Saturday, February 11, 2012

Wonderstruck

 Written by: Brian Selznick


First line: Something hit Ben Wilson and he opened his eyes.

Why you should read this book: Wonderstruck comprises two beautiful, intersecting storylines: Rose’s story, communicated mostly in Selznick’s wonderful black and white drawings, shows the journey of a deaf girl who runs away from home in pursuit of an actress in 1927; while Ben’s story, set in 1977, tells of an orphan who also runs away in search of the father he never knew. The two children’s tales share remarkable similarities, with each character initially finding disappointment in New York, followed by the wonder of discovering the American Museum of Natural History. With vast attention to detail, historical accuracy, and the real and tempestuous emotions of childhood, followed by a long bibliography on related content, this notable book makes for a satisfying read.

Why you shouldn’t read this book: You think of museums as cold, sterile, dead places.


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