Hollow City

January 27, 2014
In this sequel to the bestselling Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children, young Jacob Portman, having discovered his ability to sense the monstrous wights and hollowgasts that are attempting to capture or kill Peculiars, has narrowly escaped with them and their injured leader, the birdlike "ymbryne," Miss Peregrine. The children must travel cross-country and through time loops, dodging monsters all the way, to Blitz-era London where, rumor has it that the last free ymbryne, Miss Wren, is hiding. En route, they meet talking animals, helpful Romany, and other Peculiars with odd talents: "The suitcase jiggled.... Its latches popped, and very slowly, the case began to open. A pair of white eyes peeped out at the crowd, and then the case opened a little more to reveal a faceâthat of an adult man... who had somehow folded himself into a suitcase no larger than my torso." Riggs's use of grotesque, unsettling, and sometimes lightly retouched photographs is just as successful in this outing, and while the plot occasionally feels forced to fit the photographs, it will easily please the previous book's numerous fans. Ages 14âup.

Fans of the surprise hit MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN will welcome Kirby Heyborne's engaging narration of Riggs's second book. Jacob and his band of peculiar friends continue to travel through time, encountering strange creatures and chilling hollows--shadowy monsters that Jacob is peculiarly able to detect. Heyborne deftly guides listeners through the complex story. Never hurrying the pace, he allows listeners to absorb Riggs's image-rich, densely plotted prose. Heyborne also moves masterfully among the large cast of characters, creating distinct British voices for each of Jacob's peculiar friends. Heyborne's sense of timing, evident pleasure in the material, and ability to thrillingly execute the book's many dramatic moments will keep listeners riveted. J.C.G. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award (c) AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine