Wonderstruck

Locations
Call Number: J Fiction / Selznick, Brian, Kids Book / Fiction / General / Selznick, Brian
On Shelf At: Downtown Library, Malletts Creek Branch

Location & Checkout Length	Call Number	Checkout Length	Item Status
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	J Fiction / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	J Fiction / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	J Fiction / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	Due 05-12-2024
Downtown Kids Books 4-week checkout	J Fiction / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	Due 05-22-2024
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	On Shelf
Malletts Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	Due 05-04-2024
Westgate Kids Books 4-week checkout	Kids Book / Fiction / General / Selznick, Brian	4-week checkout	Due 04-26-2024

Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelve-year-old Ben leaves his Minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in New York City, and meets there Rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. Ben's story is told in words; Rose's in pictures.

REVIEWS & SUMMARIES

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Summary / Annotation
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COMMUNITY REVIEWS

Not so full of wonder submitted by Caser on March 26, 2012, 9:11am Brian Selznick follows up his charming hit novel of words and images, Invention of Hugo Cabret, with the less satisfying, more formulaic-seeming Wonderstruck.

However, the novel does several things very well. At the forefront is Selznick's gift for including captivating black and white illustrations to inspire myriad emotions and ideas in the reader. Had the editor or author decided to cut the written portions of the book in half and left the illustrations the same, the book would have improved immensely. I found myself frequently disappointed by the dead language and lulls in plot toward the middle third of the book, while the illustrations never failed to be the true source of wonder in the novel.

I liked the way Selznick gradually revealed to the reader the richness and inspired connection that exists in deaf culture, as well as his rejection of rigid, insensitive, traditional approaches to 'handling' people who are deaf.

Selznick is much too wordy for Ben's relatively simple narrative, and Ben lacks the depth and growth that might allow the reader to overcome the long blocks of redundant text. I grew impatient with the persistent and wholly unrealistic coincidences and the blunt force of the author's hand in trying to make me feel "wonderstruck" that these situations could have become possible. Perhaps some of this is my distaste for the notion of fate as I see it as lazy reasoning and a weak choice for the machination or driving force of a narrative.

Finally, I'll accept the reuse of the idiosyncratic combination of words and images as in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, but I hoped for a story with fewer derivative core elements. This book, at its center, is about an orphaned boy living with an uncle, who runs away to live in a closet of a large public building as he tries to uncover a secret about his absent parents. I mean, come on.

For readers that absolutely loved Hugo and/or the Invention of Hugo Cabret and must have more from Selznick, I'd say keep your expectations low for this one and you're more likely to enjoy it.

Especially for Museum-Lovers submitted by sdunav on July 5, 2012, 9:01pm This is a wonderful, amazing, gorgeous book - the artwork, the story, the characters - I loved it all. It's perfect for ages 8+. I think the only drawback to this book is that it is BIG, heavy, and somewhat expensive. Get on the library waiting list NOW if you can't afford it.

I don't think it would be as great on an e-reader or a computer (like many graphic novels).

It's the story of a boy from northern MN who recently lost his mother - and a girl in NYC in 1927. If you like natural history museums (several parts were inspired by "The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler"), museum curators, old documents and museum archives, dioramas, wolves, American Sign Language, or New York City, I think you'll enjoy this mystery.

Unlike the other kid's and YA books I've read lately (or adult books, for that matter), Selznick just hits the target perfectly everywhere. It was a joy to read and I think will be just as amazing upon repeated reads.

ok submitted by watermelon on July 12, 2012, 7:00pm i much preferred the invention of hugo cabret and was kind of dissapointed, but great art as usual

Wonderful submitted by sellis612 on June 21, 2013, 12:51pm Selznick does not disappoint with his second book. It only took me a few hours to read through the entire book and I was enthralled the entire time. I love the way he incorporates another story within the story with the use of pictures. It's so unique and so refreshing. A great quick read!

Loved it submitted by bluepapaya on June 24, 2013, 3:53pm A very quick read that is great for all ages.While the plot has some flaws it still is mostly believable. The drawings are amazing.Overall I loved this book.

Wonderful submitted by Motomori on July 21, 2013, 1:31pm I fully enjoyed the artwork for this book and the story behind it. It isn't really that bad. I 'd say it is quite a page turner.

GREAT!!!! submitted by cdarragh on July 29, 2013, 12:58pm A great book were a two stories one in words and one in pictures blend together fluidly

wonderstruck submitted by Avik on August 20, 2013, 12:55pm Poor rose and poor ben, they are deaf. I liked this book more than Hugo

wonderstruck submitted by Vikash on August 20, 2013, 1:09pm I'm glad that rose and ben met. I liked the book, especially part 3.

Wonderful! submitted by valeriemates on June 27, 2014, 9:41pm This book tells two stories. One is the story of Ben, a boy who lives in a tiny town in the middle of nowhere and has dreams of wolves running. The other is the story of a deaf girl, who runs away from home. Ben's story is told in words, while the girl's story is told entirely in pictures. I love the clear depictions of New York City (my hometown) and of the American Museum of Natural History (a museum that I visited a lot at the time that this story was taking place), and how eventually the two stories connect to each other. I also liked how the book teaches you about Deaf culture.

We recently visited New York and found the wolves diorama from this book in the museum. Fun!

Hybrid Graphic Novel submitted by eldous on July 5, 2016, 5:25pm This book was amazing. The illustrations really helped you visualize the storyline and plot, something that is needed in many novels. The drawings were especially detailed and not done hastily. Not only that, but the storyline was well written too. Sure, the main storyline/core of this book was similar to "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" but I think anyone who has read "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" will enjoy how Brian Selznick has taken a similar storyline/core and turned it into a different story. This is a hybrid graphic novel with no panels or text on pictures. The pictures give a movie effect and have been described by other people as "pencil drawings that are photographic and cinematic in style". I loved this book and hope it leaves you wonderstruck as well!