Jacob Portman Sparknotes

When first beginning to read this novel the reader may think Jacob Portman and his grandfather live perfectly normal lives, when in actuality they have quite a strange background. The story begins with Jacob’s grandfather telling him stories about his childhood during the World War II period. Jacob’s grandfather tells him how he lived in a home for children during this time, most of the children having bizarre talents. As Jacob got older, he stopped believing the stories, until his grandfather was suddenly killed in the woods behind his home. Not long after his grandfather’s death, Jacob’s parents sent him to a therapist, Doctor Golan, to help him stop agonizing over his grandfather’s death.

While cleaning out his grandfather’s house after

Peregrine explained how the peculiar children came to be and how much danger they are in. Jacob learns that all of the peculiar loops, and the one he is in, are controlled by ymbrynes. He also learns that the time resets every day, just before a World War II Nazi bomb destroys them.

Jacob visits the house almost every day during the next few weeks. He learns more about the children and their peculiarities each day. One day Jacob discovered multiple letters and pictures sent to Emma by his grandfather. Jacob’s father soon became suspicious of his son’s whereabouts. One night, Jacob snuck out to meet Emma at the nearest beach. The two went swimming, but during their swim they discovered a shipwreck. Towards the end of their adventure, Emma finally told Jacob his grandfather “could see the monsters”.

One day, Miss Peregrine informs Jacob that he is indeed a peculiar child as well, being able to see “monsters” much like his grandfather. Jacob also comes to believe that an ornithologist on the island, competing with Jacob’s father, could be looking for more things than just birds. All of the children soon come to discover that Miss Avocet’s loop has been destroyed and all of her children were taken by wights, fearing it could happen to them,