conference of the Birds in 2020, The Desolations of Devil’s Acre in 2021, and Miss Peregrine’s Museum of Wonders: An Indispensable Guide to the Dangers and Delights of the Peculiar World for the Instruction of New Arrivals in 2022.

Riggs has also worked on other non-fiction stories and comic books, and he currently resides in California, where he and his wife had their first child in 2017.

What makes Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children stand out in the fantasy and young adult genre?

At first glance, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children follows universal motives. The protagonist of the story is trying to find a way to deal with grief, and the story can be quite educational.

But at the same time, the approach Riggs took when making the book is unlike anything else you can find. The combination of found and vernacular photography, as well as written parts, is a different approach to writing a book.

This way, children will get a picture book but also a lot of narratives they can explore. This also makes the book more suitable for children, pre-teens, and teenagers alike. Additionally, Riggs creates a beautiful gothic world that teens will fall in love with.

There is a certain sense of mystery hiding in every single page, and it is one of those books you won’t be able to put down. Experiencing magic, meeting Hollowgasts, and seeing children with special powers are just a few of the many reasons to love the story.

While some might see elements of Harry Potter and other fictional stories involving children, Riggs’ book is unique.

A closer look at Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children – the blockbuster hit

Needless to say, many people were introduced to this incredible world when the movie came out. The film adaptation of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children was directed by Tim Burton, with Eva Green in the role of Miss Alma LeFay Peregrine.

Seeing director Tim Burton on the poster usually means an instant hit. The movie perfectly fits Burton’s style, and it is worth checking out. Naturally, there are differences between the movie and the book, but it is something you’d have to expect anyway. It was filmed in Florida.

With such a unique book and style, it would be nearly impossible to create an adaptation that will capture the essence of what Riggs created. The film was also nominated for numerous awards, but no sequel has been announced.

While things might change in the future, it is not as likely that there will be additional movies following other books in the series. The movie earned nearly $300 million on a $110 million budget.

Listen to Ransom Rigg’s books on Speechify

Speechify Audiobooks is a leading audiobook service with more than 70,000 titles across all genres. The platform is simple to use, works on multiple devices and includes Hollow City, which continues the story of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

And once you’ve listened to that, you can explore many more fantasy, adventure, and dystopian children’s novels, such as all thirteen books from Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Plus, enjoy your first premium audiobook for free today when you sign up for Speechify Audiobooks.

FAQ

Is there a part 2 of Miss Peregrine’s Home?

Yes. The second book in the series is called Hollow City, and it continues the story from Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children. As for the movie, there is no sequel to director Burton’s movie since it failed to generate enough attention.

Is Johnny Depp in Miss Peregrine’s Home?

No. Even though Tim Burton directed the movie, Johnny Depp is not in it. It is the third movie in a row since Dark Shadows that Burton made without Depp.

The cast includes Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Chris O’Dowd, Allison Janney, Rupert Everett, Terence Stamp, Ella Purnell, Judi Dench, and Samuel L. Jackson, who plays the leader of Wights and Hollows.

What does the word “Peculiarity” mean?

If something is peculiar, it means that it is strange or unusual. Anything can be peculiar, including events, people, habits, and others. It also includes anything that is not considered a norm.