Book Review - The Invention of Hugo Cabret

1. Bibliography
Selznick, Brian, 2007. The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New 
York, NY: Scholastic Press. ISBN978-1-428-73314-5.
2. Plot Summary
A boy, living in Paris in 1931, named Hugo Cabret encounters   
one tragic event followed by another until it seems all hope is lost. Living without parents in a train station, Hugo must steal and lie in order to survive.  The discovery of a mysterious drawing, an amazing talent, and a will to survive are his only salvation.
3. Critical Analysis
This book is simply amazing. In the 530 pages, the author/illustrator crafts an engaging story that the reader will find compelling.  This unique work is part historical fiction, part novel, and part picture book where the nearly 300 pencil drawings tell as much as the text.  Readers are introduced to the life of an orphan living in a busy train station, an automaton (mechanical man), and the reassurance that friends are all around us, if we open up and allow them into our lives. 
Brian Selznick's style of storytelling along with graphic illustrations appeal to a wide audience, but boys are sure to be especially engaged by the intricate pencil drawings that each tell their own story.  Although the size of the book may be daunting to the reluctant reader, once involved, he will have no problem finishing the story.  
The one drawback to this book's format is that students younger than the target third through sixth graders would enjoy and understand the story as told through the illustrations, but the vocabulary would be challenging for most younger students.  This would seem, then, to lend itself to a great read-aloud, but sharing such detailed illustrations would be difficult in a typical classroom setting.  
4. Review Excerpts
2008 Caldecott Medal/Honor
2007 Horn Book starred: "Here's a delemma for the Newbery committee and the Caldecott: what do you do with an illustrated novel in which neither text nor pictures can tell the story alone? Not to mention the drama to be found in the page turns themselves." 
2007 Kirkus Review starred: "From Selznick's every-generative mind comes a uniquely inventive story" told in text, sequential art and period photographs and film."
5. Connections
*This book could springboard to a writing/art activity.  Students could be directed to work individually or collaboratively to think of a short story and write a page of text, followed by a detailed drawing, followed by a page of text, etc.  
*Coming in November 2011 to a theater near you - the movie version of this book.  Making connections (through compare and contrast) to the movie - once it is available on DVD - will be another real-world connection activity. Watch Trailer: movie trailer
*Gather other novels from the same period and other picture books with detailed drawings and guide students to contrast the author's styles in each book.  
*Brian Selznick illustrated other books: The Runaway Dolls, Amelia and Eleanor Go for a Ride, Riding Freedom, and The Meanest Doll in the World.  Books by Brian Selznick: The Houdini Box, The Boy of a Thousand Faces, and Wonderstruck.