by Brian Selznick
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a lovely book, both in story and illustration. It follows the adventures of two children as they try to understand the mystery of a wonderful mechanical man that Hugo's father was trying to fix. I loved the description of the early 20th century magicians, how they often began as clock makers or worked with machines, clockworks, and gears in some other form, which lead them to a career as magicians - their inventions were so wonderful and miraculous that an audience could believe it was magic. The story also delves into the early days of cinema and offers the reader a glimpse into a time when movies, by their very nature, had the ability to inspire wonder.
Hugo is an excellent novel and, despite its size, a quick read. I would recommend this to elementary-aged children or anyone who is young-at-heart. I also think this would be a great novel for parents and children to share. I look forward to seeing the movie adaptation this Thanksgiving and checking out Selznick's newest novel Wonderstruck; I noticed it recently in a bookstore and it's illustrations are just as wonderful as they are in Hugo.
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