The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Don’t you just love it when you finish an absolutely fantastic book and then you find out they are making a movie out of it?  First of all, it makes you feel like….wow, I really picked a winner!  Hollywood wants to make a movie out of a book I read!  Second, you think….wow, I wonder how they’ll do that chapter?  Or, I wonder what parts of the book will make it to the big screen?

  The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is that book.  My 8 year old son and I read it together, taking turns with the pages, and we both loved it.  And, we are super excited that the movie comes out November 23^rd.

 Don’t be intimated by the appearance of this book.  When the librarian first recommended it to us, my son was 7 years old and the book was a little over 2 inches thick!  It weighs 2 pounds and is 526 pages long.

 I was a little concerned.

 But, as we flipped through the pages, we found that Mr. Selznick had used LOTS of illustrations–over 300 pages of illustrations.  These were not just ordinary pictures, but beautiful and interesting drawings that help tell the story and give you a break after reading a couple pages of text.

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is the story of a little boy who lives in the walls of a Paris train station.  Here is the description, on the inside flap of the book:

 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.

 If you have a girl, do not fear, the secondary character in the book is a little girl and the story is one for any child.  My son loved it, and one of our other Family Friendly Cincinnati writers’ has a daughter who was just as enamored with the book.

 While Hugo’s personal story is unfolding, we also learn about Georges Méliès, who created the first science fiction movie in the world.  Does this image look familiar?

This film was called  A Trip to the Moon  and it plays a very important part in the book.

The movie The Invention of Hugo Cabret comes out over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, November 23rd.  Now is the perfect time to get the book and read it before the movie is released.  It is such a great book to share as a family because it really has something for most ages.

After reading the book, head to the theater for a family date and see how it compares.  If you start soon, I promise you’ll have all 526 pages read by November 23rd!  It really goes THAT fast!  You may have seen previews on tv for the movie, but in case you have not, click here to watch.  Enjoy the show (and the book!).

 Check out Michelle’s blog I’m Living the Good Life  to see if she really is!