Rant and Rave: Hollow City

Ransom Riggs’ breakout novel, Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children, made waves worldwide as he meshed together vintage photographs with a compelling story that made a somewhat scary premise into an adventure with a heart as progressive as the abilities of the “peculiars”. With Florida native Jacob Portman as the protagonist, the introduction of the characters were spot-on as the reader gets to know more about what the home is about, and how these zany characters change Jacob’s future for better or worse.

After the harrowing conclusion of the first novel, Hollow City picks up where the last ends: the children rowing from Cairnholm towards an unknown destination, looking to save Miss Peregrine from the event that changed her into a dismaying form. Propelled by circumstances, the gang goes on an extensive journey to flee the wights, beings with white eyes, and their hollowgasts while racing against time to save Miss Peregrine. Along the way, they develop their peculiar selves, their relationships and their experiences are widened altogether.

Coming from an excellent debut novel, Ransom Riggs ups the ante by making sure that the story evolves from the predecessor. From Cairnholm to London, the children are thrust into a mission only they can accomplish as the intensity of the wights’ search for peculiars get higher and heavier. What makes the sequel exhilarating is the knack of Riggs for mystery mixed with supernatural elements enough to keep you up all night, whether you’re reading or you’re just too afraid of what might lurk in the dark. The nightmares and dreams Jacob sees are indicative of how far the author is willing to go just to give the reader an experience that is spectacular and epic.

However, Hollow City’s strong suit would be the great depiction of the peculiars and their character development, furthering the personalities readers found endearing during the first book. Scene stealers like Bronwyn Bruntley, the girl with the unusual strength, and Enoch O’ Connor, the boy who can animate the dead, made the dialogue between the gang lively and exciting, enhancing the value of company special to the novel. In fact, the characters became more relatable and, in some chapters, their actions aren’t questionable because the author justified them with their gifts and their flaws.

The menagerie gets wilder with the welcome additions of creatures like Deirdre the emu-raffe (a half donkey and giraffe) and Addison the talking dog with genius ideas. They added color to the somewhat dark tone Hollow City has been following due to the circumstances that were carried on from the first book. However, the novel’s true voice came out when the introductions of at least four peculiars: two brothers (Joel-and-Peter) who can see in the dark and cannot be separated for safety’s sake, a brash girl (Melina) who possesses the power of telekinesis, and a spunky girl (Sam) who can absorb the impact of bombs from a distance. Though given sparse lines, they help drive the novel into greater heights by emphasizing the growing potential of the peculiars all over the world.

Through and through, the whole story has revolved around Jacob Portman, a “rich” kid whose grandfather had been a hollow slayer and whose experience with the peculiars and Miss Peregrine made Jacob want to help the cause. Ransom Riggs know his character well enough to make his voice stand out in a sea of wannabe bestsellers in your local bookstore. There is no sign of pretense with Jacob; his voice is so powerful and so clear that it makes the book resonate emotionally with the reader. In the middle of all the action, Jacob’s heightened powers help progress the novel to exhilarating heights.

Adventure and action aside, the love story between Jacob and Emma packs an emotional wallop because of the chemistry that is obviously hanging in the air while the reader relishes this beloved relationship in the YA fandom. The conversations between the two are real and sweet, fending off the toxicity and “display” other novels put off in terms of romance.

By the climax, everything seems to be riding on the narration of Jacob as they traverse different time-loops in London while being chased by the sinister wights. The novel does not let go of the viewer, especially during the moments when the war ravages the grounds on which the heroes walk on.

By the end, a huge revelation is thrust upon the readers, signifying a sure third novel in the series, and why shouldn’t it get a third book? With the trappings of a really good novel, Ransom heightened aspects of the YA novel with his ingenious use of photographs and the stories that “stem” from these antique keepsakes. When you have a story worthy of accolades and organic character development, all you need is a heart to stabilize everything, and revive the photographs it did.