The Peculiar is a children's fantasy novel written by Stefan Bachmann and published on September 18, 2012, by Greenwillow Books, an imprint of HarperCollins.
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| Author | Stefan Bachmann |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Series | The Peculiar duology |
| Genre | Historical fantasy |
| Publisher | HarperCollins |
Publication date | September 18th, 2012 |
| Publication place | United States |
| Media type | Print (Hardback), Audiobook |
| Pages | 368 |
| ISBN | 0062245015 |
| Followed by | The Whanot |
Synopsis
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In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew and his younger sister Hettie live in fear of discovery by the outside world. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings, half-faery, half-human, and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them. But when changelings start showing up in London murdered and covered with red tattoos, and a mysterious lady in a plum colored dress begins stalking the streets of Bath, Bartholomew breaks all the rules and sets out to discover the truth.
Characters
- Bartholomew Kettle: a young changeling, the protagonist
- Henrietta Kettle: Bartholomew's younger sister
- The Lady in Plum: a woman with a mysterious past
- Arthur Jelliby: a spoiled young government official
- Mr. Lickerish: a sinister faery who has been voted into the government
- Jack Box: a mysterious, malevolent faery who takes the form of a swarm of rats
Reception
Critical reception for the book has been positive, and the book met with acclaim. The New York Times called it "richly-realized and accomplished" in its review, and it was an Editor's Choice.[1] Los Angeles Times said, "Bachmann’s steampunk fairy tale . . . recalls Dostoevsky, Dickens, and more recent classics, such as J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events . . . [An] unusually gifted young writer.”[2] Fantasy authors Christopher Paolini and Rick Riordan praised the book, with Paolini saying, “Bachmann’s prose is beautiful, and his story is swift, strong, and entertaining."[3] In a starred review, Publishers Weekly called it “An absolute treat for readers of any age" and chose it as one of their best books of 2012.[4][5] It was nominated for the Cybils Award, and was an ABA New Voices Pick.[6][7]
References
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