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The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

by Brian Selznick
Illustrator Brian Selznick

March 1, 2007 | Hardcover

Based on 217 ratings | Rate this
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks - like the gears of the clocks he keeps - with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the train station, Hugo''s undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo''s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

With more than three hundred pages of original drawings, and combining elements of picture book, graphic novel, and film, Brian Selznick breaks open the novel form to create an entirely new reading experience. Here is a stunning, cinematic tour de force from a boldly innovative storyteller, artist, and bookmaker.

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Appropriate for ages: 9 - 12

All reviews of The Invention of Hugo Cabret

1
  • Coreena McBurnie

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    Amazing Play of Written and Visual
    by Coreena McBurnie
    15 months ago

    This was such a fun book to read, so rich with the perfect combination of text and drawings. My eight year old son and I took turns reading this one to each other and we both loved it, were enthralled with the story and had a hard time putting it down. There are pages of text, then pages of drawings, both of which cleverly move the story along. This book has everything: adventure, treachery, friendship, history, betrayal, imagination, and a message. The characters are engaging, especially Hugo. I felt so bad for him and his impossible situation, his grasping at straws to find a connection with his father. Kids will be rooting for him, wanting him to overcome all of the unfair things in his life. He is clever and sharp, as well as innovative and passionate. Isabelle is a good foil for Hugo, a young girl, also smart, but in a different way. The dynamic of their friendship seems real to me, from the way they get along to the way they fight. George Melies is the old man and antagonist of the book,. Although he is mean to Hugo, he is shrouded in mystery, a mystery that the children are eager to solve. The fictional story of Hugo intermingles with historical France of the 1930s and the history of film. This is done well, with the pictures as guides. I loved the mingling of the real history of the film and culture of France with the fictional story of Hugo. The clockwork and automaton part of the plot will really appeal to the imagination and to those who are mechanically inclined or who like steampunk novels. This, combined with the illustrations, is so cool and vivid. And then there is the ever true underlying message of the book - follow your dreams, this is the way to happiness and fulfillment. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a wonderful, magical book that instantly captures the imagination. Although it looks long and may be intimidating to kids, there are so many pictures, at least half the book (284 pages worth). These are beautiful and well drawn and definitely add to the excitement and drama of the book. This is more than an illustrated book, or a novel with illustrations. Pick it up and you'll see what I mean.

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    My son loved it!
    by Pat Funk
    15 months ago

    My 9 year old son just finished reading this book and said "this is the best book I've ever read"! Even though it had lots of pictures, the drawings were amazing and he loved the story. Now to see the movie . . .

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    2
    1
    a story about imagination and perseverance
    by David Abbott
    16 months ago

    'The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is a story about a boy who finds himself abandoned and alone but through his imagination and perseverance ends up making a new life for himself. Orphaned after his father dies in a museum fire, Hugo spends his days keeping all the clocks running in a Parisian train station for his uncle who has taken him in. But his uncle too disappears, and Hugo lives on his own and maintains everything on his own. In the meantime, trying to understand why he has lost his father Hugo goes back to the blackened ruins of the museum to retrieve the last project his father was working on. It is an automaton: a mechanical man. Through blind faith that fixing the automaton will lead him to a message from his father, Hugo begins to 'borrow' the mechanical bits from toys he finds in the train station's toy booth. Why these mechanical bits should fit his broken automaton escapes him, but there is a connection which leads Hugo to not only to find friendship, to complete his father's project but to repair a man's broken spirit. The book relies on many drawings to tell the story. These are really well done. The whole book is fantastically well done. (The movie version called Hugo stays fairly close to the novel but the two have many differences too.)

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    2
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    Great Book!
    by Olivia ♥
    17 months ago

    The Invention Of Hugo Cabret was a great story. It includes all of the elements of a great book. The author even included beautifully drawn black and white sketches to add some support to the storyline. You should really consider reading this book.

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    9
    4
    soo cool
    by Lynn Yak
    4 years ago

    this book was the best book i have ever read. i found this book at my library when my frend sugested it. I read if from top to boddem in 2 days i loved it that mutch. the artest who drew the picturs are simpiy the best. they look like my otherr frends drawings. so i got to connest to the book and it is great for young readers because of all the drawings so there mind wont wander. i thout it was abaslutly great, if it had a rading the rading would be 55555555555555555555555555555/ 5

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    3
    2
    Astounding!
    by Lady Knight
    • Top Book Reviewer
    • Top DVD Reviewer
    4 years ago

    Much like all the other reviewers of this title, I LOVED it! I thought it was origninal, charming, and one I will definately read again. Coming in at over 500 pages, it may seem a daunting book, but I read it cover to cover in an hour virtue of the fact that at least 80% of the pages are pictures, and they are definately worth a thousand words a piece. An amazing story that looks back at Paris in the 1930s and the beginning of Cinema in France. The story follows Hugo, son of a clockmaker and nephew of a timekeeper. Since his uncle's disappearance, Hugo has been keeping the clocks in the station up to snuff. His father worked at the Paris Museum repairing all sorts of exhibits and wonders there. One day in the museum attic he came across a unique automaton that looked like it could write. Hugo's father died before completing the work, but Hugo soldiers on, stealing parts from the toy booth at the station. One day he gets caught and loses his notebook containing his father's detailed sketches of the automotan. To get it back he agrees to work for the owner of the toy booth. There he gains insight into the world of mechanics and gains a lasting friendship. Eventually he gets the automatan to work, and what it reveals will change his life.

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    10
    3
    Intricate, Intriguing, and Irresistible
    by BookWorm
    4 years ago

    Although some criticize that there are more drawings than words, those people fail to realize that sometimes, a picture is worth a thousand words. Coming from me, this sounds odd, because I love to read more than look at paintings or sketches. But how can you replace that upward turn in Papa Georges' eyebrow, or the collection of lines dotting the automaton's paper with words? Reading this fantastic piece of work, I saw that it glowed with a quality that comes when something that had been forgotten or ignored for so long has been recollected. (Georges Méliès, automatons) The stunning ideas weaved through this story make it charming and enchanting. The intricate detail in the many pictures define the laborious work Selznick offered his readers. After reading just a bit, you'll be intrigued and join the ride in the spellbinding and irresistible world of Hugo Cabret.

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    4
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    Hypnotizing
    by Tara Blackmore
    5 years ago

    This book is fabulous. The combination of written chapters and beautiful hand-drawn illustrations is a unique and wonderful touch. A nice mix of fact and fiction, this book won't take too long to read, but you'll relish in every second of reading it. A must-read!

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    6
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    Fabulous, Unique and Amazing
    by Nicola Mansfield
    • Top Book Reviewer
    5 years ago

    This is a wonderful book! It is a beautiful, captivating story. I hadn't realized beforehand that it was about a real person involved with the first movies ever made. The time period and the movie history was fascinating, the characters sweet and the story was fast paced. The book itself is also an invention of a new way of reading. Illustrations propel the story along and are used in such a unique way to show the action. Near the end of the book there is a chase scene which is told completely through pages of illustration and it is a brilliantly intense part of the story. I hope others will take the cue from the book and would really like to see more books told in this fascinating new format.

  • Alice Hou

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    Amazing, creative, and truly original
    by Alice Hou
    7 years ago

    Brian Selznick deserves to be commended for his new and creative type of intriguing story. He has created a children's book that will be much revered by the teenage and child community for years to come. It doesn't matter who you are, this richly creative tale will keep you engrossed from beginning to end. Told partly by hand drawn sketches and partly by eloquent text, you will find yourself making your way through this book faster than you can turn the pages! It is original and enticing and hopefully it will someday inspire other writers to follow in Selznick's tracks to tell a magnificent tale by means of talented artistic skill and amazingly rich literacy. Invention Of Hugo Cabret is no doubt the creation of a genius.

    Comments on this review:
    Julia Novelli

    This is the best book by Brian Selznick! This is a captivating inspring sad sorrow story! I like it so much ive done all my book reports on it its very goood and not hard to stay focused on but the first part is kinda borining u might wanna stop reading it but dont its so good that when u stop reading it u like dream about reading it and its like always at the tip or ur tongue saying read me read me -Julia age 11

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