The Conference of the Birds by Ransom Riggs

Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children series book 5. Penguin, 2020. ISBN: 9780241320907. pbk., 228 pp.
(Age: Young Adult Readers) From the first page I was hooked. The action starts immediately and I felt like I was in one of those action films from the 80s in Chinatown hiding from a gang chasing me. Right from the start I was on adventure and thinking . . . what has happened? Why are the main characters running? This, I think is a brilliant way to start a book and to hook any Young Adult reader.
The Conference of the Birds is Ransom Riggs fifth instatement of Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children. I have watched the first film but this is the first of Riggs' books that I've read. I did find the characters' peculiar and the monsters scary but hey that's what the series is all about.
Ransom has a great imagination and awesome story telling skills. His characters are so peculiar and the way he writes about them you think the person sitting next to you could be one of them. I'll be watching from now on if they have special powers.
I enjoyed reading about Jacob and discovering who Noor is and her background and what she stands for, for Peculiars. The friendship they formed was cool. I really felt for Noor living as an orphan and not knowing her past and learning more about it as the story went.
Young Adults would love reading this book because it's the children that run the story and not the adults. I love the way Ransom incorporates unusual antique photographs into his story telling. The photos are scattered throughout the book and helps the reader visualize characters as they are introduced. I am definitely going to use these photographs in future writing lessons with my students. I think getting a student to read Ransom's books and seeing how he uses the photos students will be writing in no time. I think the cover is awesome and like the antique feel of it. It makes this series special.
Miss Peregrine's Peculiar children series has a new fan in me and I'm ready to start the series from the start. Also hope more films are made from the series.
Maria Komninos