Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children Was Picture Perfect

Now, you may or may not have noticed from the type of books I review on here, I don’t really go for graphic novels or books centred around pictures all too often- but after reading this I’ve realised I need to change that- pronto!

With the images and plot working in tandem, I found Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children both compelling and atmospheric. Yet this isn’t a traditional graphic novel, with the pictures being a response to the story, but, even more interestingly, the photos actually dictated the direction of the narrative! It’s certainly an unusual way to tell a story- and I didn’t expect to like it all that much- but this book surprised me in so many ways!

One of the most surprising aspects of the book was that it deals with some very deep and mature themes. On the one hand it is a story about being different- cleverly doubling the narrative of the Holocaust with an analogy for the Holocaust- so that the story of what it is like to be an outsider is told twice over. On another level, it is about exploring one’s own psyche and reconciling with the dark and dangerous parts of one’s own mind. Through the prism of the narrator’s eyes we see and what it is like to doubt your own sanity.

It’s pretty genius stuff and for that alone I would have been impressed with the book. But what really sold me on was how flawlessly this sum of parts came together. With the help of an eclectic cast of characters and his brilliantly organised visuals, Riggs really did create the picture perfect story.

Rating: 5/5 bananas

I can’t wait to read the next one- and thanks to the lovely Fernanda over at Mystery Date With A Book I won’t have to wait long- here’s the copy of Hollow City I won in her giveaway:

So I am well aware that this book is about as divisive as Marmite is in Britain- you either love it or hate it! For that reason I’d like a show of hands -*figuratively speaking*- what did you think of this book? Let me know in the comments!

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