Very much a journey book, this sequel to Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children moves quickly through many landscapes and time periods as the children flee from threats, both "normal" and "peculiar."
With their home destroyed and Miss Peregrine stuck in the form of a bird, Hollow City sends the unusually gifted children known as peculiars on a dangerous quest to find others of their kind, in order to save their beloved headmistress. The children must avoid capture by wights and nightmarish hollowgasts while racing against time, armed with little more than their individual abilities (great strength, invisibility, creating fire) and a book of fairytales. The longer Miss Peregrine remains a bird, the less chance there is of returning her to human form. Jacob must help lead their ragtag group across war-torn London, circa 1940, as he hones his ability to sense hollows and learns more about his grandfather's--and his own--role in this peculiar world.
Vintage photographs add to the novel's haunting atmosphere, while appearances by Gypsies and carnival folk give it a grounded mystique. Riggs masterfully builds suspense while revealing new information about the peculiars' world, making it at once sinister and captivating. A surprising twist at the end will keep readers on the edge of their seats and leaves the story poised for a third installment. Ideal for fans of Neil Gaiman and Daniel Kraus, Hollow City blends fantasy and horror into a world that will engross readers and leave them eager for more. --Julia Smith, blogger and former children's bookseller