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The most controversial change involved . In the book, Emma's peculiarity is pyrokinesis (fire). In the film, her power was swapped with that of another character, Olive, giving her the ability to manipulate air and levitate. Moreover, the film established a romantic relationship between Emma and Jacob, whereas in the book, Emma had a deep, tragic history with Jacob's grandfather, Abe. This change simplified the narrative but arguably stripped it of its emotional complexity.
The film amplified the gothic whimsy of the book. While the book relies on the reader's imagination to fill in the gaps of the grainy photos, Burton gave us high-definition wonder. He leaned into the contrast between the drab, rainy modern world of Florida, where protagonist Jacob Portman begins, and the saturated, golden-hour loop of 1943 Cairnholm Island.
Additionally, there are spin-off books: