A coming of age story with some dark twists. Miss Peregrine’s explores growing up under the influence of parental expectations and how they influence a kid’s growth. It’s a story that many young adults can relate to and I felt like the portrayal of trauma here was very tasteful. The plot surprised me at its depth and the issues it tackled, resulting in a complex narrative with well-developed character.

The story follows Jacob, the son of business owners that want him to eventually take over. He doesn’t want to. Jacob takes every opportunity to rebel against their wishes and is ostracized at school because of his strangeness. His only friend is a ne'er-do-well that he keeps around to further disappoint his parents. Their expectations drive him to the only person who accepts him for who he is, his grandpa. When tragedy befalls grandpa Portman, Jacob must go to a remote island to find the truth in his dying message. What he discovers there changes his life forever and allows him to finally make decisions of his own volition.

The story is punctuated by real-life, uncanny photos that add to the atmosphere of the narrative. It’s a strange plot that gets crazier as it develops. I really didn’t expect it to be as supernatural as it was near the end, but it came together nicely. Jacob comes into his own by exploring the mystery and discovers more about himself. Though his parents want what they perceive as best for him, only the individual can decide that. Jacob was a character that really grew over the course of the story. It was a believable arc under unbelievable circumstances. The strength of his character and the people he meets during his journey kept me engaged until the end. As Jacob uncovers the truth of his grandpa’s life, he reacts with skepticism but ultimately understands. There are some really complex relationships that change over the course of the story. Jacob’s romance subplot is really strange to me given the circumstances (you’ll understand if you’ve read it) and I wasn’t a huge fan.

Ultimately I liked most of the elements at play here. The journey of self-discovery is one that everyone can relate to, especially with the expectations of parents coming into play. Finding that person with which you can relate and suddenly having that ripped away, affected Jacob in visceral ways that I’m sure some can understand. It’s a raw, honest story that feels grounded even with the science fiction elements. I’d recommend this to anyone who could benefit from a story about discovering your own identity, independent of others’ expectations.