The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
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Book Reviews of The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Book Review: Unexpectedly Educational
Summary: 5 Stars
Although it doesn't come across as a historical fiction piece, that's exactly what this book is. Much like the film Amadeus, The Invention of Hugo Cabret uses real life historical people to create an exaggerated (if not downright false) interpretive biography.
Works of this particular genre contain a strange mixture of true and false elements, and are actually good tools for teaching. True, they may lead to some initial misconceptions, but adequate research after the reading can clear these misconceptions up in a hurry. I wouldn't make a big deal out of a minor conception though, if in turn you get a wondrous discovery to go along with it.
From this book I learned that intricate machines were being invented long before computers and television. Robots that could draw and write as far back as perhaps the 18th century. Amazing. Why aren't we taught things like this in school? Probably because the textbooks that are issued make people of the past look like complete dimwits when that really isn't the case.
The revelation of the existence of ancient robots alone is enough for me to give this book a high amount of praise. But the artistry in the book brings it to another level. So much work went into the dozens and dozens of beautiful pencil illustrations that you'd have to be a complete jerk to not give Selznick at least a little respect for his efforts.
Often I have to read five or six unexciting books before I get to one that really makes me say, "Wow!" This is a "Wow!" book, and makes a fitting addition to any library. The risk of constructing it in such an unusual style has greatly paid off. Books like this are the reason I read.
I know I'm not the first one to say this, but this might be the book of the future we're looking at here.
Book Review: Perfectly Fine, But Not Stunning
Summary: 3 Stars
The publishers of this children's book (it's intended for ages 9-12) appear to be trying their hardest to present this 500+ page book as boldly innovative. However, the mix of prose and pictorial storytelling didn't strike me as nearly beguiling as they would hope for. The concept for the story is decent enough (if a little overstocked in cliches) -- in post WWI Paris the titular young orphan lives secretly in the walls of a large train station (presumably Gare du Nord), where he keeps the clocks running smoothly (a job his uncle is too drunk to perform). His discovery of an old automaton brings Hugo into contact with an old man who sells small toys in the station, as well as his book-loving daughter, and a few other people. Without giving too much away, Hugo's discovery leads him into the history of early film, and the pioneering creations of George Melies (whose best known work is probably 1902's A Trip to the Moon). Along the way is the usual stuff, platonic boy/girl friendship, the quest for a father figure, a chase scene involving angry adult authorities, and of course, the clever orphan's ultimate elevation to a higher station in life (no pun intended). The story is perfectly inoffensive and can be applauded for its effort to interest young readers in the dawn of cinema, automata, and whatnot. Throughout the book, the prose part of the story is interrupted up by illustrations which advance the story and then redeposit it into prose. This is a perfectly fine technique, however the artwork doesn't really measure up to the prominence given to it. Selznick's drawings are rather flat and static, and I suspect will feel awfully tame to today's graphically-oriented kid. Later in the book, stills from old movies are used, and this is rather more effective and startling. On the whole this is a decent book, but nothing to raise a great hue and cry over.Book Review: Enchanting, Intricate, Tender, Spellbinding
Summary: 5 Stars
Pretend that you are an orphan living in an abandoned apartment. You keep fixing the clocks in the railroad station to keep up your "duty", trying to stay out of jail and stealing food and metal toys. Also, you have a mechanical man that your deceased father was working so hard to fix so you thought it your job to finish it in his honor. Crazy, right? Not for Hugo Cabret as this was the everyday life for him in Paris. Hugo had gotten used to this daily ritual until the shopkeeper of the toy booth had caught him stealing a toy mouse. Hugo learns that the old man and his godchild, Isabelle, the mechanical man, and a picture all are pieces of a puzzle. Brian Selznick is the brilliant author of this book The Invention of Hugo Cabret an enchanting, intricate, tender, spellbinding mystery graphic-novel.
An unexplained picture drawn by a mechanical man makes the life of Hugo Cabret a complete jumble. He just wants to know what his father left him, and instead, gets into more and more unexpected adventures. But with the writing and drawing from Brian Selznick, everything comes to a good conclusion. Like Isabelle said, "You can make up your own story when you look at a photo." With half of the book being pictures about what was to happen next, we must take Isabelle's comment into consideration. This is a unique way of storytelling using illustration as much as writing to explain what happens. Brian Selznick has drawn for other authors. For example, Andrew Clements's Frindle and School Story were both illustrated by Selznick. Along with a great author and illustrator, the book was a National Book Award Finalist in November 2007. I recommend this book to whoever loves mysterious and moving stories, and great pictures.
Nellie C.
Grade 6
Ms. Kawatachi
Book Review: A New Genre Emerges
Summary: 4 Stars
When I first pulled this book off the shelf and thumbed through it, I was hesitant to read it. It seemed more like a picture book than a novel. I gave it a chance, and I was glad I did. The storyline is somewhat predictable in a folktale way - we know the figurative damsel will be saved from the dragon and the hero will ride off into the sunset - but the road was an enjoyable and adventurous one. Even though I knew how it would turn out, I was eager to see how the puzzle pieces would fall into place. All in all, it was a fun story with a satisfactory conclusion.
The most incredible thing about this book, however, is the use of the pictures. This is no simple picture book for the higher reader. The pictures let you look right into the author's mind and see what he saw when writing the story. They are intricate and beautiful and each one held surprises for me. My favorite is one of a close-up of Hugo's face as he looks at the great clock. The drawing of the face is exquisite - those of us who have taken drawing know how hard it is to draw an eye, let alone capture emotion in it - but if you look closely, the great clock is reflected so perfectly in the pupil that the lines in Hugo's iris become the minutes on the clock face. It is at once magnificent and profound, and yet easily overlooked. If each picture is savored and digested, the reader comes away with far more than a novel with pictures. It is as if one has read a movie and seen a novel.
I believe that the author has created a new genre of fiction with this novel. Much more than a graphic novel, much more than a picture book, this is a Illustrated Novel and, as a fan of non-adult literature and of art, I look forward to more works from Mr. Selznick.
Book Review: THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET
Summary: 5 Stars
THE INVENTION OF HUGO CABRET
This book is really amazing. Even though it does not have a lot of text I like how the pictures tell the story very well and the text that is there is really good. And I like that it is only a 3-4 day read. Brian Selznick is a great author and author and he shows his skills in this book The Invention of Hugo Cabret.
In The Invention of Hugo Cabret the main character Hugo is not really relatable because he does things most people don't do. But I still like him because he does not want to steal but he has to, he is kind and he runs the station clocks for everyone even though he does not have to. I also like how he is mysterious and adventurous.
Hugo's dad works at the museum he stumbles over a robot that he learns all about and writes it down in these notebooks. But his dad dies in a fire, so Hugo lives with his uncle at the train station. But his uncle disappears and he has to live off of stealing. He finds the robot in the rubble from the museum fire and he tries to rebuild it from his father's notes. He must steal toys for parts from Gorges Milies, an old man who owns a toy store wand catches him stealing and He threatens to burn his notebook but seems suspicious about it when he asks "where did you get this notebook?" many things happen as he tries to get the notebook back and rebuild the robot. It is very mysterious and adventurous book and has many twists that will keep you guessing until the end.
The book is really good when it is told in words. But sometimes the picture parts are hard to understand and confuse you about what is happening, which is a small downer. But I like the book anyway and I recommend it to everyone because it is cool has good plot and amazing pictures.