The Invention of Hugo Cabret

I finally got around to reading Brian Selnick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret, unfortunately after watching Hugo, the film based on it. Obviously, there were no major surprises for me, but the book was still impressive. The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the story of an orphan who lives in a Paris subway station as its secret clock repairman in the 1930s, shows how kindness and caring can open a person's heart, in addition to being an homage to the early days of film. Told with words, drawing, pictures, and film stills, it is a tale of discovery for all the major characters, whose stories echo one anothers. For children who do not want to think too much about their material, the book is simply a good story about how a boy finds a home, with a little mystery built in. The difference between Selnick's words, drawings, and the film stills make the book attractive for a variety of different types of readers. It is ambitious for a work geared toward upper elementary and middle school readers. I plan to purchase it eventually for my children.