It weighs about the same size as an average semidetached house so you may want to read it sitting up with a cushion on your knee, but its worth the exertion. This particular book is unlike other adventure books because ben isnt forced to explore, he. The narrative shifts from illustrations to text and the action is labeled as taking place in gunflint lake, minnesota in june 1977. She has lived there with her father ever since her mother and father divorced. Here youll find discussion questions and explorations for the marvels, wonderstruck, and the invention of hugo cabret.
As he did in the invention of hugo cabret scholastic press, 2007, brian selznick again alternates prose and visual storytelling, in this case weaving two compelling tales into a satisfying whole. The amazing world of brian selznick discussion guide scholastic. The book follows the story of ben, a deaf boy traveling to new york in 1977, and rose, a deafmute girl traveling to new york in 1927. But selznick didnt just use his unique imagination.
A novel approach to picture books brian selznicks cinematic approach to storytelling is an artful experiment in narrative and illustration. But then ben discovers an old book with a bookmark from a new york store bearing a loving inscription to his mother. Rich, complex, affecting, and beautiful with over 460 pages of original artwork wonderstruck is a stunning achievement from a uniquely gifted artist and visionary. Todd hayness wonderstruck and the problem with its big. Bens mom, elaine, was the town librarian, but died in a car crash. My overall opinion of this book was that it was tricky at first because roses and walters story is in pictures and ben and jamies is in words but i thought it was a really good book. Wonderstruck by brian selznick overdrive rakuten overdrive. As he did in the invention of hugo cabret scholastic press, 2007, brian. Shes been deaf since birth as is the expressive newcomer playing her, millicent simmonds. Wonderstruck has very similar elements to hugo cabret. Oct 20, 2017 wonderstruck has a more obscure topic in mind. This is because the main character, ben, runs away from home to wander the bustling streets of new york city, in hopes to find his father. Wonderstruck by brian selznick hardcover book the parent.
Through seven sessions filmed in the canadian rockies. The two stories weave back and forth before ultimately coming together. Dec 02, 2016 wonderstruck is such a beautiful story that one can suspend disbelief with minor issues. While rifling through his moms belongings, ben comes across a copy of an old book called wonderstruck and finds a new york city bookstore bookmark with the inscription love, danny inside. Oct 24, 2017 todd hayness wonderstruck and the problem with its bigreveal ending.
Before completing these museumthemed activities, take your students on a virtual field trip to the american museum of natural history with brian selznick himself as the tour guide. Hi, im brian selznick and this is wonderstruck wonderstruck is about two kids who are trying to find the place where they belong in the world after i finished the invention of hugo cabret, i wanted to try to take what i learned from making that book and make a new book and i started thinking about what else i could do to tell a story with pictures. When ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mothers room, and rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing. Jan 17, 2012 after reading the invention of hugo cabret, was there any question of me picking up brian selznicks next book. Todd hayness wonderstruck and the problem with its bigreveal ending. One example of third person narration in the book is ben rested his head on his knees. Its a gorgeous book, with wonderful black and white illustrations that tell a one part of the story line, plus prose segments that tell a different story line. This study guide consists of approximately 43 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of wonderstruck. A brief lesson about different aspects of history museums, including the importance of dioramas, panoramas, and cabinets of wonder, will give students greater context about the setting of the novel. Bens story, set in 1977, is told entirely with words, while roses story, set fifty years earlier, is told entirely with pictures. In replicating the storytelling format of hugo, selznick begs comparisons that could easily find wonderstruck wanting or just. The following version of the novel was used to create this study guide.
May 18, 2017 todd haynes is back with his past muse julianne moore in wonderstruck, but its her junior costars who hold the spotlight in this enthralling adaptation of brian selznicks illustrated. The first narrative takes place in 1977 and begins in gunflint lake, minnesota. Written by teachers, literary scholars, and phd candidates, each enotes study guide is 100% accurate and factchecked. I would recomend this book to any one who likes brian selznicks books and people who like. The amazing world of brian selznick discussion guide. Wonderstruck by brian selznick hardcover book the parent store. One of my favorite activities is taking an afternoon walk. The novel opens with a series of fullpage illustrations depicting two wolves running through the woods. Gunflint lake, minnesota is bens home town and where he was before running away to new york city. Goodreads members who liked wonderstruck also liked. The way ben connects to rose is so amazing and uncanny, which i thought was great. Wonderstruck by brian selznick goodreads share book. Eventually, as you would expect, the two story lines merge.
Reading guide for wonderstruck by brian selznick discussion guide for book clubs. Find books like wonderstruck from the worlds largest community of readers. When he tries to call the bookstores number during a storm, lightning travels through the phone line, rendering him deaf. Recognize the presence of god in the midst of your routine unearth extraordinary moments on ordinary days develop a renewed passion for god identify whats holding you back in prayer discover joy in knowing youre wildly loved. If hugo cabret was a risky experiment that succeeded beyond selznick and publisher scholastics wildest dreams well, maybe not scholasticsthey dream big, his followup, wonderstruck, is a far riskier enterprise. Wonderstruck 2011 by brian selznick is a graphic novel for children and young adults. Rose does not like living in hoboken and runs away to new york city.
Roses brother walter is an especially shining example, and bens late mother, seen only in retrospect, was clearly just the parent he needed. The stories overlap and weave together, as both ben and rose seek family and belonging. After i finished the invention of hugo cabret, i wanted to try to take what i learned from making that book and make a new book. How they unfold and ultimately intertwine will surprise you, challenge you, and leave you breathless with wonder. The second narrative takes place in 1927 and begins in hoboken, new jersey. Part prose novel, part graphic novel without words, wonderstruck is a beautiful big chuck of a book.
Jan 01, 2012 i had high expectations for this book. Wonderstruck is a novel told in two parallel narratives with two distinct styles. See more ideas about class projects, skull reference and sign language alphabet. Students plan for writing the explanatory essay and participate in a peer conference to receive feedback on their plan. He closed his good ear with a finger,blocking out the sound of the wind outside and the rain that had just begun to patter against the roof and windows. But lets not wait another day to journey even closer to god. The entire book is an amazing act of sympathetic imagination on behalf of authorillustrator brian selznick. October 1927 october 1927 is when most of roses narrative is set. The american museum of natural history plays an important role in brian selznicks wonderstruck. For example, even though both main characters struggle with hearing loss, they are able to. In wonderstruck, a childseye view of new york awardwinning illustrator brian selznicks latest ya novel alternates text with pencil illustrations to weave together the stories of two deaf. Dont worrythe trail is accessible to all, the pace a relaxing stroll. Based on brian selznicks 2011 childrens book of the same name, wonderstruck tells the story of two children separated by time and. Hoboken, new jersey hoboken, new jersey is where rose is living at the start of the novel.
Bens story starts in gunflint lake, minnesota in june 1977. While i was reading wonderstruck, i finished the book about 600 pages in four hours because i could not put the book down. Wonderstruck is about two kids who are trying to find the place where they belong in the world. The title, wonderstruck, awaken to the nearness of god, really excited me, but chapter after chapter left me still searching to be wonderstruck and disappointed that this was simply a nice light read. Oct 20, 2017 wonderstruck alternates between bens story and that of a sweet, shy girl named rose living in hoboken, new jersey, in 1927. Wonderstruck is a wonderfully experimental childrens. Wonderstruck by brian selznick disability in kidlit. Its a great book to read with a child, and talk about whats happening on each illustration page. The book offers many positive examples of loving family members and friends, and shows how the bond between them helps the characters overcome dangers and difficulties. Each successive illustration zooms closer and closer into one of the wolves eyes. Some students may be unfamiliar with the depictions of museum culture prevalent in selznicks book. Wonderstruck is a personal invitation for you to toss back the covers, climb out of bed, and drink in the fullness of life.