Just like in The Invention of Hugo Cabret, Brian Selznick’s latest creation, Wonderstruck, presents a protagonist on a journey of self-discovery after the loss of a parent. For children’s literature, this is heavy stuff. However, Selznick injects his stories with imagination and fantastic storytelling, causing the reader to focus less on the dire situations and more on the brilliant world he creates.
Wonderstruck is a hybrid type of literature. While the book is over 600 pages long, at least half the pages are just hand drawn pictures, and some of the pages that are only text are just a mere paragraph. The pictures in the book give the reader a visual to the world that Selznick has created. The writing style is straight-forward and easy to grasp. While not a graphic novel technically, Wonderstruck is not just a novel either.
In Wonderstruck, Selznick tells two stories. One story is told entirely through just pictures and the other through words. In one story, the main character deals with the loss of a parent while the other deals with rejection by a parent. These two stories intertwine together, giving the reader a satisfying conclusion when the two stories finally merge at the end.
Wonderstruck is great for how accessible it is. Every few pages, the reader is rewarded with detailed pictures that push the story along. Indeed, Selznick’s works are universally readable to anyone including children and adults. All that is required is imagination and appreciation for great storytelling.
Click on the cover or here to reserve a copy of the book.
Book review by Justin.
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