Book Review: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

Released: June 7th 2011
Read: June 2013 (for the first time), July 2016
Publisher: Quirk
Format: Paperback, 352 pages
Series: Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #1

Description from Goodreads:
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.

Review:
Story time! I received this book for my 13th birthday, as my family and I were on our way to a cabin of a family friends. Being an exciting and creepy book, I devoured it on my way there. By the time we arrived, I was a quarter of the way through, and (honestly) a little scared. What made matters worse, was that the cabin was extremely old and used to be a vacation place for many kids (and families). Because of this, the entire yard was strewn with old and abandoned toys, rusting with age. That and coupled with the overgrown forest and yard all around the toys scared me out of mind! When it came that I had to sleep in a old furnished room by myself, I'll admit I started crying. I was completely convinced that the wights (the blank eyed bad guys) would pop out at me during the night! Reading it now older and wiser (only three years later) made me realize that perhaps it wasn't quite as scary as I thought. Even though it scared the crap out of me when I was younger, this is one book that I keep recommending over and over. In fact, I have one friend who hates reading (I know, I know, how am I friends with her?! Love you any ways Lor!) but she absolutely adores this book/series. What I enjoy about it are the vintage photograph that add a whole extra dimension to the plot. From start to finish, the book held my attention, and I finished rereading this in a day. I found the characters wholly formed, and finding out what each persons power was, was one of the best parts of the book. I thought that the plot was executed to a tee, and it left me wanting more. Even though it was mildly terrifying, it makes for a story that is unforgettable to say the least. The only critique I have, is that there should have been more photos included. I felt like that for of book of that size, more pictures could've been added. But it was still a fantastic read!!

Favourite Quote: 
“I used to dream about escaping my ordinary life, but my life was never ordinary. I had simply failed to notice how extraordinary it was. Likewise, I never imagined that home might be something I would miss.” 

― Ransom Riggs, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children

Rating: 8.5/10 

Recommended for people who enjoy: suspense, eerie mysteries, thrillers, mixed media books

Happy Reading,
Mari

P.S. Keep a look out for my reviews of the last two books in the trilogy!

What about Wednesday: Best Villains

Hey everyone, we're here to share our favourite villains from books. Of course, this doesn't mean that we don't love the main characters or love interests (because duh), but the villains are the point here. Really, there wouldn't even be a novel without them.

                                      CONTAINS MAJOR SPOILERS

Ola's Picks:

1. Shadow and Bone by Leigh Bardugo (the Darkling)

2. Nimona by Noelle Stevenson (Ambrosius Goldenloin)

3. Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi (Aaron Warner)

Mari's Picks:

1. A Song of Ice and Fire Series by George R. R. Martin (Ramsay Bolton)

2. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen  (Henry Crawford)

3. Outlander by Diana Galbadon  (Captian Jack Randall)

Lauren's Picks:

1. the Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (Bellatrix Lestrange)

2. Made for You by Melissa Marr (Judge)

3. Don't Look Back by Jennifer L. Armentrout (The Father)

That's it for today!

Your friends at the Autumn Bookshelf

Book Review: The 5th Wave

Taken from Goodreads

The 5th Wave by Rick Yancy


Release Date: May 7th, 2013
Read: June, 2013
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers
Format: Hardcover, 457 pages

Description from Goodreads:
After the 1st wave, only darkness remains. After the 2nd, only the lucky escape. And after the 3rd, only the unlucky survive. After the 4th wave, only one rule applies: trust no one.
Now, it’s the dawn of the 5th wave, and on a lonely stretch of highway, Cassie runs from Them. The beings who only look human, who roam the countryside killing anyone they see. Who have scattered Earth’s last survivors. To stay alone is to stay alive, Cassie believes, until she meets Evan Walker.
Beguiling and mysterious, Evan Walker may be Cassie’s only hope for rescuing her brother—or even saving herself. But Cassie must choose: between trust and despair, between defiance and surrender, between life and death. To give up or to get up.

Review: This book intrigued me from the very first page. For a long time I searched for a fresh take on the whole dystopian genre. This book is pretty much it. It's a little slower to start, and it really takes time with the character building and the backstory of the whole tragedy is very interesting.
Cassie is an interesting heroine, and she is very headstrong. However, I felt that her relationship with Evan was a little cheesy and predictable. The moment that he appeared on the page, I knew right where his story was going. Even with that fact, I bought the book (I read it from the library) and have read it multiple times. It's a fun ride, and is great to pass the time.

Favorite Quotes:   “But if I'm it, the last of my kind, the last page of human history, like hell I'm going to let the story end this way. I may be the last one, but I am the one still standing. I am the one turning to face the faceless hunter in the woods on an abandoned highway. I am the one not running but facing. Because if I am the last one, then I am humanity. And if this is humanity's last war, then I am the battlefield.” 
― Rick Yancey, The 5th Wave

Rating: 3/5 Stars

Recommended for people who like: thrillers, romance, YA, sci-fi, survival stories, dystopian

Happy Reading,
Mari