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

Hollow City is the second book in the series of Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs and takes place the same night as the first book ended. Actually, the whole book took place in a matter of 3-4 days which was pretty cool, considering this book is almost 400 pages. And, unlike the majority of student essays, there was no "fluff" involved to make this book as long as it was.

In Hollow City Jacob and the children travel to London by boat on a mission to save Miss Peregrine's life, where she is trapped in bird form and could revert to a wild animal (think of the movie, Brave). The end is shocking. Just... shocking. I did not expect that at all and the ending changed the book for me, even though I'd already read it. But enough of near-spoilers, I digress (or do I, considering that the topic is still on the book and this is my book review?).

The creepiness level was definitely toned down in this book. Or maybe I just got used to feeling horrified at the thought of a soul-eating monster. Both are quite possible. But even though I was less freaked out from reading this book that doesn't mean it was any less good. It was wonderful, actually. I had a hard time tearing myself away from the book to go to work and I would stay up late reading it. I relived a moment from my childhood when I realized that I felt like this book was my friend, like how I feel about the Harry Potter series. And let me tell you, that's an awesome feeling to have. (However, I cannot say that this book was as good as Harry Potter.)

Seriously, this series could easily go on for another few books, we're that far away from a resolution. But now, after the high of reading it has gone down, I'm excited for the next few books! The character  development of the main character was quite apparent in how he treated the other children. He understood that the children's (if you can call them children) lives were in his hands. He stepped up and became the hero his grandfather was. It was incredible to watch his grandfathers stories turn into reality in the first book and then later become Jacob's.

Of course, as in every young adult novel (or so it seems) there is a love interest. It just so happens that the woman he falls in love with is a good 70 years older than him. But unlike a lot of YA novels, this love story was not the main dish and it wasn't sloppy, drunk love where they can't be separated.  I would absolutely recommend this book to any reader that isn't afraid of being, well, frightened. Riggs is a fabulous author with a wild imagination that thrilled me through both books and, I'm sure, will do yet again in the third installment of his series.