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Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, #1)

Ransom Riggs

Start date: January 1, 2012

Finish date: January 31, 2012

Discussion: Former Group Reads

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Former Group Reads

* Reckless by Amanda Quick (September 2013 Group Read)
By Rea , Ghost · 9 posts · 20 views

last updated Oct 26, 2013 12:24PM

* Beauty and the Bounty Hunter by Lori Austin (September 2013 Group Read)
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last updated Sep 01, 2013 07:24AM

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What Members Thought

Nov 27, 2012 iPetim rated it really liked it

I've read so many great reviews about this book and my expectations were fairly high. Fortunately, it did surprised me and it turned out to be a really good page-turner.

I have been dillydallying about buying and reading this series for years. I thought it was more of a horror story because of the cover and the creepy photographs inside.

Honestly after seeing the movie trailer, I begin to be curious. I read reviews and it finally had me convinced that it's not the horror I was expecting it to be. ...more

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Jun 09, 2011 Annie McElfresh rated it liked it

Full Review to Come

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Jul 29, 2011 Cate (The Professional Fangirl) rated it it was amazing

Shelves: own, 2011-reads, favorites

This is a Reading Good Books review.

For the past two weeks, I took a break from reading (and reviewing) and explored the beauty of San Francisco. Spending those weeks with my relatives that I haven’t seen in a long time was so much fun and a welcome break from everything. I started on some books I found on their shelves but I haven’t finished them. (I was more than halfway through Max Brooks’ The Zombie Survival Guide before I left.) On the road home, I fired up my B&N nook and started on th This is a Reading Good Books review.

For the past two weeks, I took a break from reading (and reviewing) and explored the beauty of San Francisco. Spending those weeks with my relatives that I haven’t seen in a long time was so much fun and a welcome break from everything. I started on some books I found on their shelves but I haven’t finished them. (I was more than halfway through Max Brooks’ The Zombie Survival Guide before I left.) On the road home, I fired up my B&N nook and started on this, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children.

The book is about sixteen-year-old Jacob Portman going on a journey to an island in Wales to find out what happened in his grandfather’s past. Growing up, Grampa Portman told Jacob stories about an invisible boy, a floating girl, and other strange children. Peculiar, as they called themselves. These stories were so unbelievable that Jacob – and his family – thought they were simply fairy tales. But as tragedy struck, Jacob began to think… what if these peculiar children are real?

I’ve heard a lot of buzz about this book and decided to give it a go. And as you know, a long bus/train ride is my favorite place to read. As I rolled into Los Angeles, I was midway through. The reviews that I’ve read are pretty much split in the middle. Some loved it and some thought it was not that good. I loved it. In fact, I’ve placed it in my “Favorites” pile. Sure, it wasn’t perfect but I thought it was a very, VERY good read.

My favorite part of the whole book were the illustrations. According to the author, they are real found snapshots and the story was written around it. I am totally in love with that idea. The pictures the author used were haunting and creepy, and it totally added to the sheer beauty of the piece. The story has random popular culture references, either directly or indirectly. Doctor Who, rap music, Groundhog Day, Lord of the Flies, Peter Pan, even Jeffrey Dahmer…

The book really sucks you in. It does get a little tedious towards the middle but it was a necessary evil, methinks. Even though the book has referenced some previous work, it was very original. I liked the mixing of fact and fiction to create a new world.

What I did not like so much, as with the majority of the YA books that I read, was the “teen romance” aspect. Frankly, I was a bit freaked out. I understand why it had to be there but gladly, there wasn’t much of it. Also, the characters were not well developed. I can tell what makes them peculiar but almost nothing on their personalities. Even the ages of the peculiar kids were not clearly stated so it was kind of difficult for me to picture some of the scenes. Was 16-year-old Jacob talking to a small child or someone who was in the same age bracket? However, I do hope the author works on character development if there will be a sequel. The author CANNOT leave it at that!

Here and there, I can see the effort of the author to make Jacob sound like your typical YA hero – being hormonal, indecisive, jaded. In some parts, he loses that teenage angst tone. I actually like that. I believe that Jacob being 16 is the only thing tying this book to the YA genre. It can easily be a children’s book (along the lines of Harry Potter) or a contemporary adult piece. Readers across all ages will surely enjoy this.

Rating: 5/5.

Recommendation: I want all of you to read it! Read it aloud to your children. This is definitely an adventure. ...more

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Sep 18, 2011 Jessica (BookRockGoddess) Bolton rated it liked it

Shelves: books-on-cd

I liked a lot of things about this book but not enough to stay on track. I liked the pictures in the book it added an elimante that you normal wouldn't have and that seemed to help the story move along. Overall the book was good but it didn't have that something extra that I need inorder to not loose focus.

It did in on what would seem to be the start of a series. If it does become a series I would pick up the next book. I am curious to see where this author will take this story. ...more

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Jun 11, 2011 Lindsay rated it really liked it

I really enjoyed this book. It was so different from anything else I have read.

This book is about an adolscent boy looking for the answers to his gransfathers death. He is determined to understand his grandfathers lasts words.

His journey leads him to a mystery island full of peculiar children.
The pictures really tie into the story.

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Aug 19, 2011 Kris-10 rated it really liked it

Shelves: books-i-own, signed, book-to-movie

It's currently 3:30 AM and I just finished!! I really enjoyed this book, the story was unique and the vintage photographs added a really cool element to the reading experience. I look forward to the sequel & seeing the upcoming film adaptation!

Actual Rating: 4.5/5 stars ...more

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