Brian Selznick's The Invention of Hugo Cabret captivates with its unique blend of novel and graphic storytelling, appealing to both children and adults. The intricate illustrations and historical touch enchant readers. However, some find the pacing uneven, with certain narrative sections dragging. Nonetheless, it remains a highly recommended, innovative work.

Readers who enjoy imaginative, visually rich storytelling akin to The Arrival by Shaun Tan or Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick will be captivated by The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Ideal for those who appreciate a blend of graphic novels and historical fiction with a sense of adventure and mystery.

In the 1930s Paris, orphaned Hugo Cabret secretly maintains the train station's clocks while striving to repair a broken automaton left by his deceased father. He befriends Isabelle, the goddaughter of Georges Méliès, who owns a toy booth there. Together, they uncover Méliès's secret past as a pioneering filmmaker, leading to Hugo's future as a skilled magician and inventor.

Mysterious / Adventurous / Nostalgic / Bittersweet / Heartwarming

- The Invention of Hugo Cabret is notable for being one of the first novels to integrate both traditional text and a large number of illustrations, with over 280 pages of pictures that help tell the story.
- The book was awarded the 2008 Caldecott Medal, which is usually given to picture books, marking a rare instance of a novel-sized book receiving this honor.
- Brian Selznick was inspired by the French filmmaker Georges Méliès, whose life and work play a significant role in the background narrative of the book.

**Hugo Cabret**  
A resourceful and mechanically talented 12-year-old boy who lives in a train station in Paris, tending to its clocks while harboring secrets about his past and striving to repair a mysterious automaton.

**Georges Méliès**  
A former filmmaker who now runs a toy booth in the train station, Georges is protective of his goddaughter and harbors secrets about his own illustrious history in cinema.

**Isabelle**  
The curious and adventurous goddaughter of Georges Méliès, who loves books and movies, and becomes determined to assist Hugo in uncovering his secrets.

**Hugo’s Father**  
A clockmaker and part-time caretaker of museum clocks who shares his fascination with invention and magic with Hugo, deeply influencing Hugo's interests and motivations.

**Uncle Claude**  
The neglectful and abusive guardian of Hugo after his father’s death, who worked as the Timekeeper of the train station, fundamentally shaping Hugo’s life circumstances.

**Etienne**  
A lively young man and film enthusiast who sneaks Hugo and Isabelle into movies and shares a passion for cinema and magic.

**René Tabard**  
A film scholar and teacher who reveres Georges Méliès's work and aids in revealing the hidden past of the famed filmmaker.

Brian Selznick

Middle grade

Novel

Fiction

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Part 1, Chapters 1-4

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Part 1, Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 5-8

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Part 1, Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 1, Chapters 9-12

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Part 2, Chapters 1-4

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Part 2, Chapters 1-4 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 5-8

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Part 2, Chapters 5-8 Summary & Analysis

Part 2, Chapters 9-12

The Invention of Hugo Cabret Part 2, Chapters 9-12 Summary & Analysis

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