Wonderstruck is Brian Sleznick’s new novel in words and pictures as it follows the journeys of two young children trying to find their place and reason in the world. One story, told through beautiful black and white images, takes place in 1927 and is about a young deaf girl, Rose. Isolated in her home with an uncaring father and a stage screen mother who has no thought or feeling for her, Rose runs away in search of her brother in New York City. The other story takes place in 1977 and is about Ben, a 12 year old boy. Deaf in one ear, he lives with his cousins after his mother dies in an accident. Having never known his father, the secret of who and where he is begs to be revealed when Ben finds himself rendered completely deaf after a thunderstorm. He runs away to New York City to search for his father with only a locket, bookmark, and a book called “Wonderstruck" left by his mother as clues. Ben’s search leads him to the American Museum of Natural History where another young boy, Jamie, whose father works in the museum, discovers Ben confused and lost. He gives him a place to hide in a storage room where more wonderful discoveries await him.
Plan to be amazed and gratified as we make this journey of self-discovery with both Rose and Ben. As the two stories finally intersect and lives are made whole, we celebrate fate bringing the two stories to a satisfying resolution.
Brian Selznick’s images are incredibly moving and dynamic. Emotion and action jump off the page and draw you into the New York City of 1927 and 1977 as well as the world of those who are deaf. His skill at visually rendering how they survive and relate in the world of the hearing is unique and eye-opening. The book is 635 pages, but you don’t even notice it as the pages turn quickly with more then three quarters of the book being full page illustrations.
After reading this book, you will recommend it to everyone. Children and adults of all ages will love the story and the wonderful storytelling skill of Mr. Selznick.
Wondersturck follows on the heels of his previous book, The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which won the Caldecott medal in 2008. Keep your eye out for the movie Hugo, based on book opening Nov. 23, 2011.
