Wonderstruck

Title: Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
ISBN: 978-0-545-02789-2
Published: Oct. 2011
Genre: fiction, historical fiction
Reading Level: 5th grade
Interest Level: 4th-8th grade
Plot Summary: The story features two story lines. The one story, told in words, is about a young boy named Ben who recently lost his mother due to a car accident. Having never known who his father is Ben now lives with his aunt and uncle. The other story, told in pictures, is about a young girl named Rose living in New Jersey. Rose is deaf and spends her time alone in her room, much to her displeasure. Ben is living in Minnesota in 1977, while Rose is in New Jersey in 1927. The stories begin to overlap as both characters find themselves searching for people in New York City. Rose is looking for her famous stage mother who doesn't want her in New York while Ben is searching for the man he believe to be his father. It is unclear how these stories connect but clues are given as the stories mysteries are explored. These two stories separated by many years will draw the reader in as they try to understand the connection.
Review: The story is unique in it's telling for many reasons. First the book features two separate story lines both in different times and two different formats of telling. The stories go back and forth and while I thought this would be confusing it isn't and instead it brings a whole new element to the story. I really enjoy how Selznick is able to tell a story with pictures. The black and white sketches have so much detail and really capture the story in a different light. The stories seem unrelated at first but Selznick gives hints through the story as to how they are connected. He is able to bring together the two stories with ease and it doesn't seem forced. The words and pictures then come together to tell one story, rather than two. The story does have an element of sadness with Ben having lost his mother and than learning of his father's death too late. But this sadness is combined with new hope, which makes this story so enjoyable.
Main Themes: family, self-discovery
Read Alikes: Feathers by Jacqueline Woodson, Liar and Spy by Rebecca Stead
Why for Tweens? Tweens will really enjoy the mystery of the story. They will also connect with Ben who is searching for family and strikes out on his own. Both characters in the story show the growing need for independence but also the need for family and someone to connect to, a feeling tweens can understand.