Hollow City

by: Ransom Riggs

Reviewed by Bella Ishizaki

Fall 2016

REVIEW: Hollow City by Ransom Riggs

ISBN#: 978-1-59474-805-9

THE STORY:

Jacob Portman and his peculiar friends are fleeing with their headmistress to London. Attempting to find a ymbryne to help their headmistress, who is trapped in the body of a bird. Besides having to find a cure, they are also being hunted down by monsters called wights and hollows. After traveling on boat for what seemed like forever, they finally reach land. Only to be hunted down by hollows and wights again. The children seek refuge in a raided loop that has a bunch of peculiar animals in it. The children stay there for a little but then move on. They then stay with the gypsies for a while but then must board a train. Before they could
board though, they were attacked and kidnapped. They were able to escape and eventually make it to London. At the time that they arrive, London is in a war. The children go into another loop and find a girl named Melina, who has a pigeon that can lead them to another ymbryne. They follow the pigeon around London until they find another loop. When they enter it they are transported to a circus and they search for the ymbryne Miss. Wren. They reach the end of the loop and see a frozen building. But is Miss. Wren really there? Throughout the story Jacob also expresses his feelings for a peculiar girl named Emma Bloom. Their feelings for each other later cause a conflict where Jacob must make a tough decision. (248)

MY OPINION:

When I first started to read the book I could easily understand it and it got right into the story. The story was really able to capture my attention and keep it, I guess you could say that it was very riveting. The book was just amazing as the first one, which I think is sometimes hard to achieve with a sequel. The author seemed to paint a picture for me with his choice of words, describing the setting and scenes in depth. He was able to describe the thoughts and feelings of the main character very well. He was also able to show plot and character development as the story progressed. I would totally re-read this book again if I could. I would recommend this book to twelve to sixteen year olds because of its content and mature or scary scenes. After reading this book I would give it a solid ten stars out of ten. (157)

STUDY QUESTIONS AND VOCABULARY:

FIRST SECTION

1. Who is the most maternal of all the peculiar children?

1a. Bronwyn is the most maternal. (pg. 36)

2. What form is Miss. Peregrine trapped in?

2a. She is trapped in the form of a bird. (pg. 37)

3. What are all of the children running away from?

3a. Monsters called wights and hollows. (pg. 56)

4. What are “punishment loops”?

4a. They hold wights, criminals, and the insane. (pg. 99)

5. How many days can a strong ymbryne stay in bird form?

5a. About four days. (pg. 102)

extant (pg. 30)

veritable (pg. 38)

dismal (pg. 46)

inauspicious (pg. 68)

timbre (pg. 84)

MIDDLE SECTION

6. What is the ancient name for peculiars?

6a. Syndrigasti. (pg. 135)

7. What is happening to the leader of the gypsies son?

7a. He is slowly turning invisible. (pg. 139)

8. When the peculiar children and the gypsies are trapped by wights, who saves them?

8a. Hugh saves them by summoning bees and many other stinging insects. (pg. 180)

9. Who is considered the teacher out of all the peculiar children?

9a. Millard is considered the teacher. (pg. 193)

10. Which peculiar child refuses to speak because of her tragic past?

10a. Fiona refuses to speak. (pg. 195)

lilting (pg. 145)

denizens (pg. 163)

skirmish (pg. 165)

schoolmarm (pg. 171)

filament (pg. 215)

LAST SECTION

11. How do the two blind boys (Joel and Peter) see?

11a. They use echolocation. (pg. 266)

12. What is Sam’s peculiarity?

12a. She can be hurt or have something impale her and not be affected or killed. A hole forming where the wound is, no blood or anything showing. (pg. 282)

13. What animal is leading the peculiars to a safe loop where Miss. Wren is?

13a. A pigeon is. (pg. 290)

14. What is Miss. Peregrine’s full name?

14a. It is Alma LeFay Peregrine. (pg. 296)

15. What is a tourist loop?

15a. They are loops placed at times of historical import. Many peculiars used to visit them to learn. (pg. 302)

echolocator (pg. 266)

warbling (pg. 296)

warring (pg. 304)

gaudy (pg. 305)

lieu (pg. 317)