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arielthebookgargoyle 's review for:
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I read this book for a purpose. It was recommended to my daughter who isn't very engaged in reading. It was written for her age range, entering middle school, keeping in mind that the step before usually features pictures. It is a mix of illustrations with a more mature, yet simple chapter book nestled between. She took her time reading it to me, then I read on my own.
For someone learning to improve their reading, this book was perfect. It has the visual to go with the words, and also some subtle symbology that makes it great for discussion.
From a literary standpoint, if you discount the illustrations, the story was somewhat weak. In several areas it leaned heavily on the fact the illustrations where there, so it wasn't very descriptive. The plot was kept very simple, so it was predictable. For an older audience, it may not be as captivating.
The story, in general, was sweet. It began with a little boy, who had experienced tragedy hiding in the bowels of a train station. He is scared of change, not very confident. He finds an unassuming relationship with a grumpy old man that changes his trajectory to better places. Learning first assumptions aren't always correct and he isn't the only one with secrets.
It felt written by a mindset that is a dreamer. Emphasizing how imagination leds to creation, particularly with the new mediums (unexperienced or newly developed), and how that inspires others.
I very much enjoyed the step up from picture books.. simple yet effective.. idea of using visuals for possibly struggling readers who may not be ready for books that are words only, or that learn better when the story is visualized for them. I liked the intentions behind the story, using a moment in history to spur an imaginary character who, I feel, may have represented a piece of the author. That was well done. I wish there were more books out there like this one, because although my daughter didn't like the boy, and thought the majority of characters were wrong in most of their behaviors, she discussed and engaged with the story more efficiently than when a story is only words.
For someone learning to improve their reading, this book was perfect. It has the visual to go with the words, and also some subtle symbology that makes it great for discussion.
From a literary standpoint, if you discount the illustrations, the story was somewhat weak. In several areas it leaned heavily on the fact the illustrations where there, so it wasn't very descriptive. The plot was kept very simple, so it was predictable. For an older audience, it may not be as captivating.
The story, in general, was sweet. It began with a little boy, who had experienced tragedy hiding in the bowels of a train station. He is scared of change, not very confident. He finds an unassuming relationship with a grumpy old man that changes his trajectory to better places. Learning first assumptions aren't always correct and he isn't the only one with secrets.
It felt written by a mindset that is a dreamer. Emphasizing how imagination leds to creation, particularly with the new mediums (unexperienced or newly developed), and how that inspires others.
I very much enjoyed the step up from picture books.. simple yet effective.. idea of using visuals for possibly struggling readers who may not be ready for books that are words only, or that learn better when the story is visualized for them. I liked the intentions behind the story, using a moment in history to spur an imaginary character who, I feel, may have represented a piece of the author. That was well done. I wish there were more books out there like this one, because although my daughter didn't like the boy, and thought the majority of characters were wrong in most of their behaviors, she discussed and engaged with the story more efficiently than when a story is only words.