Wonderstruck

Selznick, B. (2007). Wonderstruck. NY: Scholastic.

      Wonderstruck brilliantly combines two seemingly unrelated stories, both in time and place, to tell a touching story of family and hope. This 600 plus page novel tells of Ben and his journey to find his place in the world without his mom, who recently passed away. Ben’s story is interrupted by Rose’s story, set 50 years earlier and told exclusively in pictures. Selznick's trademark pencil sketches are as integral to the story as his words and carry the story along visually without distracting from the plot. It is a compelling story of family, friendship, and unlikely connections.

Textbook Assignment #6

Comparison - Wonderstruck is unique to all of the books on our list in its format and theme. It is the only mystery and I found it to be the most captivating. Its text is conventional, while Love that Dog and Brown Girl Dreaming are poetic and El Deafo is a graphic novel. It is also the only book told in third person narration.

Appeal - while its size might be intimidating, upper elementary students could find it quite manageable and would probably enjoy carrying around such an impressive looking novel. As a librarian, I would feel compelled to warn the reader, as I was warned, that it might seem confusing as the two stories are being told but that it is worth it to see this one to fruition.

Three other books by Selznick include:

• The Boy of a Thousand Faces features the same black and white pencil style sketches seen in Wonderstruck, including many close up drawings of faces. Its main character is close in age to Ben in Wonderstruck, but the spooky theme and mysterious plot set it apart. 

• The Houdini Box features another ten year old boy, but in this book the reader gets to see him grow up. Selznick’s style is set in this first novel with his pencil sketches telling just as much of the story as the text does. His illustrations are detailed, yet some only contain a hand waving or a foot climbing up stairs, just like in Wonderstruck. 

• The Invention of Hugo Cabret is very similar to Wonderstruck in both size and style. The drawings tell the story and create a visual sense of mystery and wonder. These two books seem to have a genre of their own, as they can’t be defined as a typical novel or as a picture book. Like the other Selznick books, the protagonist is a young boy who has to find his own way. 

Book Trailer

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBxghKUGkWk

Teaching Books link

https://www.google.com/?client=safari#q=wonderstruck+lesson+plan