The
Invention
of Hugo Cabret

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Books: The Invention of Hugo Cabret

The Invention of Hugo Cabret

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Manufacturer: Scholastic Press
Author: Brian Selznick
Binding: Hardcover
Publication Date: 2007-01-30
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Label: Scholastic Press
Number Of Pages: 544

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Editorial Review
Book Description:
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.


Amazon.com Exclusive

A Letter from Brian Selznick

Dear readers,

When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I’m an illustrator myself, I’ve often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities.

My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.

I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn’t until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born.

A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work.

Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Yours,

Brian Selznick




Amazon.com Exclusive

Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret

This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully!

--Brian Selznick


More from Brian Selznick


The Houdini Box


Walt Whitman: Words for America


The Boy of a Thousand Faces


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Customer Reviews

Very original! 2008-09-03
This was a very unique book and I really enjoyed it! It did take me a few chapters to get completely absorbed, but after that I was thoroughly interested in the plot and how everything would be resolved.
The book is unique in multiple ways, but two stand out for me. The first of which, is that it's probably one of the least predictable books I've read lately. You can guess how the overall ending will probably turn out, but the specifics and the "how" were (at least to me) pretty unpredictable.
Also, the book uses pictures to help tell the story, instead of depicting what's already been written. For example, The text might read something like, "Hugo walked into the train station," followed by four or five drawings, one of Hugo walking into the station, one of him seeing a friend, one of him running to meet his friend, and one of him tripping. The text would then say something link, "Hugo's friend offered him a hand up." That's probably very confusing, but I hope it helps a little. I think it would be a great book for a young reader who isn't too keen on reading, because it is a thick book, but because of all the drawings, you can get through it fairly quickly, yet you still have a great sense of accomplishment. So, I think it would probably be a good jump-start sort of book.
Though, let me emphasize that, even if you are an avid reader, it's still a great book!


Cleverly conceived and executed. A pleasure to read. Movie script meets graphic novel. 2008-08-31
Watch Video Here: http://www.amazon.com/review/RB2Y01LBZS84M A Caldecott Medal Winner. A fine achievement from Brian Selznick with this blend of graphic novel, novel and flip book. It has a scripted movie-like feel, evocative of the wonderful era of silent film. The words and illustrations work well together to unfold an engaging tale. I really liked it as an adult. It's a little too 'old' for my younger children, but I believe that older readers in 9- 15 year old bracket will get a lot out of it.


Great Book for Adults and Children 2008-08-17
We read this book as a family. My youngest son hates to read but with this story he was the first to ask if we could read each night. Great visualizations and illustrations for the reader.


A brilliant invention. 2008-08-02
When I first picked up this book I knew I was holding something special. "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" is a story told not only through words, but also through a series of pictures (like watching an animated feature), but furthermore through the physical object of the book itself.

Mr. Selznick has created a one-of-a-kind entity that just so happens to fit on a library shelf, but that acts as so much more than a book. In general, authors tell their stories through words and filmmakers through pictures. Selznick has combined the two and come up with something that is more than just the sum of the parts.

I have a feeling we're going to see a slew of copy-cat books trying to replicate the magic that Selznick created in this "invention" of his, but my guess is that most of them will fall flat without the brilliant interplay of subject matter and form that comprise this masterpiece.

This is a book full of mystery and suspense, and keeps you rooting for Hugo and wanting to enter deeper into his world. It was truly a joy to turn each page, and as I closed the back cover, it left me with an immense smile of satisfaction on my face.

I highly recommend this as a book that can be enjoyed by people of all ages, from younger children to teens and adults. A brilliant invention!


Wow!!!! 2008-08-02
I so enjoyed this book. The story line was interesting and the sketches worked so well at telling the story. It is like a picture book for the YA crowd. I must confess that my husband and I enjoyed it as much as our 14 year old!


So much fun! 2008-07-26
Book Description:
Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.


Amazon.com Exclusive

A Letter from Brian Selznick

Dear readers,

When I was a kid, two of my favorite books were by an amazing man named Remy Charlip. Fortunately and Thirteen fascinated me in part because, in both books, the very act of turning the pages plays a pivotal role in telling the story. Each turn reveals something new in a way that builds on the image on the previous page. Now that I’m an illustrator myself, I’ve often thought about this dramatic storytelling device and all of its creative possibilities.

My new book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, is a 550 page novel in words and pictures. But unlike most novels, the images in my new book don't just illustrate the story; they help tell it. I've used the lessons I learned from Remy Charlip and other masters of the picture book to create something that is not a exactly a novel, not quite a picture book, not really a graphic novel, or a flip book or a movie, but a combination of all these things.

I began thinking about this book ten years ago after seeing some of the magical films of Georges Méliès, the father of science-fiction movies. But it wasn’t until I read a book called Edison's Eve: The Quest for Mechanical Life by Gaby Woods that my story began to come into focus. I discovered that Méliès had a collection of mechanical, wind-up figures (called automata) that were donated to a museum, but which were later destroyed and thrown away. Instantly, I imagined a boy discovering these broken, rusty machines in the garbage, stealing one and attempting to fix it. At that moment, Hugo Cabret was born.

A few years ago, I had the honor of meeting Remy Charlip, and I'm proud to say that we've become friends. Last December he was asking me what I was working on, and as I was describing this book to him, I realized that Remy looks exactly like Georges Méliès. I excitedly asked him to pose as the character in my book, and fortunately, he said yes. So every time you see Méliès in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, the person you are really looking at is my dear friend Remy Charlip, who continues to inspire everyone who has the great pleasure of knowing him or seeing his work.

Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Yours,

Brian Selznick




Amazon.com Exclusive

Brian Selznick on a "Deleted Scene" from The Invention of Hugo Cabret

This is a finished drawing that I had to cut from The Invention of Hugo Cabret. I was still rewriting the book when I had to begin the final art. There was originally a scene in the story where this character, Etienne, is working in a camera shop. On one of my research trips to Paris I spent an entire day visiting old camera shops and photographing cameras from the 1930's and earlier, as well as the facades of the shops themselves. I researched original French camera posters and made sure that the counter and the shelves were accurate to the time period. I did all the drawings in the book at 1/4 scale, so they were very small and I often had to use a magnifying glass to help me see what I was drawing. After I finished this drawing I continued to rewrite, and for various reasons I realized that I needed to move this scene from the camera shop to the French Film Academy, which meant that I had to cut this picture. I tried really hard to find ANOTHER moment when I could have Etienne in a camera shop, but, as painful as it was, I knew the picture had to go. I'm glad to see it up on the Amazon website because otherwise no one would have ever seen all those tiny cameras I researched and drew so carefully!

--Brian Selznick


More from Brian Selznick


The Houdini Box


Walt Whitman: Words for America


The Boy of a Thousand Faces




Rave review from an 11-year old reader 2008-07-19
I have not read this book myself, but gave it as a birthday gift to an 11-year-old. I chose it based on Amazon reviews. His mother reports that he LOVED the book and asked her if it is "okay to read a book twice?"


Must have! 2008-07-17
This is a great tool to have to give background and helpful information about the book and the author. The kids I showed the DVD to loved it and it helped them understand the book and not be overwhelmed by it!


A Modern Fairy Tale 2008-07-17
A surprisingly complex book for children by Brian Selznick, told in pictures and words, about loss, trust, magic, dreams, the history of the cinema and finding one's purpose.
Selznick is both the author and the illustrator of this 20th century fairy tale which explores how people's fates can interlock, like the wheels and cogs of the automaton which Hugo seeks to rebuild.




Entertaining and Magical...Enter Hugos World! 2008-07-12
This book can reach readers on many different levels. Movies, Inventions, Mechanical Beings (robots), train stations, orphans... they are all here.
THe illustrations in this book are as essential to the text, and one may compare this to old silent films where on sees the picture, then words come up on the screen.
No surprise that the illustrator and author is related to a major historical film director.

If you are a kid, don't let the number of pages keep you from this book... with so many pages of pictures, it is not much reading. On the other hand, if you are an adult, don't shy away from this because of the pictures....rather, relax and enjoy the magical world and atmosphere, and really look at the incredible detail of the illustrations.

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