Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

 Author:  Ransom Riggs

“I had just come to accept that my life would be ordinary when extraordinary things began to happen. The first of these came as a terrible shock and, like anything that changes you forever, split my life into halves: before and after.”

This is the opening lines of Ransom Riggs first novel about a young man named Jacob who grew up with stories his grandfather told him.  Stories about a mysterious home on an island; where he lived as a child with other children who have extraordinary gifts. A little girl who floats like a balloon, a strong brother and sister who can lift boulders like a feather. truth of the stories and the authenticity of the photographs thinking nothing more of them than fairy stories. As his grandfathers lay dying his last words to Jacob was to go to the island where he would be safe. Jacob promised he would go and after a letter written by one Miss. Peregrine, Jacob embarks on a journey he will never forget; a journey to find his grandfathers childhood home and to put his mind at rest about the stories. Were they of truth or merely lies? What Jacob finds will take you by surprise.

This book is masterfully told with written text that is beautifully blended with the old photographs of the peculiar children. It is by far one of the best books in the Young Adult genre out there today but will also appeal to the older audience as well. After reading this book I felt like Jacob did with the opening lines “like anything that changes you forever, split my life into halves: before and after”. For me it was before I read the book and after. I would not miss this treasure trove of a book that is sure to leave you on the edge of your seat begging for more.