Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children - Ramsom Riggs

 "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."

This book had a lot of potential but unfortunately did not live up to it. First of all, if you're thinking of reading this as a creepy book for Halloween, don't. It is not scary at all. The narrative never delivers an atmosphere deserving of the photography. It's all a bit bland and never becomes anything more than a standard paranormal tale about teens/children with special powers.

It all probably looks very intriguing and unlike any young adult book you’ve read before. But it isn’t. It’s sluggish, the mystery doesn’t last for long, the romance is cringe-worthy and there is absolutely no defined plot.

Additionally, the narrator, Jacob, is simply not a character I like to read about. I dislike it when rich, privileged narrators constantly wallow in their own self-pity for no good reason. He also complains about having no friends when he is downright nasty to his former best friend. I just couldn't relate to him at all for some reason.

There is a severe lack of character development. The children within the book are presented to us in a way one would display circus freaks. They are defined by their eccentricities, and they are without much personality. Little empathy is aroused for these characters, they are side-lined. Also I was expecting them to act like 80 year old in children's bodies, which they technically are, but they don't. They act like normal children which seems unrealistic.

I was hoping for something atmospheric and moody with moors, creepy attics, ratty hair, general spooks and so forth. However it provided none of that. The poor execution of a really good idea is just so upsetting to me. I think the biggest feeling I got from this book was disappointment and the loss of a great opportunity.

Age rating 12+. the "Hollows" are gross, 2 people die and hearts are transplanted, not described very vividly though.