Lush illustrations situated on the page to resemble a movie screen accompany the text to create a world that young readers can fall right into. The story is that of a 12 year old orphan, Hugo, who lives in a bustling train station in Paris at the turn of the century. After his father is killed in a fire, he goes to live with his uncle in the train station, where he earns his keep by helping him keep the clocks of the station working and keeping perfect time. Hugo's one obsession is all that he has left of his father- the mystery of the automaton. At the time of his death, his father, a clockmaker, was working on repairing an automated figure, a small man who was seated at a desk with a pen in hand as if ready to deliver a message. The only physical thing that Hugo has left of his father is the notebook that details the automaton's inner workings.
In his quest to fix the automaton, Hugo is caught stealing toys from a stand in the train station and the owner, a very grumpy old man forces him to empty his pockets. When he sees the notebook, he is transfixed and refuses to return it to Hugo until he works off payment for all the toys he has stolen from the toy stand.
The story itself is captivating and the mystery of the automaton will keep even the most reluctant readers engaged with the help of the illustrations. The illustrations keep the story moving, as a picture is worth a thousand words. Younger tweens interested in mysteries, film, magic, and machines will be amazed and entertained by this work.
Selznick, Brian. (2007). The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press. 533 pages. ISBN: 978-0-439-81378-5.
Ages: 8-12
Rating: High Additional
Winner of the Caldecott Award 2008
