The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, Brian.  2007.  The Invention of Hugo Cabret.  New York: Scholastic Press.  ISBN 978-1-428-73314-5

This is the story of young Hugo who discovers many secrets while working in a train station in Paris, France.  Hugo loses his father in a fire and is forced to live with his Uncle Claude who works the clocks in the train station.  Hugo has to steal in order to survive.  Papa Georges catches him stealing a toy mouse one day and then the story really begins to unfold. 

Hugo remembers stories his father used to tell him about an old movie and how a rocket got stuck in the eye of the man in the moon.  His father found an old automaton in the attic of the museum where he worked.  His father worked tirelessly to fix the mechanical man until the day he died in the fire at the museum. 

Hugo never forgot about the mechanical man his father would so often tell him about.  Hugo is forced to work for Papa Georges after he is caught stealing.  His father had given him a notebook filled with sketches of the mechanical man that Papa Georges, the owner of the toy store, took when he caught Hugo stealing. 

Hugo tries to run away from his drunken Uncle when he comes across the ruined remains of the museum where his father died trying to fix the automaton.  Hugo finds the mechanical man buried in the ruins.  He takes it back to his Uncle’s apartment at the train station.  Uncle Claude disappears and Hugo is left to fend for himself.  Over time, Hugo fixes the automaton.  He becomes friends with Isabell, Papa Georges’ goddaughter, and together they find out about the mechanical man and what he can do.  This is the end of Part 1.

Part 2 of the book continues the story of what happens after the automaton is fixed and Hugo and Isabell discover the picture that it drew.  They go on to discover that Isabell’s godfather was a famous film maker.  They work together to help Georges remember what it was like to be a magician and a movie maker. 

Selznick’s story is a fascinating one told through few words and hundreds of pictures.  As Hugo’s life unfolds before us, Selznick weaves a story of mystery around every corner.  I was completely taken in just through the illustrations.  At first you would think that a book with more than 500 pages would be a little daunting.  That is not the case with this book.  Selznick illustrates the story through more than 90% of the book.  His drawings are very detailed and really bring Hugo to life.  Every single image tells part of the story, detailing what is happening to Hugo as he struggles to survive and keep his secrets from the world.

http://theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_hugo_intro.htm

Selznick’s website for his book has links to the life of the real Georges Méliès, the toy store owner in the story.  He also provides his biography and many other items of interest.  Martin Scorsese is making a movie based on Selznick’s book. 

A list of awards include: (http://theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_brian_books.htm)

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

This is a great story for children who are interested in the beginning of magic and the movies.  It is a fictionalized tale of a real man.  It discusses the struggles of survival as Hugo learns of his father’s death, and then his uncle disappearing.  It also discusses the hardships of friendships and what secrets can do to them.  I highly recommend reading other books by Brian Selznick.  His artwork and storytelling are creative and imaginative.  His newest book is called Wonder Struck and can be found at http://www.wonderstruckthebook.com/.  

Michelle