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Wonderstruck

4.16 of 5 stars 4.16 · rating details · 20,738 ratings · 3,244 reviews

Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Set fifty...more

Hardcover, 640 pages

Published September 13th 2011 by Scholastic Press

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Lists with This Book

Newbery 2012

3rd out of 136 books — 545 voters

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare

Best Books of 2011

140th out of 1,944 books — 6,555 voters

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Jan 31, 2012 Lora rated it 3 of 5 stars Recommends it for: fans of Brian Selznick and illustrated children's fiction

Shelves: lib-read

Despite Wonderstruck's 630 pages, I read it within the span of three hours. Granted, over 460 of those pages are illustrations, but I still believe this fact attests to Wonderstruck's ability to keep its reader engaged and entertained.

Wonderstruck is two stories in one: it is Ben's story, and it is Rose's story. With the former's being told in words, and the latter's being told in illustrations, this textile tale takes two youngsters, a book, a turtle, a bookstore, a museum, and several supporti...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Cara rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, historical-fiction, male-protagonist

Impressive and moving. Ok end of review. Just kidding, though I'm not sure if I have the words because there is so much that the reader experiences that isn't understood but felt.

The story is told from two perspectives. One from a girl named Rose who lives in the 20s and boy named Ben who lives in the 70s. Rose's story is told through pictures and Ben's through words. The two stories intertwine in the most fitting way.

I thought the combination of words and pictures was perfect for the story of...more

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Oct 09, 2011 Lisa Vegan rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, fiction, novel, orphaned-and-quasi-orphaned-kids, books-about-books, picture-books, historical-fiction, reviewed, altta, nyc

Wonderful! Fabulous! So special! Very clever!

I liked this book even better than The Invention of Hugo Cabret, and that’s saying a lot. it’s even more emotionally touching than that first book.

Ben. Rose. Jamie. Etc. All of them touched me.

For not the first time I am tempted to create a new-york or nyc shelf.

I read this book in one day. Rose’s story told via pictures and Ben’s told via text were both mesmerizing.

I have memories of the 1964 New York World’s Fair, which is mentioned/”shown” in this...more

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Feb 23, 2012 Jarrett rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: middle-reader, young-adult, read-in-2012, graphic-novels

Brian Selznick's remarkable new novel, "Wonderstruck," tells the story of two profoundly deaf 12 year olds named Ben and Sophie whose stories occur 50 years apart. Though seemingly unrelated, their two tales eventually coalesce in unexpected ways that change their lives forever.

The story begins with Ben who, in 1977, snaps awake in a cabin in northern Minnesota terrified after another nightmare about wolves. It's been only a short time since the death of Ben's mother and he lies awake rememberi...more Brian Selznick's remarkable new novel, "Wonderstruck," tells the story of two profoundly deaf 12 year olds named Ben and Sophie whose stories occur 50 years apart. Though seemingly unrelated, their two tales eventually coalesce in unexpected ways that change their lives forever.

The story begins with Ben who, in 1977, snaps awake in a cabin in northern Minnesota terrified after another nightmare about wolves. It's been only a short time since the death of Ben's mother and he lies awake remembering her voice, her favorite music, the ways she talked to him and nurtured his curiosities about multiple subjects. Though Ben is deaf in only one ear, the fortuitous events of the hours following his nightmare cause him to lose his hearing in the other ear and send him across the country on a quest to find his birth father, one that takes him to the eerie, mysterious confines of New York City's Natural History Museum.

Ben's story is told almost completely in words, while Sophie's, set in 1929, is told through wordless illustrations. We meet Sophie who is profoundly deaf in her room where she builds a scrapbook dedicated to her favorite film star, and constructs elaborate paper towers. It's a fitting beginning to a tale that grows in complexity as Sophie embarks on her own quest into New York City.

Selznick, whose previous book, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," was turned into the film "Hugo," has outdone himself with "Wonderstruck." We get glimpses of the storage rooms at New York's Natural History museum where forgotten artifacts from closed exhibits are found by Ben and provide clues on his quest. There were moments I turned a page and gasped at plot revelations and the sheer detailed artfulness contained in his unbelievable pencil illustrations. With echoes of E.L. Konigsburg's beloved children's book, "From The Mixed-Up Tales of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler," (which Selznick cites as an inspiration in his afterword) and "Queen of the Falls" by Chris Van Allsburg, this is an emotional mystery about the lasting power of museums, family, and the meaningful details and objects that make up our lives.

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Oct 10, 2011 Jeanette rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-fiction, artwork-and-comics, av, for-the-munchkins, five-star-fiction, to-be-read-again

I opened this book with an almost giddy feeling of anticipation, knowing I'd love it but not knowing quite what to expect. It's more fun if you don't know too much, so I'll try to share my excitement without revealing plot details.

Wonderstruck weaves together two stories. One is told with words, the other with masterful drawings. Ben Wilson and Rose Kincaid are separated by 50 years, but they have some things in common. Both are longing for a missing parent. Both have lost their hearing. They'r...more I opened this book with an almost giddy feeling of anticipation, knowing I'd love it but not knowing quite what to expect. It's more fun if you don't know too much, so I'll try to share my excitement without revealing plot details.

Wonderstruck weaves together two stories. One is told with words, the other with masterful drawings. Ben Wilson and Rose Kincaid are separated by 50 years, but they have some things in common. Both are longing for a missing parent. Both have lost their hearing. They're about the same age. And both leave home on a private quest. Rose lives in 1927, and Ben lives in 1977. Discovering how they come to occupy the same space fifty years apart, and find the comfort they seek, is your journey through Wonderstruck.

In his exquisite pencil drawings, Brian Selznick creates Rose's world with a perfect combination of detail and shadowy suggestion. The facial expressions, especially the eyes, are most impressive. I also loved the detail in the architecture and other features of Rose's time period. The way Selznick sets the scene with clothing, cars, advertisements, museums and other landmarks made me want to be there with Rose in 1927 New York City. (What? No Hard Rock Cafe?)

Ben's story is told in words, and it touches on some important themes. Ben's enthusiasm for the wonders of nature opens up that world of discovery in exciting ways. Through Ben we also see how a child aches for a lost parent, and the wishful thinking that follows such a loss.

Deafness plays a large part in how the story unfolds, and Selznick has done his homework. How might the world be different for a deaf child? For Ben, there's the difficulty with communication, and also the disorientation of being in new surroundings while living in a silent world. He's in a big, unfamiliar city, and his confusion is magnified by his inability to hear the noises that should warn him of danger. What a relief it is for him when he finds a friend who is not only patient enough to communicate in writing, but even teaches him a little sign language.

Wonderstruck is recommended for Grades 4 and up. For the intended youthful audience, it deserves the full five stars. Just examining the details in the 460+ pages of drawings would have captivated me for hours as a child. For adult readers this is closer to a four-star book. My adult mind picked out some holes in the plot that I never would have noticed when I was a youngster. (less)

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Nov 22, 2011 Wendy rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-award-possibilities

I definitely missed the boat somehow on this book. Rather than feeling smarter than all my friends who rated this four or five stars (they all did)--which is what bad or mediocre reviews of well-loved books sometimes sound like--I feel dumber, because I sense that there must be something I'm missing.

I read the first third of the book in one gulp and remember being fascinated. Several weeks went by before I was able to get back to it. That might have had something to do with it, or maybe I was ju...more I definitely missed the boat somehow on this book. Rather than feeling smarter than all my friends who rated this four or five stars (they all did)--which is what bad or mediocre reviews of well-loved books sometimes sound like--I feel dumber, because I sense that there must be something I'm missing.

I read the first third of the book in one gulp and remember being fascinated. Several weeks went by before I was able to get back to it. That might have had something to do with it, or maybe I was just in the right mood to read it originally, and the wrong mood later. I did go back and after finishing and read the first third again, to recapture my enjoyment of it--maybe the first third was that much better?--but wasn't taken with anything.

The art, while excellently done, is not in a style that I find particularly engaging, and I thought having them go all the way across two pages made them difficult to look at--I couldn't see the gutters well. (I hope these books are well-bound or they're going to be destroyed in a few years from having the spine strained to show the pictures.)

The writing... I honestly didn't think it was anything to get excited about. It isn't really bad, but I didn't have much sense of the story moving forward, and with the exception of Ben, the characters didn't feel well-fleshed-out or natural to me, especially Ben's friend Jamie.

[SPOILER ALERT] On a personal-squick level, it bothered me that Ben's mom, who is supposed to be so wonderful, didn't (the book implies) tell Ben's dad about him--and then she even met his parents, who'd just lost their only son, and didn't tell them "this little boy right here, this is your grandson"? It isn't remotely suggested that anyone would have tried to take him away from his mother or anything; how could she be so selfish? It didn't jibe for me with the way her character is described. And, it occurs to me: if she HAD told them (as I felt her character-as-described would have), the essential drama of the book would be totally gone, since Ben's grandparents would have found a way to be in his life and he never would have had to go looking for anyone. So this feels like one of the things I dislike most in books: manufactured drama. I guess it isn't just a personal squick thing.

It's an enjoyable book, and certain kids (many kids) will love poring over the illustrations for the little hidden details and clues. I might have myself, as a child. But I don't think the text belongs on the Newbery table.(less)

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Jun 09, 2012 Edel rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, childrens-book, fiction

This book.... I am still gobsmacked after reading it... The pictures!!!!!!! I could say they are incredible and one of the most fantastic things your eyes will ever come across but even that is not enough praise.. I took my time on each of the pictures and I can honestly say Mr Selznick just blew me away. The details of each picture were so beautiful they could take your breath away.
The story is told in two ways. My the little boy with words and by the little girl with pictures then towards the...more

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Jun 12, 2012 Josiah rated it 2 of 5 stars

"We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars."

—Wonderstruck, P. 22

I don't think it's even possible to discuss this book without talking about the artwork. Brian Selznick has become, perhaps, the premier juvenile literature artist of his time, at the very least deserving of comparison to other such contemporary greats as Kadir Nelson and Tomie dePaola. Comparisons even to greats from previous eras, such as Robert Lawson, Garth Williams and Holling C. Holling, seem to leav...more

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Oct 03, 2011 Terry rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novels, ya-children

Wonderstruck is a marvelous read for older children of all ages. As in his groundbreaking The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick effectively alternates his storytelling between text and wordless drawings. In this book, the words tell one story and the drawings another, but there are many parallels between the two, and by the end they are woven together.

Although the two stories are set 50 years apart, and feature radically different circumstances, both tell the stories of deaf children who...more

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Nov 18, 2012 Presley B rated it 5 of 5 stars

I thought that this book was very interesting because it is told with two stories in one. One story is by a girl through pictures only and no words, except for the very end The other story is told by a boy and is all words. At first it was hard to understand that it was two different stories, but in the end you realize that their stories are connected. From my perspective, the author did a good job going back and forth between the stories. I really liked the illustrations. I got a lot out of it...more

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Feb 21, 2012 Kelly rated it 3 of 5 stars

I've never read a book quite like this. It's over 600 pages but most of it is in pictures. I loved quickly flipped through the pages and watching the story emerge through wonderful drawings.

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Sep 17, 2012 Tracyfood rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: escapism, fiction

Field trip tomorrow: to the Natural History Museum, to visit the dioramas and exit through the gift shop to pick up a copy of this book, which is wonderful. And now I need to reread From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs Basil E. Frankweiler, so I can find its homages when I reread Wonderstruck. Yay!

Update, 20 September 2012: Well, it took me an extra day to get to the museum, but the extra day did indeed involve rereading From the Mixed-Up Files, so that's all good.

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May 29, 2012 Haileyj014 rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3rd-trimester

This book is about a boy named Ben and his mom dies and he doesn't have a dad (that's what he thinks)so he lives with his Aunt and Uncle and cousins. One night he saw a light in his mom's house so he decided to go over there and see what is there. He goes into his mom's room and there is a girl and it is his cousin smoking and wearing his mom's jewelry and clothes. She sees him and tells him not to tell here parents and that she is very sorry. She leaves and he stays the night in his mom's bed a...more This book is about a boy named Ben and his mom dies and he doesn't have a dad (that's what he thinks)so he lives with his Aunt and Uncle and cousins. One night he saw a light in his mom's house so he decided to go over there and see what is there. He goes into his mom's room and there is a girl and it is his cousin smoking and wearing his mom's jewelry and clothes. She sees him and tells him not to tell here parents and that she is very sorry. She leaves and he stays the night in his mom's bed and when he is half a sleep he gets a telephone and gets struck by lightning and becomes deaf. He wakes up two or three days later in a hospital and can't hear a thing and then his Aunt came over and writes down that he was struck by lightning and is now deaf and will be going to a special hospital to fix or teach him sign language, but he never gets to the hospital the night he was struck he was trying to call a guy who wrote his mom letters and thinks he might be his father. So he tried to visit him and he doesn’t live there anymore. So then he walks past a museum, walks into in, and finds a wolf exhibit and its by the same guy that sent his mom the letters. The he bumps into a boy and he sees the boys lips move, but can’t make out the words he is saying. So the boy brings him to a closet and writes down are you deaf because you didn’t answer any of my questions, Ben answered yes. Over the next two days the boy brings him a couple sandwiches and then Ben goes off on an adventure and goes to a library and there at and Library is a women and a man they are older and you will have to read the book to find out who she is.
I gave this book four stars because it was good with the illustration, the detail, the drama, and the relationships between Ben and the woman. I did not like it how they ended it just with him and her walking away, but if they made a squeal then that would be a good cliff hanger. I liked the illustrations because they had a different story that combines at the end. Also, I like the detail because it really gives you how cold it is during the storm. The drama because his mom dies, the guy dies that he is looking for, and there is just so much twists and turns. I didn’t like Ben and the woman just walking away at the end because wheres the happy ever after?
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Feb 11, 2013 Book Concierge rated it 4 of 5 stars

Once again Selznick writes an engaging novel that is half-told through his incredibly detailed illustrations. This book tells two stories, set 50 years apart. Ben is a boy living in Gunflint MN in 1977. His mother has died so he is living with his aunt, uncle and cousins, right next door to the home he shared with his Mom. Going back to his former home one stormy night, he discovers a clue to his background. Rose is a girl living in Hoboken NJ in 1927, obsessed with a beautiful movie star. From...more

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Dec 22, 2012 Ellie (a.k.a. QE3) rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5

After having set aside my Kindle app Pride and Prejudice, because my (new!) iPhone (weeell--mine and my brother's) was acting funny (flicking on and off, and going to sleep on me and refusing to stay awake), I grudgingly stuck it in the charger and glanced down at my currently-reading pile. Wonderstruck was at the top of that pile, and having been fairly pleased with its beginning when I started yesterday at the library, I bent over and picked it up. (I believe this one is even heavier than H...more 3.5

After having set aside my Kindle app Pride and Prejudice, because my (new!) iPhone (weeell--mine and my brother's) was acting funny (flicking on and off, and going to sleep on me and refusing to stay awake), I grudgingly stuck it in the charger and glanced down at my currently-reading pile. Wonderstruck was at the top of that pile, and having been fairly pleased with its beginning when I started yesterday at the library, I bent over and picked it up. (I believe this one is even heavier than Hugo. Or is it just me?)

I think there are probably going to be a lot of Hugo (see The Invention of Hugo Cabret) comparisons and references here, so prepare yourself. Or, better yet, go read the book (if you haven't already) and ignore my ramblings.

To start with: I was a little apprehensive about what I found on the book jacket, specifically the whole thing about two different plotlines, one told entirely in pictures (Rose's) and the other entirely in words (Ben's). I wasn't all that keen on the idea of them being fifty years apart, either. One of the things I had liked about Hugo's story was me being able to see his expressions, and get an exact picture of what he looked like, but also get to read the feelings behind his expressions, and get his descriptions of the other characters in the book.

But I actually enjoyed it a lot. I really liked how Ben and Rose's stories, though set fifty years apart, were jumping back and forth with connections. Like, there was one part where Rose's pictures show this Welcome To New York sign, and then Ben's words tell about him going to New York. Things like that. Also, there were two surprises in Rose's pictures that were conveyed (I feel) much better than if they'd been told with a mixture of words and pictures. Even though both of those surprises were told through written notes in the pictures, the expressions of the characters made it so much better. And I don't think they'd have been able to make the surprises so shocking without the all-picture plot. (The two surprises were (view spoiler)) Rose's plotline was the one I liked better.

The pictures were fantastic, actually. They were so...so Brian Selznick! I mean, the faces and the style and all the shoes--so Hugo. And so good!

Ben's story was disappointing. I've never liked the 1970/80's for stories anyway, for some reason. There could have been more of the surprises that I really liked in Rose's story if his had been told somewhat in pictures, not just words. Also I was really confused a lot of the time. (There's still one thing the book didn't answer: (view spoiler))

Later on, after Ben gets to New York, he meets this guy called Jamie, who I didn't identify with at ALL and with who I really couldn't see Ben calling his friend, like he does in this rather sickly-sweet moment that usually has me going "aww" but in this case made me think "Cheesy!" The whole thing about (*minor spoiler not important to the book's plot*) Jamie's dad hardly ever seeing him wasn't--well, it wasn't not believable, because what reason would you have for doubting it, but it wasn't written as something that could have made me sad or try and able to sympathize with him.

On the whole: I really wanted to like this book, mostly for myself not to be disappointed after Hugo. I mean, that is one of my all-time favorite books and I really wanted this to be up to the same standards, but....it just wasn't. After looking at all the raving reviews on GR, I actually feel like I might have missed something in the story, which is one of the only things that makes me want to reread it. I don't recommend not reading it, if you loved Hugo, but don't expect the same standards as Hugo.(less)

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Mar 16, 2013 Marcie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Marcie by: SLJ

Shelves: graphic-novels, children-s-historical-fiction, books-about-books-libraries-and-wri, multicultural-books, likes-and-loves-2012-ccira, ccba-2013-nominee

I included this in multicultural because of the (albeit minimal) insight into the deaf culture. I loved this even more than Hugo which was the first book I correctly said would earn either the Caldecott or Newbery. Perhaps because I taught (many many years ago) at UNC Lab school which at that time housed the district hearing impaired program this book was just my cup of tea. In fact, I feel like it was my birthday present and I loved spending the day reading it. I'm going out to buy a copy for t...more

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Feb 19, 2012 Sarah Sammis rated it 5 of 5 stars

Recommended to Sarah by: @DeandraBookLove

Shelves: pc, exwishlist, read-in-2012

Wonderstruckis Brian Selznick's second graphic novel hybrid. It uses gorgeous full spread illustrations to tell the 1927 story of Rose, a girl who wants to get to New York City, and chapters to tell the 1977 story of Ben who is also on a journey to New York. Like The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Wonderstruck is a thick but quick read.

The book opens with Ben's recurring nightmare of wolves chasing him over the frozen lake. It has been plaguing him since his mother's recent death. While most of Ben's...more

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Jul 08, 2012 Lesley rated it 4 of 5 stars

Each year on vacation I try to read a story each night to my youngest daughter and her cousin. This year I brought Wonderstruck knowing that it would be excellent as we loved the artful weaving of an engaging story through both word and pictures in The Tale of Hugo Cabret. We started last night and are not disappointed --they were asking me towel reading at page 94. Engaging story of two children one told through words the other through beautiful illustrations.Wonderful book, will not disappoint...more

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Dec 01, 2011 Melissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

A lovely and enchanting novel in pictures and words. I recently saw Martin Scorcese's interpretation of Hugo Cabret, and am so glad I read this novel around the same time. They both leave me wanting more from Selznick.

Two parts of the book really stand out (spoiler alert). The section where we discover who Rose's mom is and that she does not want much to do with her daughter and the section where Ben's grandmother is showing him the secrets of the models she has built. As a new mother I guess I...more

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Jan 10, 2013 Anna W rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: have-read

Thisbook titled Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick is about Been who looseshis hering in a lighning storm. He travles to New Yourk without his aunt ( he has never met his dad an his mom died in a car crash) knowing. He finds his grandma in an old bookstore were her brother works. She talks of how his dad dies of heart problems after leaving his mom behind. She talks of his handywork and ability to create a beautiful mural for the Americain Musem Of Natral History.He makes a fewnew friends and has a...more

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Oct 14, 2011 Emma rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: graphic-novel

I read The Invention of Hugo Cabret in one sitting, and was so fascinated both by the story and the gorgeous pencil illustrations, that I jumped on the newest books by the same author.

I found in it the same format and the same quality of illustrations. The story was good too, though easier to...

To read my whole review, please go to:
http://wordsandpeace.wordpress.com/20...

Emma @ Words And Peace

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Aug 24, 2012 Joanna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: kids-books-i-ve-read

Liked the story better than Hugo Cabret. The pictures always amaze me!

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Dec 14, 2011 Scot rated it 5 of 5 stars

Is it possible to give more than five stars?....it's been a long time since a book had such an emotional impact on me. I am wonderstruck.

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Dec 02, 2011 Nicola rated it 5 of 5 stars

Reason for Reading: I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret and have just been waiting for Selznick to follow it up with something similar.

Following the same "genre-breaking form" he established in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Selznick returns to the half text/half wordless picture book to tell two parallel stories set fifty years apart until they eventually merge together into the same tale. The first story set in the 1970s features Ben whose mother has just died in a car accident; he's never kno...more Reason for Reading: I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret and have just been waiting for Selznick to follow it up with something similar.

Following the same "genre-breaking form" he established in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Selznick returns to the half text/half wordless picture book to tell two parallel stories set fifty years apart until they eventually merge together into the same tale. The first story set in the 1970s features Ben whose mother has just died in a car accident; he's never known who his father was and after looking around his mom's room he discovers some clues to his identity. He runs away to New York in search of the man he's never known. Fifty years earlier in the 1920s, we are introduced to Rose, a young girl with a fixation on a silent movie star who feels trapped in her own home. She too runs away to New York to find a friend named Walter, who will hopefully help her escape her strict father. Eventually the two stories catch up to each other and merge into one story.

Ben's story is told purely in text using roughly about 200 pgs., while Rose's story is told in the remaining 400-odd pages in wordless illustrated sequences. As each story alternates, the reader switches gears from reading words to gazing enraptured at the illustrations. The artwork, needless to say in superb! Selznick has created another masterpiece in this hybrid of novel and picture book. The story is compelling and touching. The characters lovable and real. My only beef would be that Hugo Cabret included with the illustrations photos and movie stills; Wonderstruck is pure illustration. I think the topic, themes and time period would have lent themselves well to including this type of media as well, especially considering one of the 1920s characters is a famous silent film/stage star. Otherwise a pure delight! Of the two I liked Hugo better but this is a worthy follow up and still deserving of a top rating. Looking forward to seeing Selznick continue in this fascinating format in a future book. (less)

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Nov 27, 2011 Lynne Perednia rated it 2 of 5 stars

Ben is a boy now living with his aunt, uncle and two cousins since his single mother died in an accident. His aunt and uncle talk about selling his mother's house next door on a Minnesota lakeshore. Lonely, he sneaks over to his old home one night when he sees a light. It's his cousin Janet, dressing in his mother's clothes and playing her old music. He talks his cousin into letting him stay in the house alone for a bit. Ben discovers a note in one of his mother's books that leads him to believe...more Ben is a boy now living with his aunt, uncle and two cousins since his single mother died in an accident. His aunt and uncle talk about selling his mother's house next door on a Minnesota lakeshore. Lonely, he sneaks over to his old home one night when he sees a light. It's his cousin Janet, dressing in his mother's clothes and playing her old music. He talks his cousin into letting him stay in the house alone for a bit. Ben discovers a note in one of his mother's books that leads him to believe he might be able to talk to the father he's never met. Deaf in one ear, he dials the phone just as lightning strikes the house. He's now totally deaf. Ben is hospitalized, but sneaks out to take a bus to New York to see if he can find his father.

While this story in prose takes place in the 1970s, Selznick intersperses it with detailed drawings, in the same style as his Invention of Hugo Cabret, of a young girl in the 1920s. She, too, is deaf and sneaks away from her house to watch a silent movie. The girl, Rose, runs away to take the ferry from Hoboken to New York City, where she tracks down the star of the silent movie to a stage, rehearsing a play. It's her mother, and she is ashamed of her deaf daughter.

The stories go back and forth until they converge in the unlikeliest of coincidences.

Selznick uses much exposition, including having characters write great portions of tell, not show, in bringing the characters together. Objects large and small, from a small carved turtle to the American Museum of Natural History and a diorama of wolves, figure in both characters' stories. The rest of the characters do important acts that help the two main characters without having their own stories explained or resolved. Janet, for example, is never seen again. A boy who helps Ben spend several nights at the museum has an unresolved story.

Wonderstruck is a high-concept project that doesn't quite mesh as a story, but rather wants attention paid to objects the author practically treats as sacred. Selznick's art is stunning but does not carry the story forward on its own. Even in the drawings, the characters write to each other to give the reader information and propel the story forward. Because of the young age of the characters, it is doubtful the book will find a large audience in secondary schools. Because of the size of the book, and the two stories in prose and pictures not meeting until several hundred pages have gone by, it may deter younger readers. It is probably most likely to find a home in elementary for advanced intermediate students, but is suitable for readers in grades 4 and up.

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May 15, 2013 The Airship Librarian rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sometimes, I need to shed the irritation of YA fiction. Don't get me wrong, I love YA fiction. It can be amazing, and the stories can be fulfilling. However, there's a charming simplicity to Juvenile Fiction that I found refreshing. There's a certain nostalgic feeling that I like, that comes to me through J fic.

I was craving this feeling when I shelf-read at the library where I work. As I was going through the books, my eye caught two novels, the first being this one. And boy, was it a treat to...more

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May 14, 2013 Cliff rated it 4 of 5 stars

Selznick's follow-up to the Invention of Hugo Cabret has the unfortunate hurdle of trying not to be exactly like its extremely well-received predecessor. But Wonderstruck manages to tell just as compelling a story and to me, an even more poignant one, than the first book.

There's a certain thrill in being able to read through a book so quickly. But that is due to this unique format of pencil sketches merged with prose. As before, the style does wonders to convey to the reader the visual complexit...more

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May 08, 2013 Adam James rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013

Brian Selnick has a gift. He is able to construct whole wondrous cities with his words as well as he does with his sketches. In both this novel as well as Hugo Cabret, the cities in which the stories take place play as much of a part of the story as the plot. In both novels, Selznick masterfully creates a physical as well as emotional context in which the stories exist. In Hugo, it was 1930s Paris...in Wonderstruck, it's New York City. Many authors aren't very successful in dragging their reader...more

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Apr 12, 2013 Kelly Lynn Thomas rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: childrens, library-books

I loved this book for so many reasons, starting with the characters, whom the author immediately establishes as individuals. Both main characters' journeys are fun to follow, but also a little scary at times (in a good way--no tension equals bad fiction!). And then there's the book's parallel storyline, which works wonderfully. And then, there's the beautiful mix of words and pictures. This isn't a comic book, nor a "graphic novel." It's something else entirely. Some sections are told in words,...more

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Apr 10, 2013 Watchingthewords rated it 5 of 5 stars

I had to write a post about the works of Brian Selznick because I wanted to share how utterly amazing I find them. These are more than simple children’s books – they are works of art like no other. These books combine text and illustrations magically, with the illustrations telling portions of the story seamlessly and artfully, yet without words. As is apparent, the written word is at the heart of what I do and what I believe and what I love, so I have to admit to being doubtful when hearing of...more I had to write a post about the works of Brian Selznick because I wanted to share how utterly amazing I find them. These are more than simple children’s books – they are works of art like no other. These books combine text and illustrations magically, with the illustrations telling portions of the story seamlessly and artfully, yet without words. As is apparent, the written word is at the heart of what I do and what I believe and what I love, so I have to admit to being doubtful when hearing of the concept. Have no doubt; these are books worth reading, worth owning, and worth looking at again and again.

Title: The Invention of Hugo Cabret
Author: Brian Selznick
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Pages: 533
Publication: Scholastic Press, January 2007

At the turn of the 20th century Hugo Cabret is hiding in the train station in Paris, keeping the clocks running now that his uncle is gone, and stealing to provide himself with food. His deceased father left him a notebook full of drawings and a non-working automaton – in Hugo’s spare time he works on bringing it back to life. When he meets a strange girl and her grandfather in the train station he becomes embroiled in the mysteries of their lives while still trying to preserve his own.
“Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do...Maybe it's the same with people," Hugo continued. "If you lose your purpose...it's like you’re broken.”

Title: Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
Genre: Children’s Fiction
Pages: 608
Publication: Scholastic Press, 2011

Wonderstruck adds another level of complexity to a story told largely through illustrations. It tells of the story of two different characters, Ben and Rose, fifty years apart in time. Ben’s story is told through words while Rose’s is told through the illustrations. Both embark on a quest to find what is missing in their lives and eventually their stories will come together. The transition between the stories, and their ultimate intertwining, is seamless. What could be confusing is instead artful and beautiful.
“Maybe, thought Ben, we are all cabinets of wonders.”

See more on my blog at www.watchingthewords.wordpress.com
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About Brian Selznick

Hello there. My name is Brian Selznick and I’m the author and illustrator of The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was born in 1966 in New Jersey. I have a sister who is a teacher, a brother who is a brain surgeon, and five nephews and one niece. I studied at The Rhode Island School of Design and after I graduated from college I worked at Eeyore’s Books for Children in New York City. I learned all about...more

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“Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way you'd be able to find whatever you were looking for.” — 846 people liked it

“He wished he was with his mom in her library, where everything was safe and numbered and organized by the Dewey decimal system. Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way you'd be able to find whatever you were looking for, like the meaning of your dream, or your dad.” — 13 people liked it

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