Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick- Reading level: Ages 9-12
- Hardcover: 608 pages
- Publisher: Scholastic Press (September 13, 2011)
- ISBN-13: 978-0545027892
Back-of-the-book blurb: 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 years apart, these two independent stories–Ben’s told in words, Rose’s in pictures–weave back and forth with mesmerizing symmetry.
She Is Too Fond of Books’ review: Wonderstruck, indeed! Brian Selznick’s new novel for tweens and teens (and, ahem, “grown-ups” too), is a wonder for its incredible charcoal drawings (460 pages of original artwork), its shadow-like plot lines, and its historical accuracy. I’m not sure which aspect impressed me most; taken together, it’s out of the ballpark.
Ben’s story (the written word) takes place in the summer of 1977, beginning in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota. Rose’s story opens in Hoboken, New Jersey in the fall of 1927. The two closely parallel each other, with similarities through time and place. I can’t even hint at more about the plot; it really needs to be discovered by the reader.
The physical structure of the book is a thoughtful pattern – Selznick shares about a half dozen pages of Ben’s story in text, then has several pages of detailed charcoal drawings showing a connection to Rose’s story. The last page of text before the switch to illustration is set with a lot of white space around it, letting the reader know that the story is about to shift, and easing the transition to Rose’s story. The drawings are beautifully detailed; in several sequences, Selznick shows a distant perspective, honing in closer and closer on subsequent pages, giving a sense of movement.
Again, without spoiling the plot, I must say that Selznick’s attention to historical detail added to my enjoyment of the novel. The “now and then” comparisons, information about geology and weather patterns, understanding of Deaf culture, and clever interplays make this a book that is as much fun for the reader to deconstruct as I imagine it was for Selznick to create.
One quote, from Ben’s perspective:
He wished that 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.
Brian Selznick presented at BookExpo America’s “Children’s Author’s Breakfast” in May. He showed a video of his studio, and of packing up all 460 drawings to send to his editor. The video below showcases these incredible drawings, as the author talks about how and why he created Wonderstruck, and his hope that “the love that I felt for these different elements and for these characters comes through.” It does!
I just put this on my TBR list yesterday evening (I heard about it from Shelf Awareness). I had no idea it dealt with Deaf culture, but the idea of a mix of words and pictures sounded interesting. After reading your review, I guess I need to bump the book further up my list!
Sounds interesting…wonder if a tween I know would like this
I adored this book!!
I so loved Hugo, and at SIBA I just wanted to touch the book and flip through it but Scholastic was pretty harsh about it. They had the whole display taped up like a gang of thieving bloggers were going to come and steal the copies.
Which, to be fair, they probably would have.
You know bloggers, we’re so sneaky.
I love love love the concept of the book. This is such a great video too.
Bookzilla – yes, a note in the back of the book explains that Selznick became interested in Deaf culture because his brother was born deaf in one ear (like the character Ben).
Serena – Did she like HUGO CABRET? My son (13) liked both books immensely – he said he liked the intricacies of the inventions of HUGO, and the more detailed and clever intertwined plots of WONDERSTRUCK
Bermudaonion – It’s going around my family
Sandy – well, you were marauding, from the tweets I saw …
Bookzilla –
Pam – yes, I love how they put Selznick “in” the book for the video.
This was my first experience with a Selnick book and I was truly blown away!
I have this one and was hoping to get to it next week.
I have been hearing a lot of buzz about this book, and from the way you describe it, it sounds like an outstanding read. I have not experienced a book that incorporates illustrations and text in quite this way, so I am sort of excited about this one! Fantastic review!
I really really want to read this one! I have anted it since I seen and heard the hype at BEA!
Yay! So glad you enjoyed this as I just got my hands on a copy the other day. Now I just need to find time to READ and I’ll be good to go. I loved The Invention of Hugo Cabret and am excited to read this one!
Oh this sounds wonderful. I never read his first one but I heard that is magical too.
I’ve not yet read any of his work but hear such wonderful things about it all. I am lucky I picked up a copy of this at BEA so I can dive in! Glad you enjoyed this one.
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