The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick

Bibliography
Selznick, Brian. 2007. The invention of Hugo Cabret: a novel in words and pictures. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 9780439813785


Plot Summary
This is a picture book combined with a chapter book that follows the adventures of 12 year old Hugo Cabret who lives in a Paris train station in the 1930s.  Hugo finds an old, broken automaton and spends his spare time restoring it with parts he steals from a local toy booth.  When the toy booth owner catches Hugo in the act, he discovers Hugo's book of repair notes and confiscates it which in turn devastates Hugo.  Hugo successfully repairs the automaton without the book and discovers that the machine draws a picture of a famous film his father had seen as a boy.  Through some research at a local film library, Hugo discovers that the toy booth owner is in fact the creator of the automaton and also a classic film director and magician.  This book uncovers the pasts of all the major characters through pictures and text.

Critical Analysis
The overall theme of this story is that behind every misunderstood person is a deeper story and a reason for their actions.  To most of the characters in the book, Hugo is just another thief stealing toys and food for fun while in reality, he's stealing to survive.  The toy booth owner is seen as a grouchy old man but his bad attitude turns out to be a mask for the pain from his past and losing his passions.  Through well developed and relatable characters, Brian Selznick creates a story that keeps the reader in suspense and ultimately satisfied by the feel good, happy ending.

Selznick's illustrations and images pair up nicely with the text.  Some images are drawings by Brian Selznick but occasionally the reader is treated to an image taken from the films discussed in the book.  The illustrations move at a quick pace to build the tension and anticipation the reader feels as they go through the story. As each page turns, the illustration moves and often the image is a close up of the page before.  For example, on one page, the reader sees Hugo going through a vent in the wall and on the next page, we see a close up of just his foot going through the wall.  Illustrations and pictures are in black and white and show detailed texture which makes for attractive and interesting character features such as beards or setting characteristics like the sidewalks of Paris.

This book provides a fun escape to the 1930s in Paris while at the same time educates readers of all ages about the earliest times of classic films and automatons.

Review Excerpts

• 2008 Caldecott Award winning book
• #39 on the School Library Journal's Top 100 Children's Novels list
• Starred review in Publisher's Weekly: "A true masterpiece"

Connections
*After reading the book, search for clips on YouTube showing films from featured director and toy store booth owner Georges Melies.
*Other books by Brian Selznick:
    The Houdini Box. ISBN 1416968784
   The Boy of a Thousand Faces. ISBN 0064410803




Below, author and illustrator Brian Selznick talks about how he found inspiration for Hugo's story and how the illustrations came to life.