C onnecting two narratives through prose and pictures, brian selznicks wonderstruck is the perfect novel to inspire conversation, creativity, and curiosity in readers of all ages. Wonderstruck book vancouver public library bibliocommons. As in hugo cabret, a significant part of the story is told in sequential illustrations, most of which depict the even unhappier rose, whose movie. In pictures, we see the story of rose, beginning with her youth in the 1920s to her later years in 1970s new york city. There are two separate story lines in wonderstruck by brian selznick. Bens story, set in 1977, is told entirely with words, while roses story, set fifty years earlier, is told entirely with pictures. Wonderstruck is clean teen publishings first break through young adult anthology. Wonderstruck book gail borden public library district. The two stories weave back and forth before ultimately coming together.
As half of the book is images, it seems a fabulous idea for children who may struggle with reading i have one who doesnt, one who does as it makes them want to find out more and they feel the achievement of getting through a large portion of the book turning pages. This breathtaking work of art an amazing hybrid novelpicture book with over 460 pages of drawings adds new variations to the structure brian created for the invention of hugo cabret, giving readers yet more innovative ways to experience what a book can be. Deaf meets wonderstruck the national endowment for the. Living with relatives in rural gunflint, minnesota, in 1977, ben dreams of the mother michelle williams who recently died in a car crash and the. This story is alternated with a second story told entirely in pictures. With the formers being told in words, and the latters being told in illustrations, this textile tale takes two youngsters, a book, a turtle, a bookstore, a museum, and several supporti despite wonderstruck s 630 pages, i read it within the span of three hours. I couldnt put this book down and i cant wait to read it to or with all three of my children. Because of this, a movie may differ from the novel. Mar 16, 2021 wonderstruck a novel in words and pictures book. Not that the path isnt sometimes harrowing from a parents point of view, as both plots involve 12yearolds running away from home to new york city, one in 1927, one 50 years later, and the realities they encounter, while sometimes scary, are a good. When ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mothers room and rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on. Set in hoboken, new jersey, 1927, it is about rose, a deaf girl who lives in a.
Beautifully illustrated book with a fascinating story. Wonderstruck is a fastpaced, terrific novel and a work of art. The film follows two kids, a girl in the 1920s and a boy in the 1970s, each navigating the american museum of natural history by themselves, and. In wonderstruck, selznick continued the narrative approach of his last book, using both words and illustrations though in this book he. In words, we learn the story of ben, a lonely boy searching for a father he has never met.
In this magnificent reimagining of the form he originated, two standalone storiesthe first in nearly 400 pages of continuous pictures, the second in prosecreate a beguiling narrative puzzle. Todd hayness wonderstruck and the problem with its bigreveal. Selznicks descriptive language and detailed illustrations will keep even the most reluctant readers engaged in the story. Use this template to write a summary of the story told through the text of. Wonderstruck is both a novel and a picture book, a form selznick first experimented with in the invention of hugo cabret, when he had the idea of telling a story in much the same way that film does. His story is set in 1977 and is told in standard prose. In fact, he won the coveted caldecott award for the book and then it was adapted into the 2011 film, directed by martin scorsese, which won 5 academy awards. Excerpt among the summaries and analysis available for wonderstruck, there freebooknotes found 12 sites with book summaries or analysis of wonderstruck. Wonderstruck 2011 is an american youngadult fiction novel written and illustrated by brian selznick, who also created the invention of hugo cabret 2007. Soon after becoming deaf, he runs away from his aunts home in minnesota to live in the amnh. Brian selznick has said that one of his inspirations for wonderstruck was the documentary through deaf eyes, and the knowledge that the transition from silent movies to talkies was disastrous for deaf people. The film interlaces two stories set fifty years apart, switching frequently between them.
The story is immersive in part because it is about immersion. Bens story, set in 1977, is told entirely with words, while roses story, set fifty. The book follows the story of ben, a deaf boy traveling to new. Cinema had been a way for deaf people to record their stories in sign language, as well as participate in mass culture through a shared visual medium. Overview wonderstruck 2011 by brian selznick is a graphic novel for children and young adults. Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelveyearold ben leaves his minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in new york city, and there meets rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life.
Her story is told through beautiful pencil sketches. The amazing world of brian selznick discussion guide. I love wonderstruck s narrators, rose and ben, who bring a fresh look to the world around us. Why is he so affected by the locket and the book he finds in his mothers room.
The story, set in 1920s paris, is also dotted with references to silent movies. Two standalone storiesthe first in nearly 400 pages of continuous pictures, the second in prosecreate a beguiling narrative puzzle. Wonderstruck is a novel told in two parallel narratives with two distinct styles. By this i mean the illustrations are gorgeous and perfectly compliment the plot of wonderstruck. You will find a great deal of entertainment within wonderstruck that is appropriate for readers of all ages. The action in the two stories perfectly mirror each other. With the formers being told in words, and the latters being told in illustrations, this textile tale takes two youngsters, a book, a turtle, a bookstore, a museum, and several supporti despite wonderstruck s 630 pages, i. What are the early connections between bens story and roses story. The two story lines give clues throughout the novel providing lots of intriguing clues of what connections there might be before all is revealed in the novels final conclusion. While i was reading wonderstruck, i finished the book about 600 pages in four hours because i could not put the book down. Like wonderstruck, it is highly visual, cinematic even. Dont miss selznicks other novels in words and pictures, the invention of hugo cabret and wonderstruck, which together with the marvels, form an extraordinary thematic trilogy.
Mar 24, 2012 typical childrens books include chapters with text and illustrations that complement each other simultaneously, telling one plot line. Theres plenty of text here enough to find ample evidence of distinguished qualities, but unlike those books where the pictures illustrate the text, here the pictures take over portions of the story from the text. Hugo author brian selznick in a wonderstruck mindset. All stories within this book have fallen within our ya rating scale, however, not all stories have young adult characters. Wonderstruck 2011 by brian selznick is a graphic novel for children and young adults. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful with over 460 pages of original artwork wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely. Discuss how those connectionsthe places where they feel trapped, their loneliness, the storms and lightninghelp to illuminate and expand on the individual stories. The book follows the story of ben, a deaf boy traveling to new york in 1977, and rose, a deafmute girl traveling to new york in 1927. Tells the tale of two children separated by fifty years. The stories overlap and weave together, as both ben and rose seek family and belonging. Dec 30, 2011 wonderstruck will not face one prejudice that those books will, and that is the word count. Haynes worked with selznick to complete the screenplay, and many. Producers often use a book as a springboard for a movie idea or to earn a specific rating. Wonderstruck touches on the enduring themes of the passage of time, the importance of family bonds, and the challenge of communication without words.
Wonderstruck book olathe public library bibliocommons. Selznicks wonderstruck includes both text and illustrations, and tells a story that seems to be simultaneous, but once the reader embarks, realizes that its not as clear as you may first suspect. Where the invention of hugo cabret offers a single story told in words and pictures, wonderstruck weaves together two independent stories, set fifty years apart. Selznicks wonderstruck plays with the narrative form through its parallel storylines.
While exploring his mothers old bedroom, ben finds a book called wonderstruck which is about president theodore roosevelt and how he founded the american. With oakes fegley, julianne moore, michelle williams, millicent simmonds. Oct 20, 2017 wonderstruck alternates between bens story and that of a sweet, shy girl named rose living in hoboken, new jersey, in 1927. Oct 20, 2017 the plot of wonderstruck, when described, sounds like the most rhapsodic of fables, blending childlike fantasy and new york city nostalgia to tell a story buoyed by swelling music and intricate. These experimental elements make wonderstruck an ideal novel for a director like haynes to adapt. As in hugo cabret, artwork tells much of the story, two independent threads of. Wonderstruck is the story of rose and ben, a young boy and girl who live years and worlds apart. Signup below to receive updates and kristinas newsletter. The wonderful world of brian selznick passport magazine. The wonderstruck book featured a twopage photograph of a cabinet of wonders room that had been erected at the american museum of natural history in new york city and exhibited to the public in the 1920s. He watched many silent movies in preparation for filming roses story in wonderstruck. Kids who enjoyed selznicks last book, the caldecott medalwinning the invention of hugo cabret.
After a strange accidentben permanently loses his hearing due to a lightning strikehe hops on a bus to new york in search of his father, by. In wonderstruck, selznick continued the narrative approach of his last book, using both words and illustrations though in this book he separates the illustrations and the writings into their own story and weaves them together at the end. After i finished the invention of hugo cabret, i wanted to try to take what i learned from making that book and make a new book. Hi, im brian selznick and this is wonderstruck wonderstruck is about two kids who are trying to find the place where they belong in the world after i finished the invention of hugo cabret, i wanted to try to take what i learned from making that book and make a new book and i started thinking about what else i could do to tell a story with pictures. Oct 20, 2017 based on brian selznicks 2011 childrens book of the same name, wonderstruck tells the story of two children separated by time and, initially, by spacebut brought together by a history of. The amazing world of brian selznick discussion guide scholastic. Sep 20, 2011 a picture book has a collective unity of story line, theme, or concept, developed through the series of pictures of which the book is comprised. Wonderstruck is about two kids who are trying to find the place where they belong in the world. A breathtaking new voyage from caldecott medalist brian selznick. Sep, 2011 wonderstruck is both a novel and a picture book, a form selznick first experimented with in the invention of hugo cabret, when he had the idea of telling a story in much the same way that film does.
Wonderstruck book pima county public library bibliocommons. Dec 20, 2011 the pictures in wonderstruck play a pivotal role in telling the story. Wonderstruck book johnson county library bibliocommons. The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide. Sep 23, 2011 going through his mothers effects, he discovers a book entitled wonderstruck, a history of museums from the early cabinets of delights to the great institutions of the present day. Wonderstruck postthoughts, feelings, classroom connections. Wonderstruck is a wonderfully experimental childrens. From the caldecott medalwinning creator of the invention of hugo cabret and wonderstruck comes a breathtaking new voyage.
Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. My husband and i have finished it, and are on our second reread. Yet they dont only serve a function, they are tactile experiences. Wonderstruck delivers a powerful message about the bond of family and friendship and its endurance through time, space, and miscommunication. Brian selznick is a new york times bestselling childrens book author and illustrator. Its a timeless story full of mystery, wonder, and friendship.
Now, selznick is back with wonderstruck, an even bigger novel. Bens story, set in 1977, is told in words, and roses story, set in 1927, is told in pictures. The first narrative takes place in 1977 and begins in gunflint lake, minnesota. Wonderstruck s efforts to juggle timelines and tonal shifts arent always smooth. With scores of books under his belt, its probably the invention of hugo cabret that he is most noted for.
Wonderstruck book portland public library bibliocommons. Having lost his mother and his hearing in a short time, twelveyearold ben leaves his minnesota home in 1977 to seek the father he never knew in new york city, and meets there rose, who is also longing for something missing from her life. It explains so much it offers insight into anyones life as well as a wonderful path to follow. Wonderstruck book san antonio public library bibliocommons. Its amazing how much story can be conveyed without prose. Selznick shifts between written text and illustrated action, depicting characters frame by frame in atmospheric pencil drawingszooming in, panning out, and achieving many other effects. In 1927, rose searches for the actress whose life she chronicles in her scrapbook. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful with over 460 pages of original artwork wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary. Download the book on amazon kindle, or buy a printed copy. This study guide consists of approximately 43 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of wonderstruck. Todd hayness wonderstruck and the problem with its big. Interspersed with the written story of ben is another story about a lonely, tween girl. It uses visuals in an inventive way, with roses story being told entirely in drawings.
The way ben connects to rose is so amazing and uncanny, which i thought was great. Ben and rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben whose story takes up most of the novel is still grieving for his mother when he finds a book called wonderstruck in her closet, about the american museum of natural history in new york. The emphasis is on describing the writing style and quality, with a short plot synopsis included. Shes been deaf since birth as is the expressive newcomer playing her, millicent simmonds. We are totally impressed with your writing abilities, your drawing us into your story and keeping our complete interest. Brian selznick is the caldecott medalwinning creator of the new york times bestsellers the invention of hugo cabret, adapted into martin scorseses oscarwinning hugo, wonderstruck, adapted into todd hayness eponymous movie, and the marvels.
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