I read Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children as part of my 2016 graphic novel challenge. This is the graphic novel version of a YA novel of the same name. I did like the graphic novel, but in this case, I think I would have liked the novel better.
ILLUSTRATOR: Cassandra Jean
SERIES: Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, book 1
PUBLISHER: Yen Press
PUBLICATION DATE: October 29, 2013
ISBN: 9780316245289
PAGES: 272
GENRE: graphic novel; horror
SETTING: present day and Sept. 3, 1940; island off coast of Wales
GIVE IT TO: MS, HS
SUMMARY OF MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
After the violent and mysterious murder of his grandfather, sixteen-year old Jacob begins having nightmares and seeing monsters. For his birthday, he is given a package from his late grandfather and a cryptic letter giving Jacob directions to finding out who he–and his grandfather–really are.
REVIEW OF MISS PEREGRINE’S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN
I think I would love the Miss Peregrine novel, but for me, the graphic novel just goes too fast. The story is interesting and creepy, but I felt like I was missing a lot of plot and character development because I was reading the graphic novel instead of the actual book.
Sometimes, I could not tell the Jacob illustrations from other teen boys in the story. The romance between Jacob and Emma felt rushed and underdeveloped. How is she able to fall for Jacob so quickly after hearing of Abe’s death?
I did not really understand why the monsters wanted Miss Peregrine and the children out of the time loop. What do they hope to gain? Are they trying to harness their powers? Make them one of the monsters, too? How could these things happen if the peculiar children will die shortly after leaving the loop?
I’m betting that these questions are better-explained in the actual book. I’d love to see more development of plot, suspense, and character.
THE BOTTOM LINE
The graphic novel made me want to read the book, which I think I will like and understand much better.
STATUS IN MY LIBRARY
We have the novel (2 print copies+ one OverDrive e-book) and a print copy of the graphic novel. We also have print and OverDrive copies of each of the two sequels. All are incredibly popular with my students and stay on-hold and checked out.
READALIKES
Cirque du Freak: The Manga (Shan/Arai)
RATING BREAKDOWN
- Overall: 3/5
- Creativity: 4/5
- Characters: 3/5
- Engrossing: 3/5
- Writing: 3/5
- Appeal to teens: 5/5
- Appropriate length to tell the story: 4/5
MATURE CONTENT
- Language: medium-high; a few F-bombs and sh**
- Sexuality: mild; some kissing
- Violence: medium-high; monsters kill Jacob’s grandfather (bloody)
- Drugs/Alcohol:e non
- Other: Some of my students have told me this is too scary for them. I do not think the graphic novel is scary at all. The scariest scenes are the ones with the monsters, but I’ve seen so much worse. There are also a couple of drawings of an old corpse.