Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children
by Ransom Riggs

Available as: hardcover, paperback, Kindle edition, ebook, audiobook
Pages: 348
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publication date: June 7, 2011
Suggested tags: young adult, fantasy



First in the Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series. From Goodreads:

"A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs.

It all waits to be discovered in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, an unforgettable novel that mixes fiction and photography in a thrilling reading experience. As our story opens, 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.

A spine-tingling fantasy illustrated with haunting vintage photography, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children will delight adults, teens, and anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows."

{ I received a copy of this book through Goodreads First Reads. }


I originally read Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children when it first came out in 2011, but I reread it now in preparation for reading the sequel, Hollow City. When I read it in 2011, I immediately fell in love. No, more than that - I fell in obsession. I talked about this book to anyone who would listen. I flipped through the pages over and over again, poring over the vintage photos. I got lost in the world of Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children. It's a brilliant concept, and it combines some of my very favorite things: time travel, paranormality, and vintage photography.

And that last line of the synopsis - "anyone who relishes an adventure in the shadows" - well, really, how could I not love this book?

I'm not going to go into too much detail with the plot, because half the fun of reading this book is in the experience of discovering things along with Jacob. But I will talk about the photos, because they are fantastic. At first, I will admit, I found myself viewing them like Jacob did in the beginning - lame photography tricks, obviously altered - but as the story went on, I came to view them as believably peculiar... And they are interwoven with the story expertly; Jacob comes across photos as the story unfolds, and we are able to see what Jacob sees. The photos are used to introduce characters, to set the mood, and, in some cases, to freak you right the heck out. And I mean that in the best way possible, because this book is deliciously dark and mysterious.

Riggs's writing too is excellent. It's by turns suspenseful, sweet, and humorous at all the right moments. His storytelling is nicely paced and wonderfully descriptive, so that you feel like you're right there with Jacob on his peculiar journey. The end wraps things up, but at the same time it leaves them wide open for the next book so that almost anything can happen from there. I'm excited to see what happens to Miss Peregrine's peculiar children next. And I certainly hope there will be plenty of photos.


Final verdict: I'm obsessed with it! I thought this book was amazing! It's now officially one of my favorite books! I immediately bought a copy for myself because I will be rereading it again and again! I shall be shouting about it from the rooftops for days and I am currently recommending it to everyone I come in contact with!

{ Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children book trailer }

{ More about Ransom Riggs }

Ransom Riggs's Goodreads profile
Ransom Riggs's website
Follow Ransom Riggs on Twitter
Follow Ransom Riggs on Facebook

Review: The Slither Sisters by Charles Gilman

The Slither Sisters
by Charles Gilman

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 174
Publication date: January 15, 2013
Publisher: Quirk Books
Suggested tags: middle grade, paranormal



Second in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series. From Goodreads:

"This second novel in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series begins right where Professor Gargoyle ended. Seventh-grader Robert Arthur has discovered that two of his classmates are actually sinister snake-women in disguise. Even worse, his new middle school is full of “gates” to a terrifying alternate dimension – a haunted mansion full of strange spirits and monstrous beasts. For Robert to protect his teachers and classmates, he'll need to return to this haunted dimension with his best friends Glenn and Karina. Can they uncover the secrets of Lovecraft Middle School before it's too late?

The Slither Sisters features more bizarre beasts, more strange mysteries, and more adventure. It's perfect for readers ages 10 and up. Best of all, the cover features a state-of-the-art “morphing” photo portrait – so you can personally witness the sisters transforming into their slithering alter egos. You won't believe your eyes!"

{ I received an ARC for free through Early Reviewers on LibraryThing. }


I am such a fan of the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series! I was hooked by Professor Gargoyle (read my review here) and The Slither Sisters is just as creepy and exciting! If you're a fan of paranormal middle grade reads and you haven't started this series yet, YOU MUST.

At the end of Professor Gargoyle, Sylvia and Sarah Price had returned to the school after a mysterious disappearance, and it seemed that something was a bit...off. In The Slither Sisters, Robert and his friends Glenn and Karina find out that something is indeed off - Sylvia and Sarah are running for class president, but they certainly don't have the other students' best interests in mind. They're working for Crawford Tillinghast, the mastermind behind the monsters and gates that have invaded Lovecraft Middle School.

I thought The Slither Sisters was even better than Professor Gargoyle because it brought us a little deeper into the story behind the school and Crawford Tillinghast, and it really seemed to take advantage of the "haunted dimension" aspect mentioned in the synopsis. There were some really creepy scenes that had me glued to the book to find out how Robert, Glenn, and Karina would escape. Just like the first book in the series, the second is dark and spooky, but with plenty of fun and adventure to balance it out. It's the perfect amount of creepy - it sets the mood, wraps you up in it and makes you feel like you're there with Robert and his friends, but it's not too scary.

Just like the first book in the series, The Slither Sisters wraps up with a hint that, despite all Robert's hard work, all is still not well at Lovecraft Middle School. I can't wait to see what happens in the next book, Teacher's Pest. I really hope we get to learn more about Mrs. Lavinia and that we get to go back into the Tillinghast mansion!


Final verdict: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Professor Gargoyle by Charles Gilman

Professor Gargoyle
by Charles Gilman

Available as: hardcover, Kindle edition, ebook
Pages: 160
Publisher: Quirk Books
Publication date: September 25, 2012
Suggested tags: middle grade, paranormal



First in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series. From Goodreads:

"Strange things are happening at Lovecraft Middle School. Rats are leaping from lockers. Students are disappearing. The school library is a labyrinth of secret corridors. And the science teacher is acting very peculiar – in fact, he just might be a monster-in-disguise. Twelve-year-old Robert Arthur knew that seventh grade was going to be weird, but this is ridiculous!

Professor Gargoyle (Volume I in the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series) is full of bizarre beasts, strange mysteries, and nonstop adventure. It's perfect for readers ages 10 and up. Best of all, the cover features a state-of-the-art “morphing” photo portrait – so you can personally witness the professor transforming into a monster. You won't believe your eyes!"

{ I received an ARC for free through Early Reviewers on LibraryThing. }


Professor Gargoyle was just too much fun. As soon as I picked up the book and watched an average-looking professor morph into a sneering horned monster, I knew I was going to love it. Here, go visit Barnes & Noble's Professor Gargoyle listing and see for yourself... Isn't that great?? After seeing that, I tore this book open and devoured Robert's story like a gargoyle devours small mammals.

The synopsis doesn't reveal too much about the plot, which is good, because you get to learn all Lovecraft Middle School's secrets along with Robert. It's a brand new school, but it seems to have some alarming quirks, and its secrets get darker and more dangerous as the story goes on. Robert Arthur's the only one out of all his old friends that has to go to Lovecraft, except for the bully that's been picking on him for years, Glenn Torkells. Robert does meet a new friend quickly though - Karina Ortiz, a pretty awesome skateboarding girl who seems to know some of Lovecraft's secrets already. And later he meets two new friends, Pip and Squeak, in the form of a two-headed rat. While Pip and Squeak never say a word, they have a lot of personality and they help Robert out of some unusual situations.

I tore through Professor Gargoyle in two days. The action keeps you flipping pages as hints are dropped one by one about what might really be going on at Lovecraft Middle School. Gilman writes with enough detail to let you picture the whole scene in your mind, without slowing down the action with lengthy descriptions. There is some great character development and it all ends with a thrilling journey into the heart of Lovecraft Middle School to try and figure out exactly what is going on here.

If Professor Gargoyle is any indicator, the Tales from Lovecraft Middle School series is going to be as exciting and un-put-downable as the Harry Potter series, but set in its own unique world with its own unique storytelling. It's definitely not a Harry Potter wannabe; it's an adventure all its own. Middle grade readers and older readers who like their paranormal stories full of monsters and mayhem will love Professor Gargoyle.

My ARC included a cover from the next book in the series, The Slither Sisters, which transforms innocent-looking twins into snake-haired monsters. (Check it out at Barnes & Noble.) Can't wait to read it! Gotta find out where those girls have been!

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Review: Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot

Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot
by Joseph Cummins

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

The Boston Tea Party is a well known piece of American history, but it's usually talked about as a singular event: the one tea party that happened that one time. But less well known is the fact that there were actually many tea parties happening around the country during that time, all with their own unique and interesting stories. Joseph Cummins' book Ten Tea Parties brings the stories of these forgotten tea parties to light in an informative and greatly enjoyable read.

This book is in the "history" category, but it definitely doesn't read like a history book. Cummins weaves quotes and information from primary sources into his narrative, but he does it with the wonderfully conversational tone of a master storyteller. This is no dry restating of facts; Cummins makes history come alive by highlighting interesting, little known details about each tea party and their key players.

Ten Tea Parties is visually pleasing too - black-and-white woodcuts and portraits are included throughout the book. A significant quote starts off each chapter, setting the tone of the tea party at hand. The text includes transcripts of documents of the day; reading the impassioned words of the patriots along with Cummins' expert storytelling connects readers with the time period better than any history textbook ever could, in my humble opinion.

This is a great read, especially for those with an interest in Revolutionary era American history. The author's passion for the subject is clear, and contagious too; I dare you to read this book and be able to resist sharing the fascinating tidbits you learn from it!

Overall rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Quirk Books

I'm a big fan of Quirk Books - they've published such gems as Pride and Prejudice and Zombies, The Art of Roughhousing, The Thorn and the Blossom, and (one of my favorites) Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.

So I'm thrilled to say that I have been asked to review one of their history books! I'll be reading Ten Tea Parties: Patriotic Protests That History Forgot by Joseph Cummins. I can't wait for it to arrive!

It's getting great reviews on Goodreads - go check it out! :)