The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick- Book Set #5

Selznick, B. (2007).  The invention of Hugo Cabret.  New York, NY. Scholastic Press.

Hugo is a young boy who lives in the train station apartment in Paris.  He is alone because his father has died and his uncle has disappeared.  He is left in charge of making sure all 27 clocks in the train station are functioning daily.  His sole possession is an automaton figure that shares many memories from his father but is broken.  Hugo is determined to figure out how it works. He steals a toy from an old man at a toy booth and the man takes his notebook of information about the automaton.  He is determined to get it back and becomes friends with Isabella the old man's goddaughter.  One day Hugo snatches a necklace from Isabella that looks like something that would fit in the keyhole of the automaton.  He discovers that it is a missing piece and him and Isabella watch the automaton draw a picture from one of Hugo's dad's favorite movies.  He also signs the drawing Georges Melies which is her godfather's name .  Hugo finds out that George's once was a famous movie maker that everyone seems to believe is dead.  With the help of some friends and family Georges finally gives his story up.  On his way home Hugo finds out that his uncle has died, he is being chased by the station inspector and booth keeper for stealing some milk, and he almost dies while falling in the train tracks but Georges comes to his rescue.  After that Hugo finds a new family with Georges.  He creates his own automaton, the one that created this book.

This book has strong setting and plot.  The setting is described in great detail but drawings through out the book give us more specific visuals as well as to help the story continue to move forward.  Old black and white photographs are used on a few pages to show Hugo's dream and Georges movies.  It is a unique  and secretive setting full of secret tunnels and paths and behind the walls and clocks of a train station.    The plot is very interesting and is told through a combination of text and narration and pictures.  The pictures are so much a part of the story that is important and necessary to the story itself (not just an accompaniment).  Much like a wordless picture book that carries the entire story.  It obviously still has enough writing to be considered a novel but one with a Caldecott Award.