The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
2008 Caldecott Medal
2007 National Book Award Finalist

This book gets a very large WOW! distinction from me. Everything about this book totally captivated me and it is fair to say I have never ever seen or read a book like it.

The book is more than 525 pages long.  Let me just remind you that the Caldecott award is for picture books. The award is actually granted to the illustrator. Most Caldecott awards go to typical picture books that are written for young children. This is a middle school novel. BUT 284 pages of it are PICTURES. It is the coolest book ever. The introduction asks us to close our eyes and imagine we are in a movie theatre, the curtain opens as we zoom in on the sun rising. . . in Paris. . . to a train station. . . we enter the station, crowded with people. . . The book IS like a movie. 

And then every once in a while, there are a couple of pages of text. The pictures aren't illustrating the text. The pictures TOGETHER with the text tell the story. There is a whole case scene in the book that is told only in pictures, for example. So, it's part movie, part graphic novel, part conventional novel. But the pictures and layout aren't like a typical graphic novel. It's not cartooney. The pictures are full double page pencil drawings. 

So, the novelty of the actual physical book is exciting. . . but that is not the only thing it's riding on. The illustrations and layout are wonderful. But it's a good story too! It tells the story of a real film maker from France in the early days of film; but through the eyes of a boy named Hugo Cabret and his friend Isabelle who are entirely the authors invention. The story has mystery and magic in it. And the characters are completely fascinating. 

Hugo comes from a family of clock makers. His uncle maintains all the clocks in the train station. When Hugo's father dies in a tragic fire, he is taken in by his uncle, who has a serious drinking problem. Turns out that clock makers are often magicians. Both require the same level of intense dexterity. Hugo learns magic and makes magic. Before his father died he was working on repairing a mechanical man who sat with pen and ink and was about to write. Hugo tries to take up this work and succeeds in repairing the automaton. And then discovers it's maker. 

I have told more people about this book than any other I've read recently, because it is so unusual and because I think so many people would enjoy it. 

In fact, my son Jabu who is 10,  and a bit of a reluctant reader and tends towards things like  Captain Underpants in his reading choices,  loved it. My DAD  age 92 who absolutely NEVER EVER reads fiction saw it on the table while Jabu was reading it, and read the entire book cover to cover in one sitting! Dad's normal fair in the reading dept. is economics, global warming, world health issues. . . but he thought it was excellent. I also loved it. If three readers who are as different from one another in their reading inclinations all loved this book, that right there is an amazing testimony! 

Highly recommended!

Here is a cool interview with the author from the National Book Award site:
The National Book Foundation

The author has a second book in this same style. I ordered it from the library, but there are 39 people in line ahead of me! Can't wait to see it though! 

Love, Louise