Wonderstruck

Selznick, B. (2007).Wonderstruck.  New York:  Scholastic.

Ben's mother passed away and he is living with his aunt and uncle.  After being hit by lightning, he runs away to find the father he has never met in the city.  Ben's search ends in a museum. His story crosses the story of Rose who is a little girl following an actress.  The stories are separated by fifty years, but they come together as Ben discovers the identity of his father.

Book Trailer:
http://www.scholastic.com/wonderstruck/?esp=KIDS/ib/20131209//nav/ba/wonderstruck

Wonderstruck can be intimidating to readers by its many pages.  I would first make the connection to Hugo Cabret.  Many of our students have read that book or seen the movie.  I think that once you have read one of Brian Selznick’s books and are amazed with his illustrations, one can’t wait to read another.  For the child that does not know Hugo Cabret, I would start with the illustrations or show a book trailer so that many will be eager to read this 2011 Booklist Editors’ Choice:  Books for Youth.  Also, many students want to read historical fiction so this might be a perfect fit. Other books by Brian Selznick are Hugo Cabret, The Boy of a Thousand Faces, and The Houdini Box.  Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck are similar as the illustrations tell a majority of the story and Selznick keeps the mystery going until the very end.    Selznick’s first children’s book, The Houdini Box is a historical fiction book about Harry Houdini. The Boy with a Thousand Faces is different because it has a ghoulish content.  It is important to remember that Brian Selznick is the author and illustrator of all the books, so his illustrations are easily recognizable to readers.