The Invention of Hugo Cabret - Brian Selznick

Recommended for all ages.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a really interesting book. It's a beautiful coming-of-age type narrative about Hugo Cabret, an orphan, who becomes involved with a family who run a little toy shop. At the heart of this involvement is the curiously immobile automaton (representative of Hugo's dad) who is somehow connected to the toy shop owner and his goddaughter. After working hard to get the automaton to move again, Hugo and Isabelle (the goddaughter) are amazed and confused by its message and have to do some good old sleuthing themselves to discover its meaning. The message ends up being liberating for everyone.

Mystery and adventure, secret tunnels and compartments, a curious machine - this book has everything to pique your interest. And the best bit? Over half the story is told in pictures! (That's what makes the book so fat!) I'd love to do this book with a junior class (year 7 or 8) - it's got great links to visual literacy and cinema, plus the kids would get just as much kick out of finishing such a long book as I did!

PS. Check out the fan site http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm for some neat behind-the-scenes stuff!