The book Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick is a touching story that will leave you in awe. The story starts by explaining the life of a young boy named Ben, and how he loses his mother. As the story goes on, you will fall in love with Ben’s character and empathize with him through all of his hardships. Though this tale is heart- warming, it does lack some of the charm shown in one of Selznick’s other books, The Invention of Hugo Cabret. However, Wonderstruck is still a great read, which I thoroughly and genuinely enjoyed.
Throughout the story, Ben goes on a journey to find answers. He is struck by lightning one night while in his mother’s old home, and awakens in the hospital; entirely deaf. After he escapes from the hospital, he travels to New York in search of his father, whom he has never met. Ben discovers things about his past that he never knew, such as the story of his parents. He also meets relatives that he did not know existed.
On his journey, Ben becomes friends with a boy named Jamie. Ben and Jamie work together to solve the mystery of Ben’s father and find the meaning behind the objects Ben has as memories of his mother. As the reader, you will discover that Ben is a dynamic character. In the beginning of the story, he is lost within his own mind, and his past is a mystery that he longs to uncover. As the story unravels, Ben becomes for open to possibilities. He changes as a person in the sense that he finally knows who he was, and who he is meant to be. He is no longer lost within memories, but rather finds joy in life. One can infer that he has become more confident in himself.
When Ben meets his grandmother, Rose, towards the end of the story, she shows him a Panorama in a museum. This panorama is filled with memories of Ben’s father’s childhood. Ben was amazed by this panorama, and it seemed to be filled with wonders and untold stories that connected Ben to his father. As Rose explains all the details to Ben, he was in awe over the magical creation, and how it “[is] one of the most wondrous things Ben ha[s] ever seen” (Selznick 556). The panorama is a very significant, almost game- changing part of the story.
As the story comes to an end, Jamie sees Ben and Rose near the panorama in the museum. He sees the look in Ben’s eyes, and asks Ben who he really is, as Jamie can see that something has changed in Ben. For the first time in his life, Ben knows. He replies confidently, “I think I can answer” (Selznick 591).
At over six hundred pages, filled with hand- drawn sketches and brilliant words, Wonderstruck is a tale that any teenager or adult would enjoy. This book is meant for a bit of a more mature audience, due to the word choice and intense detail in the story. I could not put the book down once I began reading it. I was enthralled by the mixture of feelings and emotions it provoked within me. I highly recommend this book for leisurely enjoyment and inspiration.
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Torn book jacket - for a gift
This was a Christmas gift, and the book jacket came torn. I can’t take the jacket off and pretend it didn’t come with one because the book cover is just blue, no cover details on it. Super disappointed.
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