The Invention of Hugo Cabret

( 230 )
Pick Up In Store

Pick Up in Store

Reserve and pick up in 60 minutes at your local store

Hardcover
$16.20
BN.com price
$24.99 List Price (Save 35%)
Marketplace (New and Used)
from
$8.94
$24.99 List Price (Save 64%)
Usually ships in 1-2 business days
All (59)  
Used (33)  
New (26)  
Close
Sort by
Page 1 of 6
Showing 1 – 10 of 59 (6 pages)
$8.94
(Save 64%)
Thrift It
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(910)

Condition:

New — never opened or used in original packaging.

Like New — packaging may have been opened. A "Like New" item is suitable to give as a gift.

Very Good — may have minor signs of wear on packaging but item works perfectly and has no damage.

Good — item is in good condition but packaging may have signs of shelf wear/aging or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Acceptable — item is in working order but may show signs of wear such as scratches or torn packaging. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Used — An item that has been opened and may show signs of wear. All specific defects should be noted in the Comments section associated with each item.

Refurbished — A used item that has been renewed or updated and verified to be in proper working condition. Not necessarily completed by the original manufacturer.

Acceptable
Acceptable Book is in good reading condition. Cover has wear at edges and corners, and may have creases. Spine has wear at edges and may have creases. fair.

Ships from: Washington, DC

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$8.95
(Save 64%)
Goodwill Industries
Seller since 2012

Feedback rating:

(86)

Condition: Acceptable
Acceptable Used-Acceptable; name inside cover; No Dust Jacket.

Ships from: Miami, FL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$9.47
(Save 62%)
Goodwillnyonline
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(554)

Condition: Acceptable
Acceptable Spine is shifted, library copy.

Ships from: Astoria, NY

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$10.04
(Save 60%)
OwlsBooks-TRM
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(22569)

Condition: Good
Giving great service since 2004: Buy from the Best! 4,000,000 items shipped to delighted customers. We have 1,000,000 unique items ready to ship! Find your Great Buy today!

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$10.04
(Save 60%)
OwlsBooks-TRM
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(22569)

Condition: Very Good
Giving great service since 2004: Buy from the Best! 4,000,000 items shipped to delighted customers. We have 1,000,000 unique items ready to ship! Find your Great Buy today!

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$11.48
(Save 54%)
New Chapter Recycling
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(3302)

Condition: Good

Ships from: Lakewood, WA

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$11.76
(Save 53%)
ATeamBooks
Seller since 2011

Feedback rating:

(407)

Condition: Good
Used books may not include access codes or one time use codes. Proven Seller with Excellent Customer Service. Choose expedited shipping and get it FAST.

Ships from: Conway, AR

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
Not Currently Available
$11.95
(Save 52%)
ThriftIt
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(270)

Condition: Acceptable
Book is in good reading condition. Cover has wear at edges and corners, and may have creases. Spine has wear at edges and may have creases. fair

Ships from: Washington, DC

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Canadian
  • •International
  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
$15.33
(Save 39%)
PaperbackshopUS
Seller since 2009

Feedback rating:

(4803)

Condition: New
Shipped from US in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
$15.33
(Save 39%)
ExpeditedBooksUS
Seller since 2010

Feedback rating:

(892)

Condition: New
Shipped from US. Express shipping in 3 to 6 business days. Standard shipping in 4 to 14 business days. Established seller since 2000

Ships from: Aurora, IL

Usually ships in 1-2 business days

  • •Standard, 48 States
  • •Standard (AK, HI)
  • •Express, 48 States
  • •Express (AK, HI)
Page 1 of 6
Showing 1 – 10 of 59 (6 pages)
Close
Sort by

Overview

Caldecott Honor artist Brian Selznick's lavishly illustrated debut novel is a cinematic tour de force not to be missed!

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender,...

See more details below
Note: Kids' Club Eligible. See More Details.
Sending request ...

More About This Book

Overview

Caldecott Honor artist Brian Selznick's lavishly illustrated debut novel is a cinematic tour de force not to be missed!

ORPHAN, CLOCK KEEPER, AND THIEF, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But when his world suddenly interlocks with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a toy booth in the station, Hugo's undercover life, and his most precious secret, are put in jeopardy. A cryptic drawing, a treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message from Hugo's dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender, and spellbinding mystery.

Winner of the 2008 Caldecott Medal

  • Invention of Hugo Cabret
    Invention of Hugo Cabret  

Editorial Reviews

From Barnes & Noble
Orphan Hugo Cabret lives in a wall. His secret home is etched out in the crevices of a busy Paris train station. Part-time clock keeper, part-time thief, he leads a life of quiet routine until he gets involved with an eccentric, bookish young girl and an angry old man who runs a toy booth in the station. The Invention of Hugo Cabret unfolds its cryptic, magical story in a format that blends elements of picture book, novel, graphic novel, and film. Caldecott Honor-winning author-illustrator Brian Selznick has fashioned an intricate puzzle story that binds the reader like a mesmerist's spell.
John Schwartz
It is wonderful.Take that overused word literally: Hugo Cabret evokes wonder. At more than 500 pages, its proportions seem Potteresque, yet it makes for quick reading because Selznick’s amazing drawings take up most of the book. While they may lack the virtuosity of Chris Van Allsburg’s work or David Wiesner’s, their slight roughness gives them urgency. The result is a captivating work of fiction that young readers with a taste for complex plots and a touch of magic — think Harry H., not Harry P. — can love.
— The New York Times
More Reviews (6) Fewer Reviews
Publishers Weekly

Selznick's unique, visually arresting illustrated novel is transformed into an equally unique audiobook-plus-DVD presentation here. The story of 12-year-old Hugo Cabret—orphan, clockmaker's apprentice, petty thief and aspiring magician—and how a curious machine connects him with his departed father and pioneering French filmmaker Georges Méliès is full-bodied material for Woodman. The narrator dives in, reading with both a bright energy and an air of mystery—befitting the adventurous plot. Listeners will likely cotton to Woodman's affable tone and be fascinated by all the unusual elements here, including the sound-effects sequences (footsteps, train station noises) that stand in for Selznick's black-and-white illustrations, which appear like mini–silent movies in the book. Selznick himself takes over as host on the making-of style DVD, in which he divulges his love of film and his inspiration for the book, discusses (and demonstrates) his drawing technique and even performs a magic trick. The "chapters" of his interview are interspersed with excerpts from the audiobook, as he explains how the recording was a translation of both his words and pictures to sound. This inventive audio-visual hybrid will be a welcome addition to both home and classroom libraries. Ages 9-12. (Mar.)

Copyright 2007 Reed Business Information
Children's Literature
Hugo Cabret is upset when his unusual notebook is confiscated by the owner of the wind-up toy stand at the Paris train station. When the old man says he intends to burn the notebook, Hugo is beside himself. It is, after all, the only connection he has left with his father. It is the key to a critically important mystery. Within its pages lies the reason why Hugo Cabret, recently abandoned by his uncle, continues to hide in the Paris train station, tending the clocks and hoping nobody notices him. He must get it back! So we have the beginning of the end for Hugo's life to this point…and the beginning of something more. Brian Selznick's book is a lush hybrid of a creation, a blend of novel and graphic novel that invites you to linger over each page, but also inspires a hunger to know more that keeps you turning the pages. This unforgettable work is homage to early cinema, to human curiosity, and to magic, that manages to evoke, in even the most the modern, high-tech, wired reader a sense of wonder at the splendid creations of the world in 1931.
VOYA
Orphaned twelve-year-old Hugo Cabret lives in a train station in Paris in 1931, managing to survive by stealing food and keeping his uncle's disappearance a secret. Hugo runs the clocks in the city for his uncle and pilfers small toy parts in the hopes of fixing an automaton that he received from his father. Eventually his plan of surviving on his own fails, and he befriends a young girl and her grandfather, who owns a toyshop in the train station. The grandfather recognizes Hugo's talent for repairing machinery and employs him at the toy store. The girl's grandfather turns out to be the famous filmmaker Georges Melies, who adopts Hugo and fosters his love for magic. Selznick's artwork in this "novel in words and pictures" is stunning. Beautiful, full-page black-and-white illustrations are interspersed throughout the book and advance the story, often in critical areas of the plot. Readers will also love the still film images that are used when the characters discuss Melies's films. The novel is loosely based on the actual French filmmaker, and the credits section at the end gives more information about Melies, films from the early movie era, and automatons. Part mystery, part feel-good drama, and part picture book for older readers, this novel will fly off the shelf simply because of its visual appeal.
School Library Journal

Gr 3-6
Brian Selznick's atmospheric story (Scholastic, 2007) is set in Paris in 1931. Hugo Cabret is an orphan; his father, a clockmaker, has recently died in a fire and the boy lives with his alcoholic Uncle Claude, working as his apprentice clock keeper in a bustling train station. When Hugo's uncle fails to return after a three-day absence, the boy decides it's his chance to escape the man's harsh treatment. But Hugo has nowhere to go and, after wandering the city, returns to his uncle's rooms determined to fix a mechanical figure-an automaton-that his father was restoring when he died. Hugo is convinced it will "save his life"-the figure holds a pen, and the boy believes that if he can get it working again, it will deliver a message from his father. This is just the bare outline of this multilayered story, inspired by and with references to early (French) cinema and filmmaker George Méliès, magic and magicians, and mechanical objects. Jeff Woodman's reading of the descriptive passages effectively sets the story's suspenseful tone. The book's many pages of pictorial narrative translate in the audio version into sound sequences that successfully employ the techniques of old radio plays (train whistles, footsteps reverberating through station passages, etc.). The accompanying DVD, hosted by Selznick and packed with information and images from the book, will enrich the listening experience.
—Daryl GrabarekCopyright 2006 Reed Business Information.

Kirkus Reviews
From Selznick's ever-generative mind comes a uniquely inventive story told in text, sequential art and period photographs and film. Orphaned Hugo survives secretly in a Parisian train station (circa 1930). Obsessed with reconstructing a broken automaton, Hugo is convinced that it will write a message from his father that will save his life. Caught stealing small mechanical repair parts from the station's toy shop, Hugo's life intersects with the elderly shop owner and his goddaughter, Isabelle. The children are drawn together in solving the linked mysteries of the automaton and the identity of the artist, illusionist and pioneer filmmaker, Georges Melies, long believed dead. Discovering that Isabelle's godfather is Melies, the two resurrect his films, his reputation and assure Hugo's future. Opening with cinematic immediacy, a series of drawings immerses readers in Hugo's mysterious world. Exquisitely chosen art sequences are sometimes stopped moments, sometimes moments of intense action and emotion. The book, an homage to early filmmakers as dreammakers, is elegantly designed to resemble the flickering experience of silent film melodramas. Fade to black and cue the applause! (notes, film credits) (Fiction. 9-12)
Children's Literature
An orphan boy named Hugo is on a mission. He lives in a Paris train station, stealing food and toys. But the toys he steals are not playthings. He needs parts for a mechanical man that he is reassembling, in the hope that he can solve a mystery left by his dead father. This goes on for some time until the old man who owns the toy booth catches Hugo stealing. Then Hugo's father's notebook, which helps him make sense of his mission, goes missing, and Hugo is bereft. Hugo and Isabelle, the old man's goddaughter, become friends and soon find a hidden connection between them. Magic, secrets, and betrayals keep this entertaining story moving swiftly. Listeners will care more and more about Hugo and Isabelle as their secrets are unraveled and the mystery of Hugo's father's invention is solved. The narrator does an excellent job of giving distinct personalities to each character; his tone and pace sets each scene just right. For example, when a shopkeeper catches Hugo stealing milk and thunders after him, enlisting help from the police, listeners will feel as if they are right there in the train station, boots pounding and heels clicking after Hugo, who is running for his life. A bonus DVD is included with the three CDs that make up this unabridged audio book. The CDs total two hours and 51 minutes of listening time. The Martin Scorsese movie Hugo, based on this book, won several Oscars at the 2012 Academy Awards. Reviewer: Jeanne K. Pettenati, J.D.

Product Details

  • ISBN-13: 9780439813785
  • Publisher: Scholastic, Inc.
  • Publication date: 3/1/2007
  • Pages: 533
  • Sales rank: 273
  • Age range: 9 - 12 Years
  • Lexile: 820L (what's this?)
  • Product dimensions: 6.48 (w) x 8.64 (h) x 2.09 (d)

Meet the Author

Brian Selznick
Brian Selznick
Among the many honors and prizes bestowed on children's book author and illustrator Brian Selznick is the coveted Caldecott Medal, awarded in 2008 for his remarkable tour de force The Invention of Hugo Cabret.

Biography

Multi-award-winning illustrator Brian Selznick was born in New Jersey in 1966. His interest in art began at an early age: His family claims that on visits to his grandmother, three-year-old Brian would fashion dinosaur sculptures out of tinfoil he'd been given to keep him out of trouble. "Even in kindergarten," Selznick recalled in an interview with Scholastic Books, " I remember drawing and having the other kids gather around because they liked what I was drawing." He took art classes after school and studied at The Rhode Island School of Design.

Although he thought he wanted a career in theatrical set design, after graduation Selznick decided he would like to try illustrating children's books. He went to work for a prominent (now defunct) Manhattan bookstore called Eeyore's, where he learned about the business and put his art to use painting the windows for holidays and special events. Around this time, he wrote and illustrated his first children's book, The Houdini Box. His manager and mentor at Eeyore's helped find him a publisher. The book came out in 1991, while Selznick was still working at the store.

Since then, Selznick has illustrated many other award-winning children's books, including Andrew Clements's Frindle, Pam Muñoz Ryan's When Marian Sang, and Barbara Kerley's The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins. But his crowning masterpiece is an ambitious project entirely of his own creation, a groundbreaking 500-page tour de force that combines the elements of a picture book, graphic novel, and film. Published in 2007, The Invention of Hugo Cabret follows the adventures of an orphan who secretly lives in the walls of a Paris train station, as he tries to complete a mysterious invention left by his father. Intricate, innovative, and utterly spellbinding, the story was nominated for a National Book Award and received the coveted Caldecott Medal, America's top prize for children's illustration.

Selznick divides his time between Brooklyn, New York, and San Diego, California.

Good To Know

  • Selznick is a first cousin, once removed, of iconic Hollywood producer David O. Selznick
  • The Invention of Hugo Cabret is the first full-length novel to receive the Caldecott Medal.

    • Customer Reviews

    Average Rating 4.5
    ( 230 )

    Rating Distribution

    5 Star

    (175)

    4 Star

    (27)

    3 Star

    (19)

    2 Star

    (8)

    1 Star

    (1)

    Your Rating:

    Review Guidelines
    Add Recommendations
    Your Name: Create a Pen Name or Leave Anonymously

    Barnes & Noble.com Review Rules

    Our reader reviews allow you to share your comments on titles you liked, or didn't, with others. By submitting an online review, you are representing to Barnes & Noble.com that all information contained in your review is original and accurate in all respects, and that the submission of such content by you and the posting of such content by Barnes & Noble.com does not and will not violate the rights of any third party. Please follow the rules below to help ensure that your review can be posted.

    Reviews by Our Customers Under the Age of 13

    We highly value and respect everyone's opinion concerning the titles we offer. However, we cannot allow persons under the age of 13 to have accounts at BN.com or to post customer reviews. Please see our Terms of Use for more details.

    What to exclude from your review:

    Please do not write about reviews, commentary, or information posted on the product page. If you see any errors in the information on the product page, please send us an email.

    Reviews should not contain any of the following:

    • - HTML tags, profanity, obscenities, vulgarities, or comments that defame anyone
    • - Time-sensitive information such as tour dates, signings, lectures, etc.
    • - Single-word reviews. Other people will read your review to discover why you liked or didn't like the title. Be descriptive.
    • - Comments focusing on the author or that may ruin the ending for others
    • - Phone numbers, addresses, URLs
    • - Pricing and availability information or alternative ordering information
    • - Advertisements or commercial solicitation

    Reminder:

    • - By submitting a review, you grant to Barnes & Noble.com and its sublicensees the royalty-free, perpetual, irrevocable right and license to use the review in accordance with the Barnes & Noble.com Terms of Use.
    • - Barnes & Noble.com reserves the right not to post any review -- particularly those that do not follow the terms and conditions of these Rules. Barnes & Noble.com also reserves the right to remove any review at any time without notice.
    • - See Terms of Use for other conditions and disclaimers.
    Search for Products You'd Like to Recommend

    Recommend other products that relate to your review. Just search for them below and share!

    Create a Pen Name

    Your Pen Name is your unique identiy on BN.com. It will appear on the reviews you write and other website activities. Your Pen Name cannot be edited, changed or deleted once submitted.

    Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

    Continue Anonymously

    We're sorry, but penname is already taken.

    Please select one of the following:
    Your Pen Name can be any combination of alphanumeric characters (plus - and _), and must be at least two characters long.

    Continue Anonymously

    penname is available!

    By visiting the BN.com website or marking a purchase on BN.com, a User is deemed to have accepted the Terms of Use.

    Continue Anonymously

    Welcome, penname

    You have successfully created your Pen Name. Start enjoying the benefits of the BN.com Community today.

    See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 230 Customer Reviews

    • Posted September 13, 2011

      I Also Recommend:

      2940011152962 2940011445439 9780439813785

      very good

      this book is amazing. I couldn't put it down and was captivated. will buy more

      11 out of 11 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted March 13, 2009

      more from this reviewer

      Two Thumbs Up!

      I immensely enjoyed this book. I promise that you'll find yourself engaged in the story. It was really captivating. If you think it starts out slow or is confusing in the beginning, keep on reading! The story just gets better and better, with one suspenseful moment after another. The drawings in the book are absolutely MASTERPIECES. They really help you picture the story. I think that Brian Selznick has a very creative, imaginative mind for thinking up this story and making its illustrations. FIVE STARS! A GREAT READ! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

      10 out of 12 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted January 31, 2009

      A must read - for children and adults alike!

      This book was our school-wide (elementary) selection for January's Reading Month. This amazing book was enjoyed by children from first through fifth grade - as well as their teachers and the staff who heard all the buzz and wanted to read it for themselves.

      The book itself crosses the genres of graphic novel and historical fiction. The author/illustrator does an amazing job of actually telling the story with pictures as well as text - not nearly having pictures that visual text for you. And the intricacies of his drawings are exquisite. (I've used a document camera, so my students can get the full feel of each stroke).

      The book is captivating. The series of unknowns keep you glued to the book wanting and waiting for answers. The complexity of the characters, the historical realism, the wonderment of little-known automatons, and the ability to have the reader feel each and every one of Hugo's emotions makes this book a journey worth taking. My students even asked me to read it in place of recess!!!

      The book is an easy and fairly quick read - almost half of its 584 pages are drawings. It lends itself to curious discussions, predictions, and text connections. There are even automaton paper models available online that go along with the story. I plan on sharing this book in the coming years with each new group of students. And I look forward to their enjoyment and wonderment.

      4 out of 4 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted November 16, 2008

      If you love pictures of detailed art you must read Hugo Cabret!

      I cam upon this book at my school when I was in the Newberry Club. It seemed rather big and I had never read or experienced a book of this size. So I checked it out and started reading it.
      I first noticed the beatifuly detailed pictures that were inside. I al descovered that their was at least 2 to 5 pages of reading, than 1 or 3 pages of pictures to show the story in sequence instead of words.
      As I read through the book I oved how Hugo had taken responsibly for the cocks in the train station, since his uncle who had been taking care of him due to a fatal fire that toook his parnts away had misterously vanished.
      As I read about how Hugo dealed with life and responsiblites about the train station, I occured to me that this was a wonderfull book and awsome for teaching kids not steal or how life was for less unfourntant people.
      It was also neat to lean how Hugos dad- a magic man and invtor had left a machine for hugo to try and fix that would soon become the center of Hugos life and what he did to finish it!
      You must read this book!

      3 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted February 21, 2010

      more from this reviewer

      BEST BOOK EVER

      This book is the BEST BOOK EVER!!!! I LOVE IT! I can't stop reading it! This book is for people who like to read books with a big mystery. You also don't know what is going to happen next! Like it doesn't give you any little hints! It also has alot of illustrations. You have to look at the pictures in order to understand the book! I recomend this book to people who are about 10-15! I'm 12 and I love it!

      2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted May 23, 2009

      I Also Recommend:

      9780689866852 9780786855841

      Great book

      The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a great book. My favorite chapter in it was the last one, in which Hugo, the main character of the book tells us about his invention, soon to find that the invention itself is the book. What the author did in the book that I found interesting was the use of many pictures, which helps me visualize the story going on more. I liked everything about the book, and would only suggest to the author that he make a continuation of the book.
      I really liked this book, because it was the first book I have ever read that was this long, but surprisingly I finished it in 2 weeks, which for me is amazing.
      The age group I would recommend this book to would be for young teens.

      2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted March 5, 2009

      more from this reviewer

      Hugo

      Selznick, B. (2007). The Invention of Hugo Cabret. New York: Scholastic Press.

      0439813786

      This Caldecott winner redefined what a picturebook is. Over five hundred pages long, The Invention of Hugo Cabret interweaves illustrations and text to create deeper meaning, many deeper meanings. Set in Paris in the 1930s, Hugo Cabret is an orphan living in the walls of the city's train station, winding the clocks after his alcoholic uncle has disappeared. Involving magicians, silent films, dreams, trains, imagination and family, this books seeks to show the interconnections among various objects and people to create meaning and a fabulous invention.

      While working in a museum, Hugo's father, also a watchmaker, had discovered a mechanical man that a magician would have used to impress audiences in a show. The watchmaker becomes obsessed with trying to repair the machine. After his father dies in a fire, Hugo is taken in by his uncle and decides to take up his father's work on the mechanical man, guided only by his father's old notebook. That is, until the notebook is taken by an angry old shop owner in the train station. Having caught Hugo stealing mechanical parts, the old man takes the notebook from Hugo. To regain it, Hugo must partner with the goddaughter of the old man.

      The book is split into two parts, in similar fashion to how some older movies contained two acts.

      I have read this book three times. Each rereading has revealed more connections among the various elements of the text. Despite this, it is the presence of the illustrations that make this story extraordinary.


      Activities to do with the book:

      This is a wonderful book to share with students to encourage them to seek connections and make meaning of the text.

      Since the book is so huge, but also consists of so many illustrations and pages only half-filled by text, it can bolster young or struggling readers' confidence in their ability to read.

      This book could be used to trigger lessons about Western culture in the 1930s. Students could research the history of movies, trains, magic shows, and even the rise of the Nazi party.

      Favorite Quotes:

      "I want you to picture yourself sitting in the darkness, like the beginning of a movie. On screen, the sun will soon rise, and you will find yourself zooming toward a train station in the middle of the city" (Introduction).

      "But another story begins, because stories lead to other stories, and this one leads all the way to the moon" (p. 255).

      "If you've ever wondered where your dreams come from when you go to sleep at night, just look around. This is where they are made" (387).

      For more of my reviews, visit sjkessel.blogspot.com.

      2 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted June 25, 2008

      Pictures keep you engrossed, but plot leaves you wanting more

      This is a good book, but it is not one that I would highly recommend to others. The author has wonderful pictures in the text, but I wonder if others would think the book would have received so much publicity if it didn't have the pictures. I will keep it on my shelf and recommend it to students, but it will not be the first book I choose to reread.

      2 out of 3 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted December 4, 2011

      AWESOME BOOK! YOU WILL NEVER REGRET READING THIS!!

      Many people in my school are drawn to this book because it is "easy" and has a lot of pictures. If this is so when you first looked at this book , think again! This book has one suspenseful moment after another! All of the illustrations are absolutely fantastic! I'd recommend this book to anyone who likes suspense and an action-packed, pleasant story with a boy of an interesting personality!
      This is a 5 star must-read for anyone for ages 10 and up!

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted February 20, 2010

      Daughter Loves this Book

      My daughter checked this book out in the library and loved it so we bought it for her. I also loved reading the book, very artistic!

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted November 19, 2009

      more from this reviewer

      Disapointing...

      Well, I didn't hate the book, but the story was week. The art work, however, was wonderful. Much of the story is told in nothing but illustration. It was a super quick read. I read the whole thing in two sittings. The motivations for the characters' actions were weak and unconvincing.

      1 out of 2 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted June 21, 2009

      Unique and wonderful

      THe use of beautiful illustrations to advance this story is unique and wonderful --the illustrations are literally part of the text. 8 and 10 year old grandchildren both enjoy the book immensely - well deserving of it's Caldecott medal.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted June 7, 2009

      Daughter loves it!

      My daughter started reading this at school. When she saw it in our local B&N, she begged for it like I've never her seen before. She has read and re-read the book at least 5 times already and loves the drawings. The "librarian" at the store also raved about the book and told us how wonderful a selection it is. Enjoy.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted June 3, 2009

      more from this reviewer

      OMG!! This book roolz!

      If you enjoy reading fascinating and unique novels, then The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a great read for you! This novel is completely different than any other book you've ever read! I enjoyed The Invention of Hugo Cabret mostly because of its extravagant illustrations. The great storyline of this book hooked me into reading the whole day! Two factors in The Invention of Hugo Cabret that also make it interesting are that it is mysterious and quite creative. The images also a unique effect that no other book has to offer! They create a new motion-picture presentation. Some things that I didn't like about this book was that it the pictures overwhelmed the text at some times. Also, at some points in the book, it was too confusing. Overall, I thought this book was a must-read!

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted March 2, 2009

      I Also Recommend:

      9780967174884 9780967174808

      One of the Best books I've seen.

      My Granddaughter broght this book home from school and I read it with her. I was so impressed with this Author and book that I had to buy it for my library at home. I believe everyone will enjoy the illustrations as much as the book. What a creative and impressive Author Brian Selznick is. Highly recommend this book to those who like
      something different and unique.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted February 23, 2009

      One of the best children's books I've ever read

      My 8 year old loved this book. She loved the story, the mystery and the illustrations. I can not say enough about this book. I enjoyed every moment of it as much as she did. I think boys and girls will love this book equally.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted February 6, 2009

      good book

      MAYBE GRAET FOR KIDS WHO LIKE ILLISTATIONS.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted January 18, 2009

      Hugo Carbret

      Hugo Cabret (pronounced Ca-ber-ay) Is a good book. Their wasn't much writing but really great pictures. Brian Selznick is a good drawer. Hugo's father dies so Hugo tries to fix his fathers machine. An old man (who he works for) grandchild befriends Hugo and they together find out how the old man really was like as a moviestar.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Posted November 5, 2008

      This book is for anyone who likes to read about clocks, first-made movies, and a lost boy.

      This book is great for young readers because the words just fly by. It is filled with pictures so the reader can follow along very well.

      I recomend this book for anyone who loves to find twists and turns in a book.

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.

    • Anonymous

      Posted October 8, 2008

      5 THUMBS UP

      The Invention of Hugo Cabret is a great book! It is full of crazy surprises! Anybody would like it!

      1 out of 1 people found this review helpful.

      Was this review helpful? Yes  NoThank you for your feedback.   Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.
    See All Sort by: Showing 1 – 20 of 230 Customer Reviews
    If you find inappropriate content, please report it to Barnes & Noble
    Why is this product inappropriate?
    Comments (optional)
    500 character limit