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Wonderstruck
Common Sense Media says
Inventive story of runaways in New York, 50 years apart.
Parents say
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that in this follow-up to his Caldecott Award-winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick crafts two concurrent stories, one in words and one in pictures, that unfold and ultimately converge. There is a lot going on, and one reading may not be enough; for example, the early pictures are full of visual clues to later plot developments and rich with subtle commentary that will reward plenty of return visits. Some of the beautifully drawn black-and-white images convey Rose's terror at being caught in a storm, while others find her dwarfed by scary-looking skeletons and curios in a spooky-looking museum hall. If your child is still at a point where this might be nightmare fodder, be aware.
What's the story?
There are two stories, one in words, one in beautifully drawn pictures. The former finds 12-year-old Ben in 1977 Minnesota, newly orphaned by the death of his free-spirited librarian mom and troubled by dreams of wolves. The latter concerns 12-year-old Rose, tending her movie-star scrapbook and gazing longingly at the New York skyline. Both pack their treasured belongings, flee to New York, and ultimately find themselves at the American Museum of Natural History, which plays a vital role in connecting them to people with whom they're going to share many things in their lives. There are many missteps, scary interludes, great revelations, and sweet moments along the way.
Is it any good?
WONDERSTRUCK is visually gorgeous and emotionally satisfying and will leave readers quite fond of the characters. The issue of Ben and Rose's deafness is a strong theme; it's presented with complexity and a strong emphasis on the practical, which both deaf and hearing kids of today may find thought-provoking. The novel is not afraid to delve into the esoteric, so some of the specifics may not be every kid's dish. While the theme of finding your own people, the ones who understand you and share your interests, is pretty universal (what kid cannot relate to Harry's joy at landing at Hogwarts after life among the Muggles?), not every kid will share Ben and Rose's passion for curating per se.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about running away from home, which is an integral part of this book. Why do Ben and Rose run away? Do you think they had any other choice? Were they lucky things turned out so well? What might have happened to them today?
What does the book show about how friends and family members treat each other? Jamie deceives Ben about the bookstore because he is afraid of losing Ben as a friend. Ben wants Jamie to let Ben's family know he is OK, but Jamie keeps stalling for the same reason. Do you understand why Jamie does this? Would you have done the same?
Rose and Ben are both deaf. Do you know any deaf people? Can you talk to them in American Sign Language?
What's your favorite museum?
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AGE
Wonderstruck Review by ParentzCare
I think it is a pretty good book but it depends on the parents. I let my 11 year old daughter read it first when she was 10 and she had nightmares for a while. She read it again when she turned 11,and she handled it much better. I myself read it and thought it was very well written. I also think Mr.Selznick is a gifted writer. I think parents should NOT let their kids read the book before age 11. I highly recommend! 5 STAR!
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AGE
Selznick wows me once again.
I love Mr. Selznick's writing. His characters strive to learn more about certain topics, and tend to be quite clever and crafty. Combine interesting characters with lovely illustration, and you've got Wonderstruck!
The story centers around the stories of Rose and Ben, which are set 50 years apart. They are both deaf, but that isn't the book's main focus. In 1927, Rose keeps a scrapbook of a famous actress, who happens to be her mother. She attempts to keep track of her every movement in the public eye.
In 1977, Ben is searching for clues of his mysterious father following his mother's death. Ben has never met his father, and has hopes of finally meeting him.
I enjoyed Wonderstruck quite a lot, and I highly recommend it.
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Kid, 12 years old
September 18, 2011
AGE
Great forfans of Hugo Cabret!
Wonderstruck is a very fun, exciting book. It is mostly set in New York, in 1927 and 1977. It promotes the idea of family and being loving. The two main characters, Rose from 1927, and Ben from 1977, are both deaf, and this story is partly about how they deal with it. The story seems to focus more on Ben, and he gets the writing "half", which is more like two-thirds. Rose's story is told in pictures, and the early pictures bear many clues about later events (e.g. the paper buildings in her room). Rose is subject to a scandal, as her mother, famous actress Lillian Mayhew had Walter and Rose, before ditching Rose's dad for a young actor. Ben's mother has recently died, and as you find out later in the story, his dad never married his mom, but they still had a child. Ben and Rose both are strong characters who fight deafness, and find ways to "hear". At the very end, you get to find out how their stories connect. This will be a book better for kids who read The Invention of Hugo Cabret and didn't find it super challenging, since Wonderstruck has more text.
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Kid, 11 years old
January 23, 2012
AGE
READ THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW!!!!!
I loved this book. It is intimidating because of the massive size, (600 pages!) but you zip through it so quickly because it keeps you going. It is very exciting, and not once did I find myself bored, or not liking it. The characters are great role models, and there are great messages being said.
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Kid, 11 years old
February 24, 2012
AGE
I was Wonderstruck!
This awesome book seems slightly intimidating at first-it's longer than most Harry Potter books- but readers were in for a surprise. This book goes by very fast, since 50% of it is pictures. It has nothing inappropriate WHATSOEVER, which would have lead me to say that it would be "On" for 6+, but the writing is slightly more advanced than that: think a little more than Harry Potter. It is very entertaining and fun. The end is especially interesting. This is a great kids book for tweens and young teens. Read it today!
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Kid, 10 years old
March 8, 2012
AGE
okay book
This was an okay book. About the only thing I didn't like was about the deaf parts. The book made it sound like deaf people can only sign. This book is very similar to The Invention of Hugo Cabret in terms of the pictures.
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AGE
Great! An awesome follow-up to Hugo Cabret!
This book is Brian Selnick's BEST book! It's even better than Hugo Cabret! But Hugo Cabret is still a GREAT book!
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| Author: | Brian Selznick |
| Book type: | Fiction |
| Publisher: | Scholastic Press |
| Publication date: | September 13, 2011 |
| Number of pages: | 608 |
| Hardcover price: | $29.99 |
| Publisher's recommended age(s): | 9 - 12 |
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