Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
Quirk Books, 2011
352 pages
approximate age: 12+

Sixteen year old Jacob is at the point in his life where he's ready to face adulthood, and for him that means at last acknowledging that all the fanciful stories his grandfather told him about his grandfather's adolescence in a orphanage with a group of children that each had extraordinary powers are indeed make-believe. Of course they were just fairy tales -- this is the real world and physics-defying children simply do not exist and believing in them is not rational, not normal, and not cool. But then something terrible happens to Grandpa Portman and Jacob is sure he sees the monster, yes real-life monster, responsible -- a twist of fate that turns all his well-ordered adult logic on its head and leads him back to one question -- what if the stories were real? Only a trip to the small, desolate Welsh island that was once home to Grandpa Portman and the other peculiar orphans may hold the answers Jacob needs to solve the mystery about his grandfather's life once and for all. But Jacob is not the only one hunting Miss Peregrine's Home and its inhabitants, and danger is much closer than Jacob could possibly know.

Miss Peregrine Home for Peculiar Children is a tightly woven fantasy/mystery that combines the whimsical with the delightfully creepy. Peppered throughout the book are photographs of the children and Miss Peregrine, the orphanage's head, and the photos' antiquated appearance along with their frequently bizarre compositions can really send chills up readers' spines. Unbelievably, since the pictures blend-in perfectly with the story, they are all real vintage photographs that Riggs was lent from collectors, which makes them even more thought-provoking and disturbing.

In addition, the elements of the fantastical in the novel blend well with Jacob's regular-guy character. Beginning the book in a familiar setting causes the transition into the strange island of the orphans to be even more magical because it has roots in a world we know all too well. Readers will want to be in Jacob's shoes as he discovers these amazing boys and girls, not stuck in their dull, ordinary lives.

There is also an aura of mystery that spans the entire book. At first readers are curious about Jacob's grandfather's stories. Are they entirely real? Does the grandfather really have something to fear as he believes? And then, when readers find the wonderful orphanage they wonder if the orphans are all they seem -- or is their something dark lurking behind their smiles? Is an unnamed threat really after them? Is it after Jacob, too? Just when readers think they've answered one question, Riggs gives them three more to ponder as they feverishly turn the pages.

Finally, the ending is satisfying, yet open for a much hoped for sequel. With no explicit sexuality or violence, librarians should feel comfortable freely recommending this book to middle and high school students.


Official Book Trailer:



Read-alike suggestions:

St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves by Karen Russell

Pretty Monsters by Kelly Link

The Glass Demon by Helen Grant

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman

Lockdown

Lockdown: Escape from Furnace, book 1 by Alexander Gordon Smith

published by Farrar, Straus, and Giroux, 2009

288 pages

approximate age level: 13+

14 year old Alex knows that his life of petty theft and home invasions isn't going to end well, but it's hard to give up when his family is poor and his best friend keeps inviting him on new jobs. Finally, Alex promises himself he'll quit -- right after he helps Toby hit one more house. It should be easy since the owners aren't even home, but things go terribly wrong when horrifying men come out of nowhere, kill Toby, and frame Alex for his murder. Unfortunately for Alex, because of a bloody crime spree a few years ago, all juveniles convicted of murder are sent immediately to Furnace, a privately owned prison built underground where kids and teens will spend the rest of their lives without visitors, sunlight, or any hope of parole. And that's not even the worst part -- not many teens in Furnace survive long since if the other inmates, the guards, or the vicious dogs don't get them, the strange men wearing gas masks that come in the middle of the night will. As soon as he arrives, Alex finds out that Furnace really is a hell on earth and he has only one hope of survival -- escape.

Lockdown is part mystery and part thriller, with some very creepy, supernatural elements thrown in for good measure. Alex is a likable narrator, and readers will be rooting for him as he tries to uncover the mysteries of Furnace and plot his escape. Boys will love the all-guys prison atmosphere, compete with inmate fights, skinless, man-eating dogs, mutated guards, and even, perhaps, the devil himself playing warden. The descriptions of the prison are detailed enough to set a dark tone and put reader nerves on edge, and the action is continuous from first page to last. However, action is not the only compelling element, as the relationships between the boys are very believable and the main characters well-rounded and sympathetic. Because it's the first in a series, Lockdown doesn't answer all the questions it poses and ends on a dramatic cliffhanger that guarantees readers will be looking for the next book (luckily, Solitary has already been published).

Book trailer:

Bonus video of author Alexander Gordon Smith introducing his Furnace series:

Read-alike suggestions:

Solitary: Escape from Furnace, book 2 by Alexander Gordon Smith

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Heart-Shaped Box by Joe Hill

Gentlemen by Michael Northrop

Incarceron by Catherine Fisher

The Stone Child

The Stone Child by Dan Poblocki
published by Random House Books for Young Readers, 2009
288 pages
approximate age level: 9-13

Twelve-year old Eddie Fennicks thinks it’s pretty neat that he’s moving to Gatesweed, the town where his absolute favorite author Nathaniel Olmstead used to live and work before he mysteriously disappeared thirteen years earlier. In fact, Eddie can’t believe his luck when before he’s even unpacked, his antique-hunting parents give him what appears to be a battered journal by Olmstead himself written in code. Excited to investigate the book, and the ominous sounding “Olmstead Curse,” Eddie starts asking questions around town -- but something strange is going on in Gatesweed, something its residents are too scared to talk about, something that has to do with Olmstead and his terrifying stories. Soon Eddie and his friends Maggie and Harris start seeing really creepy things -- unnatural creatures that bear a striking resemblance to the monsters they thought existed only in Olmstead's imagination. But what if everything he wrote is real? Eddie’s been reading Olmstead's books for years -- now, can he survive living in one?

Fans of the Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series by Alvin Schwartz who are unsure about what to read next can rejoice because The Stone Child is a truly creepy, stay-awake-all-night-with-the-light-on story that is perfect for them. There aren’t many children’s books that could be classified as horror, but The Stone Child definitely fits the bill and is an incredibly readable mix of spookiness and mystery that will draw readers in and keep them guessing until the last page. Poblocki is an expert at creating the perfect unsettling atmosphere for his story that gives readers chills even before any real action has begun. Moreover, the twist that the deadly monsters have seemingly crawled out of horror novels, just like the one readers are holding in their hands, adds an extra spine-tingling level of creepiness that may have them looking over their shoulders more than once.

While there's no official book trailer, here's a great one made by http://booksandliteratureforteens.blogspot.com/:


Read-alike suggestions:

The Nightmarys by Dan Poblocki

Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark series by Alvin Schwartz

The Last Apprentice series by Joseph Delaney

The Curse of the Wendigo

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey
published by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2010
448 pages
approximate age level: 12+

Will Henry and Dr. Percival Warthrop are back again with another bone-chilling mystery. Although he studies extraordinary creatures that most would consider to be monsters, Dr. Warthrop considers these monsters to be no more than interesting animals and his research to be very respectable. So, when he finds out that his colleague and former teacher Dr. Von Helrung is about to publish a paper that claims a mythical, magical beast, the Wendigo, is real, Warthrop takes it upon himself to disprove Von Helrung's claims, afraid that they will discredit Monstrumology. But, disproving the Wendigo may be harder than Warthrop first thinks when a fellow monstrumologist and his one-time best friend, John Chandler, goes missing in the Canadian wilderness while hunting the beast. Suddenly finding himself on a grueling chase with his master through the untamed woods in search of Chandler, or what's left of him, twelve year old Will Henry starts to see things that Warthrop can't – strange, unexplainable things that point to one conclusion – the Wendigo is very real, and very, very hungry.

Fans of The Monstrumologist are in for a real treat with The Curse of the Wendigo as the sequel lives up to the expectations of the first novel, and even exceeds them. Wendigo is a taunt thrill ride that's full of the nightmarish situations, scary monsters, and unbridled gore that readers have come to know and love. Yet, Wendigo also greatly expands on Warthrop's character, showing readers there is much more than meets the eye to this seemingly one-dimensional scientist. In fact, the nuanced and subtle way Warthop's character is expanded is so well done, it would not be out of place in a literary adult novel. Some strong ladies also make their debut and hold their own against Will and Warthrop, proving monstrumology isn't just for men. The constant changes in location, thrilling chases, dark mystery, and a new, even more gruesome monster, make The Curse of the Wendigo a hard book to put down, and perfect for teen readers with short attention spans. Hopefully Yancey will soon add a third volume of Will Henry's adventures for us to enjoy.

Read-alike suggestions:

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey

The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney

The Enemy by Charlie Higson

Bad Girls Don't Die

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender
published by Hyperion Book CH, 2009
352 pages
approximate age level: 12+

Alexis is a high school outsider with pink hair, a slacker attitude, a crusade against a group of mean cheerleaders, and only a camera for a best friend. Life's not great, but she can handle it, until she notices a strange light moving around her house and her little sister Kasey starts acting very odd. First Kasey's love of dolls turns into an obsession, leading her to break her friend's arm when she harmlessly tries to touch one. Then Kasey starts to act even stranger, speaking in old-fashioned diction and losing her memory of periods of time; her eyes even change color – from blue to green. When doors start to open and close and appliances turn on and off on their own, Alexis finally has to admit what's happening, as unbelievable as it sounds – her sister is possessed. But the spirit isn't content with parlor tricks and Alexis needs to save Kasey before whatever is controlling her carries out its evil plans that put Alexis and her whole family in serious danger.

Bad Girls Don't Die is a legitimately frightening mystery and Alender is an expert at creating a chilling atmosphere while also writing believable characters and situations. Alexis is a stellar narrator with a very appealing smart, sarcastic tone and independent spirit. Despite her misfit actions, she's a positive role-model for teenage readers, especially as she constantly stands up for herself and grows and recognizes her mistakes and prejudices. The ghost story is somewhat formulaic, but still compelling, and the way it slowly builds is a real page turner. There is a bit of romance, but it stays to the sidelines, though I was pleased to see that the object of Alexis' (eventual) affections is not your stereotypical prince charming – he's a fully formed character in his own right, and is as realistic as she is. A sequel, Bad Girls Don't Die: From Bad to Cursed, which finds Alexis investigating a new supernatural mystery, is set to be released in June 2011.

Read-alike suggestions:

Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves

Lips Touch: Three Times by Laini Taylor and Jim DiBartolo

The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney by Suzanne Harper

Wicked Lovely by Melissa Marr

Pretty Dead by Francesca Lia Block

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks by E. Lockhart

The Monstrumologist

The Monstrumologist by Rick Yancey
published by Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, 2010
464 pages
approximate age level: 12+
Printz Honor Book

12 year old orphan Will Henry is the assistant to Doctor Warthrope, a scientist in a small New England town in the late 1800s. But Will isn't learning about physics or chemistry as his master is a monstrumologist – a studier of monsters. When one night a grave robber stumbles upon the corpse of a hideous beast and brings it to Warthrope, Will finds himself suddenly preparing for a battle that pits the Doctor against a group of Anthropophangi, headless monsters with stomachs full of thousands of razor sharp teeth and a taste for human flesh. But the Anthropophangi have never before been seen in North America, so how have they appeared in the Doctor's town – and why?

The Monstrumologist is a beautifully written horror and mystery that teems with tension and abounds in creepiness. There is enough action to keep those with short attention spans entertained, but Yancey pays plenty of attention to characterization, setting, and language, making this a pleasing read for more discerning readers. Will is a great narrator, and by seeing the events through his eyes we are not only drawn into the story through our attachment to him as a character, but we also share his emotions and reactions – confusion, fear, surprise, terror – making for quite an intense and riveting reading experience. Don't be surprised if the hair stands up on the back of your neck and you find yourself looking over your shoulder more than once while reading. Boys will love the gross-out gory scenes (of which there are plenty), but the eerie mystery is also a big draw that will keep teens turning the pages. Fans will want to follow up with the sequel, The Curse of the Wendigo.

Read-alike suggestions:

The Curse of the Wendigo by Rick Yancey

The Last Apprentice Series by Joseph Delaney

The Enemy by Charlie Higson