On My Bookshelf: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

Basic plot from Amazon: September 3, 1940. Ten peculiar children flee an army of deadly monsters. And only one person can help them—but she’s trapped in the body of a bird. The extraordinary journey that began in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children continues as Jacob Portman and his newfound friends journey to London, the peculiar capital of the world. There, they hope to find a cure for their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine. But in this war-torn city, hideous surprises lurk around every corner. And before Jacob can deliver the peculiar children to safety, he must make an important decision about his love for Emma Bloom. Like its predecessor, this second novel in the Peculiar Children series blends thrilling fantasy with vintage photography to create a one-of-a-kind reading experience.

Why I liked it: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs is the second novel of this series and I would definitely recommend reading the first one so you understand what is going on (cause there are some weird things going on).

"Peculiar children" have talents like breathing bees, expanding like a balloon, becoming invisible, and bringing inanimate objects to life. They live together in homes with their protectors, like Miss Peregrine, in protective bubbles/time warps because they are hunted by zombie like creatures called wights.

The main character, Jacob, is not outwardly peculiar like the other children, his talent is sensing these monsters and as he realizes in the second book, speaking to them. He is originally from present day Florida but has traveled back in time to 1940s London to help Miss Peregrine and her peculiar children.

The book is filled with one dangerous adventure after another that the peculiar children just barely escape by utilizing their unusual talents, sometimes even to the surprise of the other children. 

Classroom application: Hollow City is an action/thriller with a little bit of history, science fiction, and fantasy all mixed in, and would appeal to a wide range of reading interests in your classroom (even grown ups like me!). Its ending it set up for at least one more "Peculiar" book in the series, so keep your eyes open for more by Ransom Riggs.

If you are interested in purchasing a copy of Hollow City for yourself, you can find it on Amazon here.

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