The Invention of Hugo Cabret - By Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret was written and illustrated by Brian Selznick (Scholastic Press 2007). It is "A Novel in Words and Pictures" and it was a joy to read.

Hugo Cabret's father was a clock-maker and taught Hugo the trade. His father was killed in a fire so Hugo was sent to live with his uncle. His uncle lived inside the train station in Paris and took care of the clock maintenance of the station. His uncle spent his money and time on drinking and gambling and soon disappeared. Not knowing where else to go, Hugo stayed at the train station, stealing food when necessary and continuing to maintain the clocks.

Before his death, Hugo's father had found an automaton and had set about fixing it. After his death in the fire, Hugo found the automaton in the wreckage. Hugo brought it to the train station to fix it. He stole toys that he used for parts from a toy shop at the station. His goal was to fix the automaton. The automaton was built to write something and Hugo felt that his writing would be some sort of message from his father. While stealing a toy, the shop keeper noticed him and took his notebook that has his father's instructions about the automaton. Hugo set about getting it back and in the process made a friend, the shop keeper's daughter Isabelle.

Hugo and Isabelle end up getting the automaton working and discovering that the girl's care taker is Georges Milies, the famous movie maker. This changes the lives of everyone and Hugo ends up living with the Milies family.

This story is really made great by the images. Here is an example of one of the pages:
The readability lexile of this book is ages 9-12 and I think that children these ages would really enjoy this book. The story is one in which the characters change and grow. Imagination, creativity, magic, and good win in this story. The pictures add so much to the story, bringing it to life for the reader. I feel that I would have absolutely loved this story as a child. I loved it as an adult. It is a genuinely good story and has impact.