YA for Literature!: Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick

My Reaction:
Wonderstruck was a stunning read, even more enjoyable than The Invention of Hugo Cabret. At first, I was hesitant about reading it, having loved Hugo so much, I wasn't sure it would live up to my expectations, but it far exceeded them. I loved how Selznick used different mediums to tell two different stories at once. The way that the two stories intertwine at the end to become one singular narrative is incredible. Even though I think it is a little predictable that two stories become one, Selznick leaves a little mystery for the reader, so the entire story is not predictable. This was also a super fast read, partly because half of the story is told in images. It's well over 600 pages, so it looks intimidating and long, which might deter some readers from picking it up, but it's a whirlwind of a story that everyone will enjoy.

About the Book:

Wonderstruck is about the stories of Ben and Rose, set fifty years apart, but intertwining in an intricate way. Ben’s story is told entirely in words, while Rose’s story is told entirely in images.

Ben is a twelve-year-old boy living in Gunflint Lake, Minnesota in 1977. He has just lost his mom and now lives next door with his aunt, uncle, and two cousins. One night, he sees a light on in his mother’s bedroom, which he decides to investigate. He finds his cousin, Janet in his mother’s bedroom, wearing his mother’s locket, which Ben had never seen before. This, along with a tin can full of money, prompts him to look through her belongings for the first time since her death. In her dresser, Ben finds a clue about his absent father, sending him on a journey to New York City for answers.

Rose is a twelve-year-old girl living in Hoboken, New Jersey, in 1927. Rose, obsessed with a famous actress, runs away to New York City to see her live on stage. Rose convinces her older brother, Walter, who lives in the city, to let her stay with him instead of making her go back to her father.

What unite their two stories are the American Museum of Natural History and a bookstore, Kincaid’s Books.

On Teaching:
Like Hugo, Wonderstruck is more of an upper elementary/middle school novel. However, I think there are a lot of teachable concepts in Wonderstruck, and I think it's the kind of story that anyone, no matter the age can enjoy. It might also be a good "practice" novel for someone interested in reading graphic novels. Wonderstuck isn't a graphic novel exactly, but it does use images to tell a story.

Book Extras:

Check out Wonderstruck's website for some essays and virtual field trips related to the book.