Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Reviewed by Lori

Hollow City: The Second Novel of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children

Title: Hollow City

Series: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children Book #2

Author: Ransom Riggs

Perma-Bound Catalogue #: 95713

Description: Jacob and friends have escaped Miss Peregrine's island and flee to London, the peculiar capital of the world, where they are chased by Miss Peregrine's brother.

Rubric Rating: Level 4 - Love It!


Why I Read It: Continuing with the series and enjoyed the first novel.

Notes: Hollow City was a much faster and more engaging read for me than Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children.  Jacob and the peculiar children are on a quest to find another ymbryne so that they can return Miss Peregrine to her human state.  Using the only items they have available to them - their peculiarities and the book of tales, Jacob, Emma, and the others set out on a quest to find other loops and peculiars.  Their quest leads them not only from place to place but from time to time. In this book we learn more about the different peculiar children and meet some new friends including some peculiar animals.  The ending of the book was both surprising and slightly abrupt.  When I reached the last page and flipped expecting the next chapter and instead found the acknowledgements I was shocked.  I literally sucked in my breath because I was sad I didn't have more to read.  I love the way Ransom Riggs writes.  He is a very visual writer and I am able to see and experience the world and people he is writing.  Some of his lines are very poetic in their diction.  I'm looking forward to the next book.

Recommended Readers: Grade 7 and Up (for good readers)

Themes: Series, Peculiarities, War, Mystery, Kidnapping, Quests, Orphans, Friendship, Special Powers, Quests

Cross-Genre Links: 

 Movie: Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
Movie: The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)
Images: Early Victorian Trick Photography and Momento Mori
Websearch: Children in WWII Britain

Inquiries and Activities: 

  • Why do the children need to find another ymbryne?
  • What will happen to them and Ms. Peregrine if they do not enter another loop?
  • What is your favourite peculiarity?
  • If you could be a peculiar what ability would you like to have?  Why?
  • What sort of negative side effects might it have?
  • Why are the wights and hollowgast searching for peculiars and ymbrynes
  • What makes Jacob's peculiarity so unique?
  • What did you think of the ending?

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