2nds Challenge
After reading The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and absolutely loving it, I was hoping that Selznick would write another book. Yay! Wonderstruck has been recently released, and I actually bought the hardcover edition. I very seldom buy a hardcover - I'll wait for soft, or borrow from the library, but I knew I would want to keep this book.
There are two parallel stories, one in text and one in pictures. Deafness plays a part in both stories (there are plenty of parallels) and the fact that Rose in the 1920s section was deaf and her story is told in pictures seems perfect - quieter. In the 1970s, Ben is living with his aunt and uncle in Minnesota after his mother died. He never knew, or heard of, his father, and begins to unravel the mystery among his mother's belongings, sending him on a trip to New York City. The two stories eventually meet up in the present day, in a delightful way.
Much of the story takes place in the American Natural History Museum, and in the Afterward, Selznick acknowledges From The Mixed Up Files of Mrs Basil E Frankweiler and challenges readers to find the references to E.L Konigsburg and the book. Cool. The book also contains much about collecting and museums.
Never be put off by the size of Selznick's books. Because so much of them are the wonderful illustrations, it reads very quick. He does such a perfect blend of drawing and story, and I love his charcoal illustration style. Another book please, Mr Selznick.
I'm really looking forward to reading this, which is currently at our school's book fair (and on my wishlist!). Love that you loved it, as the first was such an adventure in imagination and I'm glad to hear that this one doesn't disappoint. Even the to-be-released film Hugo seems promising.
ReplyDeletebellezza - there's going to be a movie? cool. He has such imagination and I love the drawings. I hope you get the book soon.
ReplyDeleteI have read The Invention of Hugo Cabert to my own children and my third grade class for the past four years. Every year my students tell me that it was their favorite book that we read. When Wonderstruck came out I had to get it. I read it with my daughter who just turned 9. She will tell you that it was the best book she's ever read. It took a little while to understand the relationship of two different stories going on at the same time in different time periods, but you knew they were going to intertwine somewhere and that was so much fun to guess what was going to happen. Wonderstruck is a great book to discuss prediction, foreshadowing, author's point of view and the deaf world. Selznick's drawings are beautiful and tell a story in very vivid detail. If you liked Hugo you will love Wonderstruck!
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