BOTM for October - WONDERSTRUCK

[M.G.]

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick led our poll this month by three votes.

From the Scholastic website:

This breathtaking work of art—an amazing hybrid novel/ picture book with over 460 pages of drawings—adds new variations to the structure Brian created for
The Invention of Hugo Cabret , giving readers yet more innovative ways
to experience what a book can be.

Where The Invention of Hugo Cabret offers a single story told in words and pictures, W onderstruck weaves together two independent stories, set fifty years apart. Ben’s story, set in 1977, is told in words, and Rose’s story, set in 1927, is told in pictures.

Ben and Rose are both trying to find their place in the world. Ben longs for the father he has never known,while 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 on quests that will change their lives, risking everything to find what they’re missing.

The mysteries and secrets of their lives unfold in thrilling alternating episodes, until at last their stories movingly intersect and merge. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful, W onderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary.

[Cheryl]

This has been on my list for awhile, and I've gone ahead and requested it from the library.

[Maranda]

It is a really thick book, but don't let that scare you. At least half of it is illustrations :)

[Cheryl]

Illustrations that tell the story, though, no? I mean, we'll have to spend time with them, won't we, not just glance and move on?

[M.G.]

They are wonderful illustrations, worthy of spending time with, but it does read faster than most books that size : )

As a side note, I often see Selznick's books recommended for reluctant readers. The size of the book takes away the stigma of it being a "picture" book, but the graphic components make it a friendly read for those readers who still struggle a bit.

[Melissa]

I just finished reading this book and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I was initially worried that I wouldn't "get" or "follow" the story told in the illustrations but they were done in a way that I did.

There were a few thoughts in my head while reading the book I had as an adult that I don't think most children would have so I think most middle graders would like it as well.

[Cheryl]

You mean, like negative thoughts, problems you had?

[Catherine]

Melissa wrote: "I just finished reading this book and I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I was initially worried that I wouldn't "get" or "follow" the story told in the illustrations but they were done in..."
Melissa, I also felt maybe I wouldn't get the book, or maybe it wouldn't hold my interest. The format is so unlike anything that ordinarily interests me. I did enjoy it a lot.

[Jenny]

Love this book. Tends to scare off my MG readers with it's size. Once they get into it, they love it too.

[Megan]

M.G. wrote: "They are wonderful illustrations, worthy of spending time with, but it does read faster than most books that size : )

As a side note, I often see Selznick's books recommended for reluctant readers..."

I agree, M.G. Quite a few of my reluctant readers have read Hugo Cabret, and quite often they bring new perception to the interpretation of the illustrations. It seems that they are more observant of the illustrations, since they guide them in the reading, whereas my fluent and confident readers don't necessarily give pause for reflection and quickly flick past the illustrations, scanning rather than reading them.

[Bobbi]

I never thought about there being a stigma attached to picture books. Hmmm, something to think about. I wonder if kids consider illustrated novels (MG) "picture books"?
PRINCESS PRIMROSE and the CURSE OF THE BIG SLEEP

[Maranda]

Bobbi wrote: "I never thought about there being a stigma attached to picture books. Hmmm, something to think about. I wonder if kids consider illustrated novels (MG) "picture books"?
[book:PRINCESS PRIMROSE and ..."

Kids aren't embarrassed by MG illustrated novels but they can be embarrassed to some extent to be seen reading a traditional "picture book" after a certain age. Picture books are seen as "babyish" by many kids.

[Bobbi]

Thanks, Maranda. That makes a lot of sense

[Cheryl]

Wonderstruck was indeed a quick read for me. I didn't find the pictures particularly to my taste, and though I tried to spend time with them, I was able to follow the girl's story simply scanning them. I did not figure out her name until all the other clues started to come together, though.

Several times I thought the links between the characters was going to be more complex than they were. Ultimately, it's a pretty straightforward story. I mean, it doesn't even follow through on, for example, what's up with Janet in Elaine's bedroom....

I liked this a little better than The Invention of Hugo Cabret, but I have decided that Brian Selznick and I are not on the same wavelength. This just didn't give me anything to think about, anything to mull over after I closed the cover.

[Jemima]

Having been lurking for the last few months, with nothing much to contribute to discussions, I just thought I'd warn you that I have started Wonderstruck - I'm about halfway through and enthralled with it. :)

[Maranda]

Overall I like this book, I tend to like the illustrated story parts better than the narrative parts, but I do feel like the ending is a bit of a letdown.

[Rebecca]

With all the different reactions here, I may have to read this just to see. Though I am currently so far behind on my reading pile that it will crush me in the event of an earthquake. And that's just the ones in paper--there are several on the ereaders (yes, plural!) too.

[J.S.]

I really enjoyed this book. I was skeptically when I first thumbed through it, but I was quickly drawn in. I was intrigued by the interwoven stories and enjoyed the twist at the end about the identity of the girl in the illustrations.

[Jemima]

I enjoyed this book too. I was quite surprised when it arrived - I wasn't expecting a brick!

I enjoyed the pictures, but after looking carefully at the first few (and liking the blow-up of the wolf's eyes to build tension) like others I skimmed through a lot of them. Then it got to the museum and the exhibition and those blew me away. Such wondrous detail! I loved them. But then, I illustrate my own books, in a very amateur way, so it was a delight to study these.

As others have said, the stories are straightforward, but still enjoyable. I thought the deaf culture angle was interesting, but since both protagonists had once been hearers, not as challenging to the writer as a born-deaf person might have been. I considered making one of my characters deaf once, and decided I didn't have enough understanding of life in a deaf world, despite always having known deaf people. (Dougall, in case anyone wonders)

Thank you guys for picking this as book of the month - I wouldn't have picked it up otherwise.

Review on my blog (and probably here) 1st November.

[Susan]

Here I am commenting a month late again.... : )
but I really enjoyed the writing style in Wonderstruck. There was no trying to be fancy or tricky, just a straight forward story. The boy seemed a bit wise beyond his years though. Also, it seems more like a book for adults than for kids. I liked the way the two stories came together.

[David]

I like the pictures in these books, not only because they are good for reluctant readers, but they also convey a sense of mystery and wonder. It sucks you in!

[M.G.]

David wrote: "I like the pictures in these books, not only because they are good for reluctant readers, but they also convey a sense of mystery and wonder. It sucks you in!"

I agree, David -- the artwork is magical.