"Peculiar" is a Great Way to Describe It

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN by Ransom Riggs is one of the books we're getting this year for World Book Night, April 23, 2014.  In preparation for the arrival of the books, I figured I'd read it just in case anyone wants to know whether or not it's any good.

I don't know what to think, or say, about it, to be perfectly honest.  The book isn't at all what I thought it would be.  Well, it is, but it isn't.  I had NOT expected it to be set in the 1940s--and modern day.  I had NOT expected World War II to have anything to do with the story.  I had NOT expected it to be a supernatural story beyond their beyond there being "peculiar" children in the story.  Based on the cover, I thought that I was in for a story with kids similar to the x-men, but yet not really super-powers so much as just kids who are different and need to be watched over as a result.

That IS a part of the story, but not in the way I thought.  I can't say too much more without giving away more than I should for those who haven't read it.

It's definitely worth the read, but it might be better if you go into it without having too many expectations and just let the story unfold itself as you read.

Apparently, it's already being used in schools/classes with tweens.  I can understand why from a historical perspective, but I'm going to have to do some more digging and thinking to understand why the book is considered appropriate for tweens.  Like THE HUNGER GAMES trilogy, I think that this book is really a little above tween reading level, yet tweens who read a lot won't have any trouble with the story and will probably even enjoy it.  Tweens who don't read much might find it tedious and difficult to plod through.

I admit that I'm curious about what they think about it--and you, too......