From the Bookshelf of MCLS Reading Challenge…

The Marvels

Brian Selznick

Why we're reading this: read by Cherrin Arnold, Monroe
[close] read by Cherrin Arnold, Monroe

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Aug 31, 2015 Claire Talbot rated it really liked it

Shelves: middle-grade

Once again, Brian Selznick is a master of combining two seemingly unrelated stories - one in beautifully rendered pencil drawings, the other in words. The story begins with pictures, portraying a sailing ship in 1776, with a play involving an angel and a maiden in distress in progress. During the performance, the ship is overcome by a storm at sea, and the two performers are wrecked on a island. Only one person survives the storm, Billy Marvel. He is rescued and finds his way to London, finding Once again, Brian Selznick is a master of combining two seemingly unrelated stories - one in beautifully rendered pencil drawings, the other in words. The story begins with pictures, portraying a sailing ship in 1776, with a play involving an angel and a maiden in distress in progress. During the performance, the ship is overcome by a storm at sea, and the two performers are wrecked on a island. Only one person survives the storm, Billy Marvel. He is rescued and finds his way to London, finding a home in a theatre where he immortalizes his brother, Marcus,(the angel in the play) by painting him on the ceiling. The story continues with future generations in the theatre, and ends abruptly with a tragic fire, leaving the reader hanging as to what happened. The story in words begins in 1990, when Joseph Jervis runs away from his boarding school to the home of an estranged uncle he has never met.
This was the hardest part of the story for me to follow - setting up the relationships of Joseph, his uncle, parents, and his friend Blink from the boarding school that is mentioned frequently. He also befriends a girl named Frankie, who pretends to be a boy. When I was about 3/4 done with the narrative, the storylines clicked into place for me, and I appreciated what was going on. I have seen reviews where parents and teachers say they will not buy this novel because it portrays a homosexual relationship. I feel the relationship was portrayed in a caring way, and adds to the value of the book. Without further spoilers, I feel it comforts kids who may be struggling with their sexuality, to know that they are not alone, and can lead amazing lives! I also love how the book was based in part on a real person that inspired Brian Selznick - Dennis Severs, the owner and creator of a house in London that captured the past through both furnishings and three dimensional experience. The fictional Royal theatre, is also based on a real place - the Theatre Royal Haymarket. The book also brings up the problems of AIDS, which although we don't talk much about it now, was very much a part of the gay community in the 1990's when the book was set. Thank you Brian Selznick, for another beautiful book. ...more

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Nov 17, 2015 Margaret rated it it was amazing

Beautiful story that spans nearly 400 years. The first half is powerfully told through astounding Selznickian illustrations. The Marvels is real and imagined with many contemporary twists. I loved this book!

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