Jacob is an American teenage boy, and he has difficulties making friends. His parents do not understand him and he feels he is utterly useless, especially after his grandfather dies under suspicious circumstances. But: He is wrong. He is very special, only he does not yet know. Also, he really is absolutely lovable, but he needs the special person who finds out to take the first step. And then dark clouds rise on the horizon of his new-found romance, which, happily can be overcome. But even worse and darker clouds move in, and it take all his and his girl’s special abilities to fight them off and – temporarily at least – save the world.

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children is a coming-of-age-novel like many others, and the underlying plot is a bit worn out from one too many encounters in teenage novels. What makes this book special (or peculiar) is that it is written around vintage photos collected by the author himself or friends of his. They are intriguing in their weirdness, they often seem pointless or plain repulsive, but they are beautifully worked into the plot and filled with meaning.

Apart from that, the setting in a phantasy world with time loops and evil ghosts and a boy from present-day America who suddenly finds himself on a Welsh islan in the 1940s is more interesting than it sounds.

Altogether: The ingredients are conservative, yet, the food is delicious.