Book Information
- Citation: Riggs, R. (2011). Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books.
- Publisher: Quirk Books
- Published: June 2011
- Number of pages: 352
- Interest level: grades 7-12
- Reading level/grade level equivalent: 8
- Lexile: 890L / DRA: 70
- Genre: Adventure/Fantasy
- Award: The Kitschies Nominee for Golden Tentacle (Debut) 2011
My Review:
If you haven't read this book yet, add it to your list! I was especially drawn to the mix of scary, slightly violent, and intriguing tale of mystery, fantasy, and time travel. At first glance, this book seems like one part freak show (thanks to the vintage photography collection) and one part love story. The basis of the story is Jacob's special relationship with his grandfather, Abe. Throughout Jacob's childhood, Abe entertains him with over-the-top stories of children with incredible abilities, such as invisibility, strength, shape shifting, floating, creating fire, etc. Jacob takes these stories at face value as fairy tales, meant to give Jacob a laugh. Little does Jacob know that the stories are true! When Jacob questions the truth behind the stories, Abe tries to prove their authenticity by showing Jacob old photos of the people he lived with at the children's home. The addition of the photos to the book not only gives the reader a visual focus but also adds to the uniqueness of the book.
I felt that the story started out slowly, showing us a lazy, immature teenager who plans to live off his family's fortune (they own an entire chain of pharmacies). Jacob really starts to change when he discovers his grandfather dead and thinks he sees what has caused the death. No one, including the police, believes him, so Jacob sets out on a mission to visit the children's home where his grandfather grew up in the hopes that it will give him answers to the questions left by Abe's death. I find it difficult to believe that Jacob's parents are so on-board with funding this three-week adventure (his father accompanies him and provides absolutely no supervision) when up to this point, he has shown little maturity. The story line really starts to come to life when Jacob discovers a loop that allows him to time travel to the children's home and meet the occupants. This allows Jacob to discover that he also has a "gift"--what the children call their unusual abilities. The story expands to include a love connection between Jacob and Emma and some close encounters with demons and monsters that want to destroy the children's powers.
All in all, this story was a winner for me. I love the historical connection that is made to the Nazi regime of World Wart II (Abe was Jewish). I think that students in grades 6-9 would especially like the story line and the photos are sure to give the book a high degree of potential user appeal. I found the book to have an almost vintage, high artistic quality with its cover art and photographs. The unusual story line will make this book a permanent fixture in any school library.
Professional Review:
Reviews
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Teaching Ideas
Professional Review:
Riggs, Ransom. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Quirk. Jun. 2011. c.352p. photogs. ISBN 9781594744761. $17.99. F.
Sixteen-year-old Jacob Portman no longer believes the stories his grandfather told him when he was a little boy. These are obviously fairy tales about children with mysterious abilities, such as a girl who could levitate and a boy with bees inside him, and not real memories from his grandfather's childhood. Grandpa's sepia-toned photographs of his strange friends also seem fake to Jacob. However, when he gets a chance to visit the island where the stories took place, he can't resist delving into his grandfather's past. Could these odd children really have existed? VERDICT An original work that defies categorization, this first novel should appeal to readers who like quirky fantasies. Suitable for both adults and a YA audience. Riggs includes many vintage photographs that add a critical touch of the peculiar to his unusual tale.
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By Laurel Bliss, San Diego State Univ. Lib. (Library Journal. 5/15/2011, Vol. 136 Issue 9, p77-80. 2p.)
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Teaching Ideas
Persuasive Essay. The book has a clear divide at the "before and after", such as Jacob's immaturity and bored life before his grandfather's death and his maturity and responsibility after the death. You could even say that the beginning of the book represents Jacob's childhood and after his grandfather's death, Jacob begins to mature into adulthood. Jacob is clearly a dynamic character that continues to change, both physically and emotionally, throughout the book. Assist students in writing persuasive essays that show how an event or time in their own lives mirror the "before and after" in Jacob's life. Students should compare their own life event to Jacob's and in what ways the event changed them.
SOL correlation: English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Focus on Setting. The setting in the story refers to the location where the story took place. Think about the setting for the children's home in this story. What descriptive terms give you a clear picture of what the home looked like? Be specific by quoting directly from the book and include page numbers. Think about the descriptions of the weather and light. Could this home have been located anywhere in the world and still have the same effect on the reader? Research three other locations anywhere on the globe where this children's home could have been located that would have a similar feel as the actual location used (research may be conducted on the internet as well as with print material). Cite all sources during your research. Create an essay, table, or chart with pertinent information about the three additional locations along with additional research on the home's actual location in Wales.
SOL correlation: English 7.9: The student will apply knowledge of appropriate reference materials to produce a research product.
Historical Comparison. In this story, Jacob discovers that his grandfather was an orphan during the war through his grandfather's grandiose stories when Jacob was young. Abe talks about escaping from monsters that had killed his family. Reflecting back on the brutality of World War II, who were the monsters that Abe was referring to? What happened to Abe's parents? Read one other book that focuses on the Nazi regime during World War II, such as Annexed by S. Dogar, The Nazi Hunter by A. Elsner, or The Book Thief by M. Zusak. Write a comparison and contrast between the books. Make sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your comparison.
SOL correlation: USII.7 The
student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of American
involvement in World War II ; English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Video-Blogger Project. Many crises and conflicts occur during the book that don't seem possible in the "real world", starting with Abe's death. The police want to write off the death as the unfortunate act of wild dogs, but Jacob saw the monster in the bushes that he knows is responsible. Take on the role of being a video blogger who is reporting on news of "the supernatural" on a YouTube channel. Your followers love to hear about new stories of possible supernatural events, such as demons, monsters, and time travel. Assist students in creating short video clips done in a news-report style that could be uploaded to the internet. Choose a specific scene from the text and report as if it is happening right now. Possible choices include Abe's death, Jacob's first meeting with the peculiar children, Jacob's time travel to the children's home, etc. Video-making programs include sharalike.com, wideo.com, and animoto.com.
SOL correlation: English 7.3: The student will understand the elements of media literacy.
Coming to the Big Screen! Students often hear about a best-selling book when it becomes a movie sensation. Many students prefer to read the book first before seeing the movie. Now that the students have read this particular book, they may be excited to hear that it's coming to the big screen on March 4, 2016! Tim Burton will be directing the movie. It includes a long list of Hollywood favorites to play the main characters: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Allison Janney. Assist students in creating a movie poster to advertise that Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will be coming to a movie theater near you very soon! Students can use markers, colored pencils, watercolors, etc. Don't forget to include important information such as the title of the movie, the release date, and the actors involved in the filming. Teachers can use this list of movie posters as a slide show anticipatory set to introduce students to the activity.
SOL correlation: Visual Arts 7.4: The
student will communicate ideas, experiences, and narratives through the
creation of works of art, using traditional and contemporary media.
Persuasive Essay. The book has a clear divide at the "before and after", such as Jacob's immaturity and bored life before his grandfather's death and his maturity and responsibility after the death. You could even say that the beginning of the book represents Jacob's childhood and after his grandfather's death, Jacob begins to mature into adulthood. Jacob is clearly a dynamic character that continues to change, both physically and emotionally, throughout the book. Assist students in writing persuasive essays that show how an event or time in their own lives mirror the "before and after" in Jacob's life. Students should compare their own life event to Jacob's and in what ways the event changed them.
SOL correlation: English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
SOL correlation: English 7.9: The student will apply knowledge of appropriate reference materials to produce a research product.
Historical Comparison. In this story, Jacob discovers that his grandfather was an orphan during the war through his grandfather's grandiose stories when Jacob was young. Abe talks about escaping from monsters that had killed his family. Reflecting back on the brutality of World War II, who were the monsters that Abe was referring to? What happened to Abe's parents? Read one other book that focuses on the Nazi regime during World War II, such as Annexed by S. Dogar, The Nazi Hunter by A. Elsner, or The Book Thief by M. Zusak. Write a comparison and contrast between the books. Make sure to cite specific examples from the text to support your comparison.
SOL correlation: USII.7 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of American involvement in World War II ; English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Video-Blogger Project. Many crises and conflicts occur during the book that don't seem possible in the "real world", starting with Abe's death. The police want to write off the death as the unfortunate act of wild dogs, but Jacob saw the monster in the bushes that he knows is responsible. Take on the role of being a video blogger who is reporting on news of "the supernatural" on a YouTube channel. Your followers love to hear about new stories of possible supernatural events, such as demons, monsters, and time travel. Assist students in creating short video clips done in a news-report style that could be uploaded to the internet. Choose a specific scene from the text and report as if it is happening right now. Possible choices include Abe's death, Jacob's first meeting with the peculiar children, Jacob's time travel to the children's home, etc. Video-making programs include sharalike.com, wideo.com, and animoto.com.
SOL correlation: English 7.3: The student will understand the elements of media literacy.
SOL correlation: USII.7 The student will demonstrate knowledge of the major causes and effects of American involvement in World War II ; English 8.5: The students will read and analyze a variety of fictional texts, narrative nonfiction, and poetry.
Video-Blogger Project. Many crises and conflicts occur during the book that don't seem possible in the "real world", starting with Abe's death. The police want to write off the death as the unfortunate act of wild dogs, but Jacob saw the monster in the bushes that he knows is responsible. Take on the role of being a video blogger who is reporting on news of "the supernatural" on a YouTube channel. Your followers love to hear about new stories of possible supernatural events, such as demons, monsters, and time travel. Assist students in creating short video clips done in a news-report style that could be uploaded to the internet. Choose a specific scene from the text and report as if it is happening right now. Possible choices include Abe's death, Jacob's first meeting with the peculiar children, Jacob's time travel to the children's home, etc. Video-making programs include sharalike.com, wideo.com, and animoto.com.
SOL correlation: English 7.3: The student will understand the elements of media literacy.
Coming to the Big Screen! Students often hear about a best-selling book when it becomes a movie sensation. Many students prefer to read the book first before seeing the movie. Now that the students have read this particular book, they may be excited to hear that it's coming to the big screen on March 4, 2016! Tim Burton will be directing the movie. It includes a long list of Hollywood favorites to play the main characters: Eva Green, Asa Butterfield, Ella Purnell, Samuel L. Jackson, and Allison Janney. Assist students in creating a movie poster to advertise that Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children will be coming to a movie theater near you very soon! Students can use markers, colored pencils, watercolors, etc. Don't forget to include important information such as the title of the movie, the release date, and the actors involved in the filming. Teachers can use this list of movie posters as a slide show anticipatory set to introduce students to the activity.
SOL correlation: Visual Arts 7.4: The student will communicate ideas, experiences, and narratives through the creation of works of art, using traditional and contemporary media.
Superheroes Connection. The pupils of Miss Peregrine's children's home all found refuge there because of their inability to fit into society with their special powers. Some of the children describe how they fit in by joining the circus, where their special powers would be seen as an act. Emma is able to create fire, Hugh houses thousands of bees, Enoch gives life to inanimate objects, Milliard is invisible, Olive floats, etc. These supernatural powers are very much like the powers of superheroes today. What special power would you have and why? Create a comic strip that shows how you would use that superhero power in the world today.
SOL correlation(s): Visual Arts 7.7 The
student will use a variety of compositional techniques, including perspective,
to create the illusion of space within the picture plane; 7.8 The
student will apply a variety of techniques in observational and expressive drawing.
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Further Explorations
Ransom Riggs' website:
http://www.ransomriggs.com/
-Author's website provides background information to students and additional information about other novels
Tumblr account for Ransom Riggs:
http://ransomriggs.tumblr.com/
-provides additional information for students, including more vintage photographs
Ransom Riggs and why he collects old photos (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M49Dw7dXx7U
-Integral information to the storyline; this video could be used by the teacher for a daily lesson or additional activities
Quick Books book trailer (video):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VM5ikr2rwY
-can be used as an anticipatory activity by the teacher before introducing the book
Interview at LA Times Festival of Books:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjAtqCRHTAY
-can be used as an anticipatory activity by the teacher before introducing the book
Spook Review for the book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhgLZTzjjZg
-can be used for student comparison when reviewing the book
Behind the scenes footage of movie version of book:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gGqN7jChcnM
-used for movie poster activity--gives students an idea of what the movie will entail
Interview by Justine Magazine (with Tahereh Mafi):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GTyAeoZ3QE
-can be used as an anticipatory activity by the teacher before introducing the book
New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/31/books/ransom-riggs-is-inspired-by-vintage-snapshots.html?_r=0
-Integral information to the story line
Movie Poster examples:
http://webneel.com/30-brilliant-and-beautiful-movie-poster-design-examples-your-inspiration
-used for movie poster activity--great examples for students
The following sites can be used in the video-making activity:
http://www.sharalike.com
http://www.animoto.com
http://www.wideo.com
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Partner Titles
Zusak, M. (2006). The book thief. New York: Alfred A. Knopf.
Connections can be made with the description of Europe during the Nazi regime of World War II. This book was selected because of its educational significance and connection to the World War II/Nazi regime theme.
Bascomb, N. (2013). The Nazi hunters: How a team of spies and survivors captured the world's most notorious Nazi. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Connections can be made with the descriptions of Abe acting a monster hunter during his long trips away from home. This book was selected because of its educational significance and connection to the World War II/Nazi regime theme..
Wein, E. (2012). Code name Verity. New York: Hyperion.
This book tells the story of Maddie and her friend Queenie who act as spies for a secret mission behind the enemy lines in 1943 (in Occupied France). The story is told by Queenie, who has been captured by the gestapo and has two weeks to tell her secrets. This book would pair beautifully with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children because of Abe's service as a monster hunter during the war. This book was selected because of its high degree of potential user appeal.
Lore, P. (2010). I am number four. New York: Harper.
Excellent connection to characters with superhero powers that use their powers to right the wrongs of the world. This book was selected because of its interests to the students (super hero powers) and favorable reviews.
Akins, K. (2014). Loop. St. Martin's Griffin.
In both books, time travel occurs through loops made through time and time travelers are being attacked and must be rescued. This book was selected because of its high degree of potential user appeal and connection to the main book with its overlapping themes of time travel and destruction of loops.
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References
- Books on World War II
Wein, E. (2013). Rose under fire. Disney Hyperion.
Sheinkin, S., & Colvin, J. (n.d.). Bomb: The race to build--and steal--the world's most dangerous weapon.
Bascomb, N. (2013). The Nazi hunters: How a team of spies and survivors captured the world's most notorious Nazi. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Wulffson, D. (2001). Soldier X. New York: Viking.
Elliott, L. (2001). Under a war-torn sky. New York: Hyperion Books For Children.
- Books on Time Travel
Akins, K. (2014). Loop. St. Martin's Griffin.
Gier, K., & Bell, A. (2011). Ruby red. New York: Henry Holt.
Monir, A. (2011). Timeless. New York: Delacorte Press.
- Books on Supernatural Powers
Clare, C., & Rosamilia, M. (2009). City of Glass. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Meyer, S. (2006). Twilight. Little, Brown and Company.
Rowling, J. (1999). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Kate, L. (2009). Fallen. New York: Delacorte Press.
- Books by Ransom Riggs
Riggs, R., & McGurk, J. (2011). Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books.
Riggs, R. (2013). Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children: The graphic novel. New York, NY: Yen Press.
Riggs, R. (2012). Talking pictures: Images and messages rescued from the past. New York: ItBooks.
Riggs, R. (2015). Hollow city. Quirk Books.
Superheroes Connection. The pupils of Miss Peregrine's children's home all found refuge there because of their inability to fit into society with their special powers. Some of the children describe how they fit in by joining the circus, where their special powers would be seen as an act. Emma is able to create fire, Hugh houses thousands of bees, Enoch gives life to inanimate objects, Milliard is invisible, Olive floats, etc. These supernatural powers are very much like the powers of superheroes today. What special power would you have and why? Create a comic strip that shows how you would use that superhero power in the world today.
SOL correlation(s): Visual Arts 7.7 The
student will use a variety of compositional techniques, including perspective,
to create the illusion of space within the picture plane; 7.8 The
student will apply a variety of techniques in observational and expressive drawing.
**************************************
-Author's website provides background information to students and additional information about other novels
Tumblr account for Ransom Riggs:
Tumblr account for Ransom Riggs:
Quick Books book trailer (video):
-can be used as an anticipatory activity by the teacher before introducing the book
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GTyAeoZ3QE
-can be used as an anticipatory activity by the teacher before introducing the book
New York Times article:
http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/31/books/ransom-riggs-is-inspired-by-vintage-snapshots.html?_r=0
-Integral information to the story line
Movie Poster examples:
http://webneel.com/30-brilliant-and-beautiful-movie-poster-design-examples-your-inspiration
-used for movie poster activity--great examples for students
The following sites can be used in the video-making activity:
http://www.sharalike.com
http://www.animoto.com
http://www.wideo.com
**************************************
This book tells the story of Maddie and her friend Queenie who act as spies for a secret mission behind the enemy lines in 1943 (in Occupied France). The story is told by Queenie, who has been captured by the gestapo and has two weeks to tell her secrets. This book would pair beautifully with Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children because of Abe's service as a monster hunter during the war. This book was selected because of its high degree of potential user appeal.
Lore, P. (2010). I am number four. New York: Harper.
Excellent connection to characters with superhero powers that use their powers to right the wrongs of the world. This book was selected because of its interests to the students (super hero powers) and favorable reviews.
Akins, K. (2014). Loop. St. Martin's Griffin.
**************************************
References
- Books on World War II
Sheinkin, S., & Colvin, J. (n.d.). Bomb: The race to build--and steal--the world's most dangerous weapon.
Bascomb, N. (2013). The Nazi hunters: How a team of spies and survivors captured the world's most notorious Nazi. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Wulffson, D. (2001). Soldier X. New York: Viking.
Elliott, L. (2001). Under a war-torn sky. New York: Hyperion Books For Children.
- Books on Time Travel
Akins, K. (2014). Loop. St. Martin's Griffin.
Gier, K., & Bell, A. (2011). Ruby red. New York: Henry Holt.
Monir, A. (2011). Timeless. New York: Delacorte Press.
- Books on Supernatural Powers
Clare, C., & Rosamilia, M. (2009). City of Glass. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books.
Meyer, S. (2006). Twilight. Little, Brown and Company.
Rowling, J. (1999). Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. New York: Arthur A. Levine Books.
Kate, L. (2009). Fallen. New York: Delacorte Press.
- Books by Ransom Riggs
Riggs, R., & McGurk, J. (2011). Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children. Philadelphia, PA: Quirk Books.
Riggs, R. (2013). Miss Peregrine's home for peculiar children: The graphic novel. New York, NY: Yen Press.
Riggs, R. (2012). Talking pictures: Images and messages rescued from the past. New York: ItBooks.
Riggs, R. (2015). Hollow city. Quirk Books.
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