Hollow City – Ransom Riggs (2014)

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, published in 2014, is the second installment in the Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children series. Continuing from the events of the first book, it follows Jacob Portman and his band of peculiar friends as they flee their island sanctuary in search of a cure to save their beloved headmistress, Miss Peregrine, who is trapped in bird form. Set against the haunting backdrop of WWII-era Europe, the novel weaves together vintage photographs with an eerie, thrilling narrative.

Plot Summary

On a storm-battered shore, a group of children rowed desperately through the churning sea, their destination a misty smudge on the horizon. Behind them, the only home they had ever known – the enchanted island of Cairnholm – faded into the fog, swallowed as though it had never existed. They were peculiar children, each blessed or burdened with strange gifts, and they fled with their headmistress, Miss Peregrine, now trapped in the fragile form of a bird. Their quest was urgent: to find another ymbryne who could heal Miss Peregrine before time ran out.

Jacob, the newest among them, bore the peculiar gift of seeing hollowgast – monstrous, ravenous creatures invisible to others. Beside him was Emma, with fire at her fingertips and fierce loyalty in her heart. Bronwyn, strong as an ox, carried burdens both physical and emotional. Millard, invisible and erudite, marked their path with knowledge. Enoch, morbid and sharp-tongued, clutched his precious jars of life-reanimating hearts. Hugh, keeper of bees within his belly, buzzed with restless energy, and Olive, light as air, floated when untethered. Fiona, coaxer of vines, and Claire, the youngest with a hidden mouth, completed the band of runaways.

The mainland offered little comfort. Chased by wights – hollowgast’s cunning, human-faced masters – the children plunged into an unfamiliar, war-torn world. Through crumbling cities and countryside scarred by bombs, they sought the ymbryne Miss Wren, the only one rumored to possess the power to restore Miss Peregrine. Each step drew them deeper into peril, their path marked by narrow escapes, near-starvation, and battles of will and wit.

As they fled through dark woods and across blasted fields, their strength frayed. Jacob wrestled with his identity, the pressure of filling his grandfather’s shoes, a man who had once hunted hollows with legendary precision. The others, too, were tested. Bronwyn’s arms never seemed to tire, but her heart ached for home. Emma’s brave front cracked in rare, unguarded moments, revealing a girl clinging to hope with blistered hands. Millard’s invisible form was a constant scout, but even he faltered under the weight of lost maps and dwindling chances.

Their journey led them to a menagerie loop hidden within a time fold, where peculiar animals, gifted with intelligence and speech, sheltered under Miss Wren’s care. A talking dog, Addison, became their guide, his sharp tongue and sharper nose leading them toward safety. There, among the animals, the children found a fragile peace – one they dared not trust for long. For even in this haven, the shadows lengthened.

Time pressed its cold hand against their backs. Miss Peregrine’s form began to wither, her mind slipping deeper into avian instinct. Emma watched over her like a sister, smoothing feathers and whispering reassurances, but fear lurked behind her fierce gaze. The group set out once more, armed with scraps of knowledge and the determination of the desperate.

Across rooftops and down crumbling alleys they ran, through decimated towns echoing with the cries of war. The wights closed in, hungry for peculiar souls. In a tangle of narrow streets, the children faced their greatest test: the wights struck, capturing Miss Peregrine and revealing that the bird in their care was not their headmistress at all, but her long-lost brother, Miss Peregrine’s evil sibling who had schemed to lure them into a trap.

Betrayal sliced through the group like a blade. Confusion and sorrow surged, but the peculiar children – bound now by love as much as survival – refused to break. Together, they stormed the wights’ fortress, battling not only human enemies but the hollows that lurked in the dark corners, waiting to tear them apart. Jacob faced his fears, his strange ability no longer a curse but a weapon. His senses sharpened, his heart steeled, he guided his friends through chaos.

The final confrontation was brutal. The children fought as only those who have lost everything can fight, wielding fire, strength, bees, and sheer determination. Emma’s flames seared a path through their enemies. Bronwyn lifted beams and hurled obstacles aside. Enoch’s reanimated dead sowed confusion, while Millard’s invisible form darted past guards and locks. Hugh unleashed a storm of bees, Olive hovered to reach impossible heights, and Fiona summoned roots to entangle their foes.

Jacob, at the heart of it all, faced the hollows head-on. With eyes wide open, he saw their grotesque forms and met them not with panic, but with purpose. The boy who had once doubted himself became the leader they needed, a beacon in the dark. Together, they freed their friends and shattered the wights’ cruel plans.

As dawn broke over a battered landscape, the peculiar children gathered, bruised but unbowed. Miss Peregrine remained missing, their true journey only beginning, but they had carved a victory from the jaws of despair. Jacob stood among them, no longer the boy who stumbled into a world of wonders, but one who belonged. The road ahead stretched into uncertainty, but they would walk it together – a family stitched from loss, courage, and peculiarity.

Main Characters

• Jacob Portman – A teenager who discovers he can see and sense hollowgast, deadly monsters invisible to others. Jacob grows from a confused outsider into a determined leader, grappling with fear, responsibility, and the legacy of his peculiar grandfather.
• Emma Bloom – A fiery and brave girl with the ability to produce flames with her hands. Formerly in love with Jacob’s grandfather, she now develops a tender, complicated bond with Jacob, often acting as both his supporter and challenger.
• Miss Alma Peregrine – An ymbryne who can transform into a bird and manipulate time. Her accidental entrapment in avian form becomes the central crisis of the story, pushing the children into a dangerous quest to save her.
• Bronwyn Bruntley – Possessing superhuman strength, Bronwyn is the group’s protector, both physically and emotionally. Her nurturing nature balances the group’s often chaotic dynamics.
• Millard Nullings – An invisible boy with a scholarly mind, fascinated by all things peculiar. His encyclopedic knowledge is crucial to the group’s survival and decision-making.
• Enoch O’Connor – A morbid, sarcastic boy who can temporarily animate the dead. Enoch’s dark sense of humor often masks his insecurities and skepticism about Jacob’s abilities.
• Hugh Apiston – A boy with bees living in his stomach, capable of controlling them. Hugh’s eccentricity provides both comic relief and moments of unexpected heroism.
• Olive Abroholos Elephanta – A young girl lighter than air, often floating unless weighted down. Olive brings innocence and lightness to the group, but also shows resilience.
• Fiona Frauenfeld – A quiet girl with the ability to manipulate plant life. Fiona’s calm strength is pivotal in moments of danger.

Theme

• Identity and Belonging: The novel deeply explores what it means to be peculiar and how that shapes identity. Jacob’s struggle to understand his place in both the peculiar world and the normal one highlights the universal quest for belonging.
• Courage and Sacrifice: The children’s journey is filled with moments of bravery and sacrifice. They risk their lives for Miss Peregrine and each other, underscoring themes of loyalty, selflessness, and the cost of doing what’s right.
• The Power of Story and Myth: The characters frequently rely on old tales, myths, and cryptic stories to guide them, blurring the line between fantasy and reality. This motif emphasizes the enduring power of storytelling as a means of survival and hope.
• War and Persecution: Set against the backdrop of WWII, the novel reflects on themes of displacement, danger, and the persecution of those who are different. The peculiars’ plight mirrors historical atrocities, deepening the narrative’s emotional resonance.

Writing Style and Tone

Ransom Riggs writes with a rich, atmospheric style that blends the fantastical with the historical. His use of vintage, uncanny photographs embedded in the narrative gives the story a distinctive visual texture, enhancing its otherworldly tone. Riggs’ prose is vivid and often lyrical, weaving eerie descriptions with moments of humor, tenderness, and suspense.

The tone balances between dark, foreboding danger and lighthearted camaraderie. While the children face life-threatening situations, their banter and evolving friendships bring warmth and levity. Riggs also employs a nostalgic, sometimes melancholic tone, especially in Jacob’s introspections, evoking a sense of loss, longing, and coming-of-age discovery. This delicate interplay between dread and wonder makes the novel both unsettling and enchanting.