Tales of the peculiar

Review by New York Times Review

AS TIME PASSES, the relationship between adults and young people evolves. The preboomer-era image of befuddled parents "trying to figure out what's going on" in the minds of their offspring has given way to a kind of überempanthy - free from irony, some adults now respect children as they themselves wish to be respected and give children what they actually want, rather than force them to stomach what is put in front of them until they are "old enough to decide for themselves." This shift is evident in the world of literature for young audiences. These days writing for children often takes on a brazen quality, as if there's a cardinal rule that respect from the young reader is best earned by conjuring detailed landscapes of limitless imagination - by not withholding. Writers like J. R. R. Tolkien, the father of high-fantasy fiction, created entire languages and illustrated mythical lands with detailed maps, and if Tolkien is the father of high fantasy, perhaps the beloved Roald Dahl is the master of the darkly comic. Dahl's writing, no less imaginative, exhibits a keen knack for pushing the envelope past the comfort zone, to a place young audiences find true delight in. Two new books and their unabridged audio recordings are steeped in both of these (often overlapping) worlds. They indicate we are in a time for young reader's fiction that's perhaps our most unbridled and mischievous to date. Rick Riordan's "Guide to the Norse Worlds" (which is immersed in the same setting as his latest middle-grade series, featuring the hero Magnus Chase) is inspired by Norse mythology and is ostensibly the little book found somewhere in a room at the Hotel Valhalla, a destination for those who are exploring the Norse underworld (that is, the world of the dead) and looking for quick, thorough descriptions of everything in this complex universe in one handy volume. It was assembled by the hotel manager, Helgi, to ease the toil of having to answer irritating questions from patrons. Riordan maps out the extensive geography of the Norse underworld and all its inhabitants, as well as the "ethnic" nuances of those groups, in a neatly categorized, Zagat guide sort of format. He covers key characters of Norse mythology (Odin, Thor, et al.) and includes "interviews" with some, in which they reveal their particular story. A messy, teenage snarkiness is laced throughout the book; lots of farting and other normally questionable personal habits are a trademark, as with Riordan's other best-selling Greek- mythology-inspired series. Norse mythology is underlined in Tolkienesque anthropological detail, but with a sassy, youthful shrug. There are details that might seem anachronistic, as when this distant world's inhabitants use modern colloquial expressions - or Velcro. That helps keep the traditionally structured "guidebook" form off-balance and quirky. The actor Kieran Culkin gives his audio interpretation a nerdy "textbook genre" delivery that shows his affinity for Riordan's wry sense of teenage humor. This could have been an even greater listening experience if he'd inhabited the characters in the scenes outside the narration with more immersion and definition, although the reading he gives is indeed charming. "TALES OF THE PECULIAR" is a selection of stories first introduced in Ransom Riggs's best-selling "Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children" series, now also a Tim Burton feature film. The tales are a wildly diverse sampling of narratives that take place all over the globe and share some version of that Dahlesque daring and darker edge - an edge that might have seemed too nightmarish or graphic for children in times past, or for younger children today. The stories tip a hat to Grimmlike fairy tales (and in fact, many or most end with the traditional "they lived happily every after"). Paranormal or fantastical events or powers are common. A major premise of the stories, as in the "Miss Peregrine" books, is some strange ability or other that a character (or characters) possess - the ability to cure people of their nightmares, to hold back the sea, or to grow back severed limbs, to name a few. Ultimately a crossroad is reached about the consequences of using that power - or not using it. There is a poetic, timeless morality to these tales, like classic fables, but they all have a modern sensibility, a mischievous darkness and an understanding of what it feels like to be young that can be moving and thought-provoking. The beloved British actor Simon Callow handles this ambitious, unabridged audio performance with supreme confidence and the flair of a true storyteller. His command of the many international dialects required is impressive, and the listener will savor his mastery of them with delight - though he skipped the Chinese, presumably to avoid offending, which this reviewer respects greatly. (Having said that, an actor of Callow's caliber could have included it in his wildly diverse arsenal with no complaint from me.) Like his colleague reading the Riordan book, he might have also immersed himself in the actual characterizations of the non-narration dialogue passages with more relish to make those personalities just a little more vivid. But both actors succeed quite well in never overdoing it; that is indeed no small task. These books share authors with unbridled imaginations and a skill at focusing their tales with a strong point of view and a writing style aimed at delighting young readers. Today, with so many attempts to engage the young imagination seeming base or paltry, fiction remains perhaps the most imaginative and brain-nurturing material for young people to enjoy, and that is a noble achievement. B. D. WONG is a Tony Award-winning actor and the author of "Following Foo: The Electronic Adventures of the Chestnut Man."

Copyright (c) The New York Times Company [November 13, 2016]

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Review by Booklist Review

Fans of Riggs' Miss Peregrine series will delight over this slender companion book of peculiar folklore, as will neophytes. Much as J. K. Rowling's The Tales of Beedle the Bard (2008) did for the Harry Potter series, these stories enhance the mythology Riggs has created around peculiardom rather than forward the series' plot. Curated and annotated by Millard Nullings an invisible scholar whom Miss Peregrine readers will know well are 10 tales, ranging from explanatory, such as The Pigeons of St. Paul's, which accounts for the Great Fire of London and why pigeons call the cathedral home, to cautionary, as in The Splendid Cannibals, which gives new meaning to something being worth an arm and a leg. Adhering to fairy-tale tradition, most of the stories offer a lesson couched within a fascinating, and frequently dark, account of a princess, ghost, giant, or shape-shifter (though The First Ymbryne uniquely offers a snippet of peculiar history). Each tale is preceded by an exquisite woodcut illustration by Davidson, full of intricate detail, making this a lovely complement to the series. HIGH-DEMAND BACKSTORY: Giant Miss Peregrine displays are popping up in theaters in preparation for the first book's movie release. This will only feed the peculiar frenzy.--Smith, Julia Copyright 2016 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.

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Review by Publisher's Weekly Review

Riggs follows his bestselling Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children and its sequels with an enticing collection of what purports to be "peculiar" folklore, "passed down from generation to generation since time immemorial." Among the 10 tales-ostensibly collected, edited, and annotated by Millard Nullings, a peculiar from the novels-are "The Splendid Cannibals," which concerns a town where people can regrow the lost limbs they regularly sell to rich cannibals at premium prices; "Cocobolo," about a peculiar father and son in ancient China who turn into islands as they mature; and "The Pigeons of Saint Paul's," in which a peculiar named Wren makes a deal with London's pigeons in order to get his cathedral built. Arriving just in time for the fall release of the Miss Peregrine film, these tales, which often reference events in the earlier novels, are alternately droll, somber, and a bit horrific, and they're sure to appeal to fans of the series. Elegantly detailed engravings from Davidson open each story, setting the tone for the tale that follows. Ages 12-up. Author's agent: Jodi Reamer, Writers House. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved

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Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 6 Up-Riggs gives fans of his "Miss Peregrine" trilogy a history lesson of sorts in 10 short stories that provide a glimpse into the fascinating past of peculiars and Peculiardom. These fables seem familiar yet completely new, touching on themes and subjects that populate classic myths and legends. For example, the famous phrase no man is an island, entire of itself takes on a completely different meaning for one peculiar. The tales are presented as written records of known stories passed down from generation to generation, collected and presented by Millard Nullings, Esq., EdD, MBCh (one of Miss Peregrine's children from the original books), with footnotes that fill in historical details. The pieces predate the use of photography, so instead of employing the intriguing and mysterious found photographs featured in past works, Riggs relies on beautifully detailed illustrations that capture another time and place. The stories center on characters who are different, who don't fit in, who aren't accepted by those around them, and who overcome these challenges and come to embrace who they truly are. VERDICT For fans of the past books, this volume will provide new insight into many of the events in Peculiar history. It is also a perfect gateway for new readers to enter the world Riggs has created. Recommended for all libraries.-Billy Parrott, New York Public Library © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Horn Book Review

From the author of the adult series Miss Peregrine's Peculiar Children, comes a collection of "folklore" of peculiars. The ten fascinating short stories focus on outcast characters that overcome adversity. Purportedly edited and (footnoted) by "Millard Nullings," an invisible ward of Miss Peregrine's, each tale opens with a detailed, full-page black-and-white woodblock illustration that adds to its air of mystery. (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

(c) Copyright The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

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Review by Kirkus Book Review

In this special edition, fictive author Millard Nullings selects 10 tales from the many that have passed down through generations to instruct and inform those of the peculiar persuasion.A prefatory warning that the contents are strange, depressing, and altogether not to your liking, not to mention none of your business, will surely cause wiser normals to steer clear. Those impetuous enough to join peculiar readers in proceeding, however, will find a number of affecting adventures. These lead off with a cautionary episode in which villagers who can regenerate body parts grow rich by selling limbs to cannibals but ultimately let greed overwhelm their better judgement. Later offerings include the origin of the first shape-changing Ymbryne, the story of an unloved lad who becomes a giant locust, and a tale of the long war between Londoners and pigeons over air rights. Clever tweaks (we have a modest proposal for you, says a cannibal in the opener) abound, and endings are mostly happy. The tales all feature full-page illustrations that look like finely worked wood engravings and offer glimpses of realistically depicted figures, major incidents, and eerie details. Specific descriptions of characters seldom enter in, aside from one dark-skinned seer of ghosts and a scaled princess, but names that range from Fergus and Joo to Hctor and Zheng hint at some diversity in the cast. A properly peculiar collection from Riggs. (Short stories. 11-15) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

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The Splendid Cannibals The peculiars in the village of Swampmuck lived very modestly. They were farmers, and though they didn't own fancy things and lived in flimsy houses made of reeds, they were healthy and joyful and wanted for little. Food grew bountifully in their gardens, clean water ran in the streams, and even their humble homes seemed like luxuries because the weather in Swampmuck was so fair, and the villagers were so devoted to their work that many, after a long day of mucking, would simply lie down and sleep in their swamps. Harvest was their favorite time of year. Working round the clock, they gathered the best weeds that had grown in the swamp that season, bundled them onto donkey carts, and drove their bounty to the market town of Chipping Whippet, a five days' ride, to sell what they could. It was difficult work. The swampweed was rough and tore their hands. The donkeys were ill-tempered and liked to bite. The road to market was pitted with holes and plagued by thieves. There were often grievous accidents, such as when Farmer Pullman, in a fit of overzealous harvesting, accidentally scythed off his neighbor's leg. The neighbor, Farmer Hayworth, was understandably upset, but the villagers were such agreeable people that all was soon forgiven. The money they earned at market was paltry but enough to buy necessities and some rations of goat-rump besides, and with that rare treat as their centerpiece they threw a raucous festival that went on for days. That very year, just after the festival had ended and the villagers were about to return to their toil in the swamps, three visitors arrived. Swampmuck rarely had visitors of any kind, as it was not the sort of place people wanted to visit, and it had certainly never had visitors like these: two men and a lady dressed head to toe in lush brocaded silk, riding on the backs of three fine Arabian horses. But though the visitors were obviously rich, they looked emaciated and swayed weakly in their bejeweled saddles. The villagers gathered around them curiously, marveling at their beautiful clothes and horses. "Don't get too close!" Farmer Sally warned. "They look as if they might be sick." "We're on a journey to the coast of Meek," explained one of the visitors, a man who seemed to be the only one strong enough to speak. "We were accosted by bandits some weeks ago, and, though we were able to outrun them, we got badly lost. We've been turning circles ever since, looking for the old Roman Road." "You're nowhere near the Roman Road," said Farmer Sally. "Or the coast of Meek," said Farmer Pullman. "How far is it?" the visitor asked. "Six days' ride," answered Farmer Sally. "We'll never make it," the man said darkly. At that, the silk-robed lady slumped in her saddle and fell to the ground. The villagers, moved to compassion despite their concerns about disease, brought the fallen lady and her companions into the nearest house. They were given water and made comfortable in beds of straw, and a dozen villagers crowded around them offering help. "Give them space!" said Farmer Pullman. "They're exhausted; they need rest!" "No, they need a doctor!" said Farmer Sally. "We aren't sick," the man said. "We're hungry. Our supplies ran out over a week ago, and we haven't had a bite to eat since then." Farmer Sally wondered why such wealthy people hadn't simply bought food from fellow travelers on the road, but she was too polite to ask. Instead, she ordered some village boys to run and fetch bowls of swampweed soup and millet bread and what little goat-rump was left over from the festival--but when it was laid before the visitors, they turned the food away. "I don't mean to be rude," said the man, "but we can't eat this." "I know it's a humble spread," said Farmer Sally, "and you're probably used to feasts fit for kings, but it's all we have." "It isn't that," the man said. "Grains, vegetables, animal meat--our bodies simply can't process them. And if we force ourselves to eat, it will only make us weaker." The villagers were confused. "If you can't eat grains, vegetables, or animals," asked Farmer Pullman, "then what can you eat?" "People," the man replied. Everyone in the small house took a step back from the visitors. "You mean to tell us you're . . . cannibals?" said Farmer Hayworth. "By nature, not by choice," the man replied. "But, yes." He went on to reassure the shocked villagers that they were civilized cannibals and never killed innocent people. They, and others like them, had worked out an arrangement with the king by which they agreed never to kidnap and eat people against their will, and in turn they were allowed to purchase, at terrific expense, the severed limbs of accident victims and the bodies of hanged criminals. This comprised the entirety of their diet. They were now on their way to the coast of Meek because it was the place in Britain which boasted both the highest rate of accidents and the most deaths by hanging, and so food was relatively abundant--if not exactly plentiful. Even though cannibals in those days were wealthy, they nearly always went hungry; firmly law-abiding, they were doomed to live lives of perpetual undernourishment, forever tormented by an appetite they could rarely satisfy. And it seemed that the cannibals who had arrived in Swampmuck, already starving and many days from Meek, were now doomed to die. Having learned all this, the people of any other village, peculiar or otherwise, probably would have shrugged their shoulders and let the cannibals starve. But the Swampmuckians were compassionate almost to a fault, and so no one was surprised when Farmer Hayworth took a step forward, hobbling on crutches, and said, "It just so happens that I lost my leg in an accident a few days ago. I tossed it into the swamp, but I'm sure I could find it again, if the eels haven't eaten it yet." Excerpted from Tales of the Peculiar by Ransom Riggs All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

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