***
NOVEL: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
AUTHOR: Brian Selznick
YEAR OF PUBLICATION: 2007
REVIEW:
***
This isn’t quite a picture book. It isn’t quite a chapter book for children. And it’s not quite a graphic novel, either. It needs the pictures almost as much as the words, and Brian Selznick created them both, quite beautifully. It’s very long, but a much quicker read than you’d expect due to the many illustrations.
***
It is a work of historical fiction, combining real-life details of the life of filmmaker George Méliès with a story about Hugo Cabret, a twelve-year-old orphaned boy living in the Montparnasse railway station in Paris, and his friend Isabelle.
***
Hugo’s a liar and a thief out of desperation, but he has a kind heart, a talent for all things mechanical, and a serious work ethic. Isabelle is, quite understandably, frustrated by Hugo’s deceit and secrecy, but fortunately for him, she has a kind heart, too, as well as an independent spirit; the two of them, with some help from a movie-loving friend and Isabelle’s godparents, manage to solve some mysteries and create a happy ending both for Hugo, and for the world of filmmaking.
***
Children love this book, both for its adventures (a mysterious automaton, a chase scene in a train station) and its fine depiction of friendship and eventual trust. It’s also tremendously visually appealing, depicting the beauty of Paris, the wonder of the cinema, and the emotions of the characters. As an adult it’s harder to find that sense of wonder, that belief in the magic of film, but if anything can help you get back to that space of childhood delight, this book may well be it.
***
RATING (one to five whistles, with five being the best): 4 Whistles
***
HOW TO PURCHASE: Amazon
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Laura LaVelle is an attorney and writer who lives in Connecticut, in a 100-year-old house, along with her husband, two daughters, and two cockatiels.
Laura can be contacted at laura@newswhistle.com
***
IMAGE CREDITS
Book Cover – Scholastic Press
***
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