Play Book Tag discussion

It’s 1931 and Hugo is twelve years old. His father died in a fire at the museum he worked at and his uncle, who had been taking care of him since, has disappeared. Hugo is living and hiding in the “bowels” of the train station where he helped his uncle fix the clocks. Hugo is good with mechanical things and when he comes across an “automaton” his father was trying to fix, Hugo is convinced his dad left him a message if Hugo can only fix it himself. He has been stealing from the toy vendor in the train station for the parts he needs, but things take a turn when the old man who runs the toy kiosk catches him stealing.

This book is a mix of text and many many beautiful black and white illustrations. I enjoyed it. Much of that enjoyment did come from the way the book was done. I am going to (right away) listen to the audio, as I am curious how that is done.

I loved this book! The illustrations are extraordinary and really further the story.

I, too, would be curious to know how they manage an audio version.


By the way ... shouldn't this be in the "international" tag folder?

I listened to this one before I had a hard copy of the book. (Years ago, back in those early days of Shelfari) The audio is really good. Lots of atmospheric sound effects. This was also my introduction to Selznick's illustrations. I love his artwork.

I too loved this when I read it. Gorgeous illustrations, loved the whole story, and learning about the early film industry in France was the cherry on top.

Book Concierge wrote: "By the way ... shouldn't this be in the "international" tag folder?..."

Not the way I'm defining it! :-) For "international" I want it to be something that crosses multiple borders in some way (not just be a country that is not my own)

ETA: It helps that I have read a few books that fit my own definition already:
- The Bat / Jo Nesbo (Australia and Norway)
- Swimming to Antarctica / Lynne Cox (she was all over the world)
- Countdown / Alan Weisman (climate change - affects the entire world.)