by Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press, 2007
GENRE: Historical
Fiction, Steampunk, Mystery
HONORS: 2008 Caldecott Medal, National Book Award Finalist, A New York Times Best Illustrated Book of 2007, A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2007, 2007 Quill Award Winner, 2007 Borders Original Voices Finalist, 2007 #1 Best Book for Kids from Barnes and Noble, Parenting Magazine "Mom–Tested Book of the Year," Miami Herald Best Kids Book of 2007, Rocky Mountain News Best Book of 2007, San Francisco Chronicle Best Book of 2007, Kansas City Star Top 100 Books of 2007, Columbus Dispatch Best Book of 2007, Los Angeles Times Favorite Children's Book of 2007, Kidsreads.com Best Book of 2007
REVIEW: 284 hand-drawn
pencil illustrations, photographs and words tell the story of Hugo, a young
orphan living in secret in a small apartment hidden away in the walls of a
bustling Paris train station. So that no one might suspect his uncle has gone
missing, Hugo takes over his uncle’s duties of maintaining the station’s clocks
and steals good to eat and parts to eventually fix the only remaining artifact
from his father, until one day he gets caught and his life changes forever.
OPINION: Brian Selznick wrote the book based on facts and the very real historical icon, film maker and magician, Georges Méliès. This made for a very unique, interesting and believable story, which was beautifully illustrated with meticulously crosshatched pencil drawings. I had never read anything like this book, and was thoroughly impressed.
IDEAS: Book could
be included the book in a steampunk display. A number of programs could be
developed in conjunction with the book: steampunk costume contest/event; magic
show; draw pictures based on a scene from a favorite book; George Melies film
event, etc.
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