If you're ready for a unique kind of reading experience that takes storytelling to a whole new level,
The
Invention of Hugo Cabret, by Brian Selznick, is the book for you. Here is a unique book that has all
the makings of a compelling tale—realistic and animated characters, a
page-turning plot, and a cinematic feel. (Imagine watching a movie on paper!)
Hugo is a young
orphan boy who leads an invisible life in a busy Paris train station. When his uncle and guardian, the station clockkeeper dies, Hugo finds himself at the
crossroads of a life-changing adventure. He comes across a grumpy old man who runs a toy shop; a bookish girl; a mysterious nobeook; and a broken
automaton. I don't want to give away much more of the plot, but suffice it to say that the chain of events in this story is definitely
not predictable.
Listen to author Brian Selznick read from the book (on National Public Radio's "All Things Considered") (Click to read along.)Watch a slideshow of the first few pages of the book
What sets this book apart as a "pioneer genre" are its gorgeous charcoal pencil sketches and illustrations that
actually move the story along. (Imagine watching a movie on paper!) As Selznick
puts it, "This is not exactly a novel, and it’s not quite a picture book, and
it's not really a graphic novel, or a flip book, or a movie but a combination
of all these things." Even more fascinating is how Selznick has written a novel in which a real-life personality, the French filmmaker George Melies, is a character. This is a different type of historical fiction, too!
Here's a challenge for you: If you can
name a work of fiction in which a real-life person is a character, we'll send you an autographed copy of
The Invention of Hugo Cabret. (We're giving away 4 copies.) You can post your answer in the "comments" section below, or email us at word@weeklyreader.com.
More: Read a Q&A with Selznick and find out about the inspiration for his groundbreaking book ...
