Wonderstruck

Selznick, B. (2011). Wonderstruck: A novel in words and pictures. New York: Scholastic.

Summary:

Set fifty years apart, two characters’ lives intertwine in one story. Ben’s story, told through words shares his hopes and dreams of meeting the father he has never known. Meanwhile, Rose’s story told through pictures shows the fascination she has for a silent movie actress. Both characters go on a quest hoping to find something that they have longed for. 

Evaluative Criteria:

A great novel for older elementary readers who enjoy artwork and piecing clues together. This story uses words and illustrations that are unique to tell Ben and Rose’s intertwining story and will instantly draw in readers who enjoy graphic novels and historical fiction. Even though some readers may feel discouraged to read the novel due to the thickness of the book, I would appeal to readers by showcasing the artwork and allow them to make predictions and discuss in groups what they see. I would then like to tie in the virtual field trip of the American Museum of Natural History found on Scholastic to help readers understand the setting and plot that takes place in the late 20’s and 70’s.

Other novels by Brian Selznick

The Invention of Hugo Cabret is similar in style to Wonderstruck as it uses pictures and words to move the story forward, uses historical elements, and is a thick novel of over 500 pages.

The Houdini Box is a historical fiction novel that tells the story of Victor who also enjoys adventure.

The Marvels uses pictures throughout to move the story forward and intertwine two unrelated stories.

Book Trailer