Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick -- Kid Review


Reviewed by S age 8.

I'd seen this book on the shelf for the past few years and couldn't wait for S to be old enough enjoy it with me.  It was worth the wait!  A mesmerizing book told through text and intricate detailed charcoal drawings. The subject is obscure, but that only makes the book more fascinating.


What did you like best about the book Hugo Cabret?
I liked how the pictures were telling the story and they looked really real.

How did the art change your experience of the book?
It increased my like for the book, because the pictures told part of the story.

Why was Hugo's notebook so important to him?
His father drew a picture of the automata and he was using as a guide to fix the automata. Also, because his father had died.

Why has his friendship with Isabelle so important?
She had the key to the automata and she was the granddaughter of George Melies. And he needed a friend.

Favorite character?
Etienne. Because he had an eyepatch. He was nice to let Isabelle into the movies. And he works at a movie theater.

What question would you ask the author?
Was the whole story real? All the characters?

Why do you think the pictures were just black and white and not color?
Black and white are a little more questioning, it makes you imagine the kind of colors that were in the pictures. Black and white pictures look more mysterious than color pictures.

Are there any similarities between the Invention of Hugo Cabret and the Harry Potter books?
They both have chases in them. They both end excitingly. Harry and Hugo are both determined and smart. They are both orphans.

Notes: The Invention of Hugo Cabret takes place in Paris in the 1930's. The action moves from a train station to the streets of Paris and ends in a spectacular suspenseful chase scene.  The characters-- a young orphaned boy, a young orphaned girl, a bitter old man, and a helpful young man -- come together in a surprising and unexpected way.  George Melies is a real person who was an innovator in French cinema.  This book is currently being made into a movie directed by Martin Scorsese to be released at the end of 2011.

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