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Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck by Brain Selznick

This book is as thick as a brick. And yet, one can read it in a matter of hours.

Brian Selznick, best known for his book The Invention of Hugo Cabret, has done it again.  This time, he mixes two stories, set decades apart. Ben is a boy growing up on Gunflint Lake, Minnesota and dealing with a tragic loss. Rose lives just outside New York City and fights the restrictions that are imposed upon her due to her deafness. Rose's story is told in pictures, Ben's story is written.

Sitting alone in a quiet house and reading Wonderstruck, I almost forgot I could hear. The parallel stories pulled me along from the very beginning; Selznick wastes no time introducing us to the conflict. Elements of mystery combine with themes of parentlessness and finding home in striking simplicity. And I was so happy about the ending.

Speaking of the end of the book, I loved Selznick's acknowledgments. WHEN you read this book, don't skip the pages after "the end."

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This book is a Cybils nominee in the Graphic Novels category. The above review represents my own opinion, and not the assessment of the Cybils round one panel.

5 comments:

  1. I loved Hugo Cabret, so I'm excited to get my hands on this one!

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  2. I loved Hugo Cabret, too, and I think I loved this one even better!

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  3. I also liked Wonderstruck more than Hugo Cabret!

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  4. Loved this book, couldn't put it down once I began. I like the references to another of my favorite books; From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I am losing some of my hearing, and it is thoughtful acknowledgement of the Deaf Culture.

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  5. From the Mixed-up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler is great, isn't it? I was happy to catch at least some of the little references.

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