The writing , particularly descriptions , is strong
How was the writing style?
Sixteen-year-old Jacob Portman, set to inherit a role in the family business, will never have to worry about a job or money. Of course, he has other problems&#8212;like uncool parents and almost no friends. Just before the grandfather who Jacob adores dies under mysterious circumstances, he leaves Jacob with a cryptic message about finding &#8220;The Bird.&#8221; Add this to incessant nightmares of monsters, and Jacob is soon sent to a psychiatrist. When Jacob decides he must go to a small island in the UK, Dr. Golan is supportive. Jacob&#8217;s father goes along to study the local birds. The story that Jacob begins to uncover becomes more and more complicated as he discovers that the silly stories people thought his grandfather made up were, in fact, real. And Jacob is not as boringly normal as he&#8217;s always thought.Ransom Riggs has written a very creative and entertaining story. His idea of spinning a tale based on peculiar old photographs is fresh and different. Jacob is a likeable protagonist.  The writing, particularly descriptions, is strong. There is a good bit of profanity, but it&#8217;s realistic for the way 16-year-old Americans talk among friends.As the story builds to its climax, I began to wonder if Riggs got a little hurried. One example, a European character who has spoken in rather formal 1940&#8217;s speech wants to find out who&#8217;s going to accompany her for something difficult. &#8220;Who&#8217;s in?&#8221; she asks, sounding like a current American. By the end, certain things seem to happen a little too easily, or be drawn out a little too long, and I was reading more rapidly. The ending come rather suddenly and leaves plenty of problems for Riggs and his characters to solve in the next book.Overall, a fun read for teens and many adults, too. 