The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Selznick, B.  (2007).  The invention of Hugo Cabret.  New York:  Scholastic Press.

Hugo Cabret, a young orphan boy who lives within the walls of a train station, tries to repair an old automaton in hopes that it has a message from his father that will guide him to what to do next.  Desperate to fix the automaton to find the answers he needs, Hugo unwillingly becomes involved in the lives of the Mèliés family, who help him realize that they are the missing pieces for his automaton and the answer to his father’s message.  The Mèliés family then adopts Hugo, who became inspired to create his own automaton.  Selznick’s detailed charcoal-like illustrations are beautiful as the actions within the storyline span across pages, incorporating far-away stills and close-ups that provide a dramatic effect.  It seems as if Selznick is using the actual George Mèliés’s filming technique in his sketches.  The themes of friendship, family, and trust make this a great read for upper elementary and secondary kids, especially those into innovative graphic novels and suspense/mystery.  There also always seemed to be a sense of urgency in the tone and voice of the narrator to match Hugo’s desperation to solve the mysteries behind the automaton up until the end, where things seemed to be more lax due to everything being resolved.  This is a 2008 Caldecott Medal Winner.  Here is a link to the book’s website: http://theinventionofhugocabret.com/intro_html5.htm