Skip to main content

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret
By Brian Selznick
Scholastic Press, 2007. 533 pgs. Chapter book.

This delightfully unique book features an orphan boy who lives a reclusive life behind the walls of a Parisian train station. He maintains the clocks of the station from behind these walls while struggling to survive through thievery and remaining as unnoticed as possible. However, when one of his attempts to steal brings him in contact with a sour toymaker and his inquisitive goddaughter, his secrecy is blown and a chain of fascinating events follow.

This book is in its own field as a highly image-driven novel. It has the feel of a picture book for older children or adults. I felt that although the concept of the book was interesting, the text of the book fell rather flat. The pictures were also a fun addition but felt somewhat unfinished and, at times, a bit repetitive. However, despite these drawbacks, I was still intrigued enough to finish the book and enjoyed it for what it was. I think it's a great book for more reluctant readers to tackle as the amount of text is very manageable.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) by Pamela Espeland & Elizabeth Verdick

If there's one book today's kids need to read, it is Dude, That's Rude! (Get Some Manners) . The authors provide a fun format for teaching etiquette to children. They discuss proper behavior at home, at school, at other people's homes and in public places. The information is completely up-to-date with cellphone manners and netiquette included. Fun, cartoony illustrations are on practically every page giving the book great visual appeal. This book is perfect for boys and girls in the fourth grade or older. WARNING: Bodily functions are discussed.

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin

Faces of the Moon by Bob Crelin Illustrated by Leslie Evans Charlesburg; 2009; unpaged Faces of the Moon is a short nonfiction book that describes the different phases of the moon and why the moon appears like it does on certain nights. This book is short and sweet so even the youngest of moon lovers will enjoy it. The layout is simplistic and easy to follow. I don’t know much about the moon so I found it very interesting.

Review: The New Girl

The New Girl By Cassandra Calin New York: Graphix, 2024. Comic. 261 pages. 12-year-old Lia and her family have just moved from Romania to Montreal, and she's doing her best to keep up with the changes. But, she's homesick. She misses the rest of her family, her friends, and her favorite Romanian treats. She doesn't speak French and her English is shaky, which makes it hard to make friends, even in her international immersion class. And she's dealing with super painful menstrual cramps every month. But before long, Lia starts to hit her stride. She befriends the other bilingual girls in her class, she gets a spot as the artist for her school's magazine, and even has a new crush -- Julien. Though she may be the new girl, Lia is starting to fit in. This slice of life graphic novel is an adorable choice for middle grade readers and young teens. Lia is a likable protagonist and readers will have little difficulty relating to her adjustment to school. The text speaks to a...