Wonderstruck (book)
Encyclopedia
Wonderstruck is a historical-fiction book written and illustrated by Brian Selznick
and published by Scholastic Press
. The hardcover edition was released on September 13, 2011. Brian Selznick
is the illustrator of over 20 books by other authors including the Caldecott Honor book The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, and When Marian Sang the Sibert Medal
Honor book by Pam Munoz Ryan
. Selznick has also written five titles of his own including The Houdini Box, The Invention of Hugo Cabret
, and Wonderstruck.
Wonderstruck is Selznick’s second illustrated novel of this length. With “460 pages of artwork” between the book's 608 pages, it exceeds The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by 75 pages. Wonderstruck actually contains 176 more pages of artwork than The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This makes sense given that the book is actually two stories in one. Rose’s story (set in 1927) is told entirely in pictures. Ben’s story (set in 1977) is told entirely in text.
Wonderstruck takes the form Selznick first introduced in his Caldecott medal
winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret
and pushes it one step further. The Invention of Hugo Cabret was a departure for the Caldecott committee being the first illustrated novel to ever win the Caldecott award. In addition The Invention of Hugo Cabret has been made into a film, directed by Martin Scorsese
that will be released November 2011, simply titled Hugo.
contender as well as a Caldecott Medal
contender. Mary Quattlebaum of the Washington Post
calls it "brilliantly executed." Roger Sutton, editor in Chief of the Horn Book Magazine, cites the "technical brilliance" Selznick shows in the artistry of his illustrations. Tim Wadham, a reviewer for School Library Journal, discusses the dual text/illustration format that Selznick uses and says "the combination provides an emotional experience that neither the words nor the illustrations could achieve on their own." Ken Setterington sums up the impact of Wonderstruck
and The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by stating that "In fact, taken in tandem, these two titles have redefined the creative possibilities for novels and picture books."
in June of 1977. Ben’s mom, the town librarian
, died a few months before. He now lives with his aunt and uncle close to the house he grew up in. Ben has never known his dad, but feels a pull to find out who he was. Ben discovers a bookmark in his mother's things inscribed to his mother that ends "Love, Danny." Ben decides Danny must be his father and proceeds to call the number listed on the bookmark. As he is calling a bolt of lightning hits his house and deafens him. He wakes in the hospital. A short time later he decides to run away from the hospital and journey to New York City
, eventually hiding out in the American Museum of Natural History
. While at the American Museum of Natural History he meets Jamie whose father works at the museum. Jamie takes him on tours of the back areas of the museum and helps him to hide in an unused storage room. Ben is still determined to track down his father so he leaves the museum to locate the bookstore listed on the bookmark he found in his mother's things. Once there he encounters Rose and they try to piece together who they might be to each other.
Rose’s story starts in Hoboken, New Jersey
in October of 1927. Rose is drawn to the stage star Lillian Mayhew. She is not happy at home, and runs away to New York City
. This is especially dangerous for her because she is a young girl, and she is deaf. In New York City Rose travels to the theater where Lillian Mayhew is performing. She sneaks in and is discovered by the actress herself. Lillian Mayhew is furious, and Rose reveals that she came because she missed her. Lillian Mayhew is Rose's mother. Lillian is prepared to send Rose back to her father, so Rose runs away again. This time she runs to the American Museum of Natural History
. She is found there by her brother, Walter. He takes her back to his apartment and promises to speak to their parents. At this point Rose's story jumps forward 50 years and we see her as an older woman entering a bookstore. It is there she meets Ben and they sort out who they are to each other.
Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick is a Caldecott-winning American author and illustrator of children's books.-Life and career:Selznick was born in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey...
and published by Scholastic Press
Scholastic Press
Scholastic is a global book publishing company known for publishing educational materials for schools, teachers, and parents, and selling and distributing them by mail order and via book clubs and book fairs. It also has the exclusive United States' publishing rights to the Harry Potter book...
. The hardcover edition was released on September 13, 2011. Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick is a Caldecott-winning American author and illustrator of children's books.-Life and career:Selznick was born in East Brunswick Township, New Jersey...
is the illustrator of over 20 books by other authors including the Caldecott Honor book The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins by Barbara Kerley, and When Marian Sang the Sibert Medal
Sibert Medal
The Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Award established by the Association for Library Service to Children in 2001 with support from Bound to Stay Bound Books, Inc., is awarded annually to the author and illustrator of the most distinguished informational book published in English during the...
Honor book by Pam Munoz Ryan
Pam Muñoz Ryan
Pam Muñoz Ryan is a Mexican-American author.Muñoz Ryan began writing when she was encouraged by a professor while in graduate school. "It took me a number or years to make that leap of faith," she states when commenting on becoming a full-time writer...
. Selznick has also written five titles of his own including The Houdini Box, The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a historical-fiction book written and illustrated by Brian Selznick and published by Scholastic Press. The hardcover edition was released on January 30, 2007, and the paperback edition was released on June 2, 2008. With 284 pictures between the book's 533 pages, the...
, and Wonderstruck.
Wonderstruck is Selznick’s second illustrated novel of this length. With “460 pages of artwork” between the book's 608 pages, it exceeds The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a historical-fiction book written and illustrated by Brian Selznick and published by Scholastic Press. The hardcover edition was released on January 30, 2007, and the paperback edition was released on June 2, 2008. With 284 pictures between the book's 533 pages, the...
by 75 pages. Wonderstruck actually contains 176 more pages of artwork than The Invention of Hugo Cabret. This makes sense given that the book is actually two stories in one. Rose’s story (set in 1927) is told entirely in pictures. Ben’s story (set in 1977) is told entirely in text.
Wonderstruck takes the form Selznick first introduced in his Caldecott medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
winning The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a historical-fiction book written and illustrated by Brian Selznick and published by Scholastic Press. The hardcover edition was released on January 30, 2007, and the paperback edition was released on June 2, 2008. With 284 pictures between the book's 533 pages, the...
and pushes it one step further. The Invention of Hugo Cabret was a departure for the Caldecott committee being the first illustrated novel to ever win the Caldecott award. In addition The Invention of Hugo Cabret has been made into a film, directed by Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
that will be released November 2011, simply titled Hugo.
Reception
Wonderstruck is currently being discussed as both a Newbery MedalNewbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
contender as well as a Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
contender. Mary Quattlebaum of the Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
calls it "brilliantly executed." Roger Sutton, editor in Chief of the Horn Book Magazine, cites the "technical brilliance" Selznick shows in the artistry of his illustrations. Tim Wadham, a reviewer for School Library Journal, discusses the dual text/illustration format that Selznick uses and says "the combination provides an emotional experience that neither the words nor the illustrations could achieve on their own." Ken Setterington sums up the impact of Wonderstruck
Wonderstruck
Wonderstruck is a Canadian educational television series which taught science to children, that aired on the CBC between 1986 and 1992. It was hosted by Bob McDonald. Every episode began with McDonald saying I'm curious about things. Why they are the way they are, and why they're not something...
and The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a historical-fiction book written and illustrated by Brian Selznick and published by Scholastic Press. The hardcover edition was released on January 30, 2007, and the paperback edition was released on June 2, 2008. With 284 pictures between the book's 533 pages, the...
by stating that "In fact, taken in tandem, these two titles have redefined the creative possibilities for novels and picture books."
Plot summary
Ben’s story opens the book, set in Gunflint Lake, MinnesotaMinnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
in June of 1977. Ben’s mom, the town librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, died a few months before. He now lives with his aunt and uncle close to the house he grew up in. Ben has never known his dad, but feels a pull to find out who he was. Ben discovers a bookmark in his mother's things inscribed to his mother that ends "Love, Danny." Ben decides Danny must be his father and proceeds to call the number listed on the bookmark. As he is calling a bolt of lightning hits his house and deafens him. He wakes in the hospital. A short time later he decides to run away from the hospital and journey to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, eventually hiding out in the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
. While at the American Museum of Natural History he meets Jamie whose father works at the museum. Jamie takes him on tours of the back areas of the museum and helps him to hide in an unused storage room. Ben is still determined to track down his father so he leaves the museum to locate the bookstore listed on the bookmark he found in his mother's things. Once there he encounters Rose and they try to piece together who they might be to each other.
Rose’s story starts in Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken, New Jersey
Hoboken is a city in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population was 50,005. The city is part of the New York metropolitan area and contains Hoboken Terminal, a major transportation hub for the region...
in October of 1927. Rose is drawn to the stage star Lillian Mayhew. She is not happy at home, and runs away to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. This is especially dangerous for her because she is a young girl, and she is deaf. In New York City Rose travels to the theater where Lillian Mayhew is performing. She sneaks in and is discovered by the actress herself. Lillian Mayhew is furious, and Rose reveals that she came because she missed her. Lillian Mayhew is Rose's mother. Lillian is prepared to send Rose back to her father, so Rose runs away again. This time she runs to the American Museum of Natural History
American Museum of Natural History
The American Museum of Natural History , located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, United States, is one of the largest and most celebrated museums in the world...
. She is found there by her brother, Walter. He takes her back to his apartment and promises to speak to their parents. At this point Rose's story jumps forward 50 years and we see her as an older woman entering a bookstore. It is there she meets Ben and they sort out who they are to each other.