Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
SUMMER READING ASSIGNMENT
Directions: For each chapter, define the vocabulary words listed. Respond to the
questions listed with evidence from the text in your answer.
Prologue
Inoculate
Lurid
1. Review the photos that were included in the Prologue. Why do you think
these were included?
2. Based on the prologue, what do you think will happen in the next chapter?
Chapter 1
Hallowed
Apocalyptic
Ornithologist
Pedigree
1. Compare how Jacob and his father feel about Grandpa Portman.
2. Describe the setting at the beginning of the novel. How does the setting
contribute to the tone of the story? Tone is defined as feelings and attitude of
the narrator. In other words, what description of the surroundings reveals
Jacob’s thoughts and feelings?
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Chapter 2
Placate
Peregrine
Demystify
1. What happens to Jacob after Grandpa Portman dies?
2. What present does Jacob receive? What is the significance of the present?
Chapter 3
Genealogy
Misanthropic
Cacophony
Extortion
1. How do the townspeople react to Jacob’s inquiry about the old children’s
home?
2. What facts do we learn about England during World War II in this chapter?
Research this time period and confirm whether those are “true” facts.
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Chapter 4
Grandiose
Congealing
Tawdry
1. What does Jacob’s father reveal about Grandpa? How does Jacob respond?
2. What does Jacob learn about his grandfather in chapter 4? How has his
opinion about his grandfather changed since the start of the story?
3. What mystery still remains at the end of this chapter? What could be the
explanation?
Chapter 5
Decrepit
Dally
Malevolent
Parenthetical
Encrustation
Disorienting
Divots
Assailant
Tarpaulin
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1. What is a cairn? What is its significance in the story?
2. After Jacob comes out of the cairn, what does he realize? How does he piece
it together?
3. The girl thinks Jacob is a “wight.” What might this be?
Chapter 6
Centaur
Topiary
Intuited
Taxonomy
1. What is the significance of the word “peculiar” in this text? What does it
mean to the children?
2. Miss Peregrine says Grandpa Portman “let himself grow old.” What does that
tell you about the children at the house?
3. Describe the changeover in the Loop. What happens? How do the children
react?
4. Of the peculiar features mentioned in this chapter, which is the most
interesting?
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Chapter 7
Agitate (verb)
Wheedle or
Wheedling
Prophetic
Vagabond
1. Research the history of side shows in America and England. Compare and
contrast your findings with the story.
2. Evaluate the benefits and drawbacks of living in the Loop for the characters.
What if you were living in the Loop?
Chapter 8
Disquisition
Haywire
Errant
Coy
1. Why can’t the children leave the Loop?
2. Why was Miss Peregrine upset with Jacob? Was her anger justified? Why or
why not?
3. Evaluate the use of photos to tell the story. What is the benefit of using
images?
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Chapter 9
Indomitable
Exodus
Audacity
Coterie
1. What does Jacob learn about Grandpa Portman in this chapter? How does it
clarify or confuse his understanding of his grandfather?
2. What are the hollowgast? How are they related to the wights?
Chapter 10
Fabricate
Noxious
Debased
Gourmand
1. Where would we see wights and hollowgasts in the 21st century?
2. What does the ornithologist know about the children? How had he appeared
in Jacob’s life before?
3. Summarize Jacob’s interaction with the beast.
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4. What does the U-boat do as Emma and Jacob are trying to rescue the
birdcage?
Chapter 11
1. What do the children decide to do? What reasons inform their decision?
2. What does Jacob decide to do? Is this the right decision? Why or why not?
Culminating Activity: Write a mini narrative/story (1/2 page) about one of
the photos from the book. Do not use the ideas from the book. Write a
completely original story. Choose one:
Option 1: p. 117 The photo shows a little girl in a cemetery. As she reflects
into the pool of water, she sees her own reflection plus that of another little
girl.
Option 2: p. 118 The photo shows a young man standing outside, covered in
bees.
Option 3: p. 162 The photo shows a dark tunnel with a bright light showing
from one end. There appears to be a woman and boy heading toward the light.
Option 4: p. 263 Two young girls in old-fashioned clothes are sitting atop a
reindeer. Next to them is Santa Claus. His smile and eyes look strange and
possibly menacing.
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