(The following review is not meant to dissuade or endorse but rather to inform parents and readers of content. I’ve done my best to point out what I feel is useful, but please use your own discretion as I cannot guarantee 100% accuracy.)
Title:
Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children
Intended Audience:
Readers 13-17 years old
Synopsis:
16-year-old Jacob has grown up hearing incredible, and unbelievable stories from his grandfather about his own youth. Tales of peculiar children with unusual abilities all living together in a children’s home to escape the “monsters” during World War II. While Jacob half-believed some of his stories when he was young, he now knows they are just the imaginings of a war scarred old man. But one fateful day, after a frantic phone call from his grandfather, Jacob rushes to be by his side. After he arrives, he sees something so horrible, it makes him question everything, including his own sanity. In an attempt to gain closure from his trauma and better understand his grandfather, Jacob travels to the island of his grandfather’s tales. Here he discovers the stories of dangerous monsters and peculiar children might not be so imaginary after all.
Themes:
World War II, Mental Illness, Fantasy, Horror
Language Content:
Contains quite a spattering of cursing throughout, not concentrated in any one spot, including: H***, d***, a**, s***, p***, and b****. Also uses God and Jesus’ name in a few instances. Main character makes a joke about his friend’s mom “blowing truckers for food stamps.” Has vulgar graffiti on the wall. Jokes that a man is so excited about rare birds he’s getting a boner. Jacob’s friend gives him the nickname “Special Ed.” Jacob also does a “single fingered salute.”
Romantic Situations:
Jacob begins falling for a girl names Emma who is an 80 something year old who was once in a relationship with his grandfather but has not aged past being a teen because of a time loop. At first he has reservations saying, “It would “give anyone pause no matter how horny they are.” Emma puts her hand on his knee. They kiss twice. Once with “tongues pressing” and second time mentions kissing with open mouths. At one point, Emma tackles him and tries to remove his belt so they can go swimming. There is also a spot where it mentions two kids “snogging each others faces off.”
Violence and Gore:
An old man is slashed in the stomach and bleeding out in a puddle. Human organs and body parts discovered in jars. Pigs are ripped apart. A creature is stabbed through the eye and it gushes liquid. A mutilated corpse is described in great detail and brought momentarily back to life. A boy uses animal hearts to re-animate the dead and bring clay dolls to life which he breaks and smashes.
Frightening Imagery
Many of the pictures in the book are quite creepy and may disturb younger readers. Briefly discusses gas chambers and concentration camps. Creature with tentacles coming out of mouth and another with gaping mouth full of teeth and three forked tongues snaking out. Men with milky white eyes.
Magic and the Occult:
Many different abilities described. Some future prediction with dreams, and creating new life with dead animals. Talks about peculiar people being persecuted through the ages and run out of town by Muslims and burned as witches by Christians. Hollow creatures that hunt them described as having no souls.
Use of Drugs and Alcohol:
Not by the main character. His friend Ricky smokes and chews tobacco, says his cousin is a pothead, Emma has a drink at the pub, Miss Peregrine smokes a pipe. A woman drinks wine and brandy in order to treat her shock, Jacob’s father drinks heavily, and drunk people are mentioned several times.
Disrespectful Attitudes:
Main character is going through a life trauma and has a lot of angst toward everyone. He isn’t very respectful to either parent. Sarcastic, and at times not very appreciative. He does seem to realize the importance of his family a bit more toward the end and will not abandon his dad when he thinks he could be in danger.
Final Thoughts:
Even though this book is written for children, parents should be aware that it contains a lot of mature content and some dark, disturbing images and descriptions. I did find the premise very intriguing and I could see there being some cool world building in the books to come.
Emily A. Steward is a writer of Young Adult and Middle Grade fiction. Her books can be found on Amazon.com and at participating retailers.
The Unreliable Narrator 