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A review by selenajournal
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
5.0
Set in Paris in the year 1931, The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a gorgeous meld of graphic novel and children's story. Orphaned and living in the walls of a Parisian train station, Hugo is forced to live a life of secrecy and thievery. After his parents died in a fire, Hugo lived with his uncle, a drunken clock-keeper. But one day, his uncle fails to return, and it is up to Hugo to keep the clocks running and trick the inspector into thinking his uncle is still there.
However, Hugo's world quickly begins to unravel when he gets caught stealing from a toy store. The shopkeeper makes him empty out his pockets, and with them, he loses his precious notebook. Without giving too much away about the story, Selznick blends in historical fact about a filmmaker and magician, Georgies Melies. It was a great surprise to find out that the book was based on a man who really created beautiful magic on the first movie-screens.
The book looks entirely intimidating at over 500 pages. But half of them are pictures that take up two pages. Though intricate and beautiful, the illustrations are used to tell parts of the linear story rather than repeating information already presented within the narrative. Selznick is definitely onto something here!
This is recommended for anyone who enjoys young adult or children's fiction and likes gorgeous illustrations. Or just wants a really well-told and imagined story.
However, Hugo's world quickly begins to unravel when he gets caught stealing from a toy store. The shopkeeper makes him empty out his pockets, and with them, he loses his precious notebook. Without giving too much away about the story, Selznick blends in historical fact about a filmmaker and magician, Georgies Melies. It was a great surprise to find out that the book was based on a man who really created beautiful magic on the first movie-screens.
The book looks entirely intimidating at over 500 pages. But half of them are pictures that take up two pages. Though intricate and beautiful, the illustrations are used to tell parts of the linear story rather than repeating information already presented within the narrative. Selznick is definitely onto something here!
This is recommended for anyone who enjoys young adult or children's fiction and likes gorgeous illustrations. Or just wants a really well-told and imagined story.