• Home
  • Popular Series
  • About Us
    • FAQs
  • Author Interviews
  • Contact
    • Review Requests
    • Advertising
  • Home
  • Popular Series
  • About Us
    • FAQs
  • Author Interviews
  • Contact
    • Review Requests
    • Advertising
Kid Book Reviewer

home

Wonderstruck

10/31/2016

6 Comments

 
Picture
Reviewed by Olivia

Rating: High Four

Who I'd Recommend to: Fans of Echo, The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, and anything by Cornelia Funke. 

Synopsis (from Amazon):
Ben and Rose secretly wish their lives were different. Ben longs for the father he has never known. Rose dreams of a mysterious actress whose life she chronicles in a scrapbook. When Ben discovers a puzzling clue in his mother's room and Rose reads an enticing headline in the newspaper, both children set out alone on desperate quests to find what they are missing.

Thoughts: I read "The Invention of Huge Cabret" a few years ago and absolutely loved it. The book had a magical feel about it, and the illustrations were beautiful. Thus, when I discovered Brian Selznick had written another book, I couldn't resist picking it up.

There is no question that Brian Selznick is an incredibly talented author/illustrator. Unfortunately, I just wasn't feeling this story. "Wonderstruck" had a rather redundant plot, with characters that I couldn't connect to as much as I wanted to. Readers looking for a fresh book with quirky characters, such as with "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" will, sadly, be disappointed.

However, I still did enjoy "Wonderstruck." Ben and Rose were likable characters, with goals I couldn't help becoming interested in. I love the idea of having Ben's story being completely told in words, and Rose's, completely in illustrations. This contributed to the fun, magic, and intrigue of this story. In the end, I wasn't surprised or impacted by the finale, but it was satisfying nonetheless. Selznick's writing and illustrations were, as always, spot-on. I think kids with less expectations would say this book is a solid high five, but unfortunately, I just couldn't get past the fact that this did not live up to "The Invention of Hugo Cabret," so therefore, I didn't enjoy "Wonderstruck" as much as I should have. 
Buy Wonderstruck
6 Comments
Book Boy link
11/2/2016 07:12:28 pm

I loved Hugo, the movie, but haven't read the book - it's on my TBR pile. I hadn't heard of Wonderstruck until I read your review, but I have heard good things about The Marvels, another book by the same author. Have you also read that one?

Reply
Olivia from KBR
11/3/2016 03:31:28 pm

I have a hold on Marvels at the library - I've been wanting to read it for forever, but it hasn't come available yet. The Marvels is actually another reason I picked up Wonderstruck. Since so many kids were talking about Brian Selznick again, I was eager to read some of his newer work.

Reply
Dena @ Batch of Books link
11/8/2016 08:28:39 am

I've heard good things about this book, but I've never read it. From your review, it sounds like it's nothing to go crazy over. Great review!

Reply
Olivia from KBR
11/8/2016 05:39:45 pm

Thanks!

Reply
Sue Morris link
11/20/2016 01:54:06 pm

I love Brian Selznick work. Loved Wonderstruck and Hugo, but haven't had the chance to read The Marvels. I understand all of what you wrote, Olivia, and agree with all but the last part. I never base the star value of a book on comparison to the writer's last book being better, worse, or the same. Every story should stand on its own. Though I can't argue with you that Wonderstruck was better than Hugo, because it wasn't. It is difficult for sophomore books to get out from under the debut's shadow. The Marvels will be easier to rate all on its own merits.

Reply
Olivia from KBR
11/20/2016 06:00:07 pm

My opinion of a book is based off of enjoyment, quality of the writing, and, do I think other kids in the intended age group would enjoy this book, too? Unfortunately, for Wonderstruck, I didn't enjoy it. Whether or not that is entirely based on the fact that I was disappointed or not, I'm not sure. I think regardless, I read this book BECAUSE of Hugo, so I think it's fair to say I didn't enjoy it as much for the same reason. But I still don't think I would've rated this a High Five anyway, since I just was as engaged with this book as I could have been. So really what I was trying to say (and I'm sorry if this wasn't clear enough :) ) was that most kids my age would probably enjoy this book, but under my higher standards, I didn't enjoy it as much. Just under the enjoyment factor, this would have been a High Three, but under the others it's a High Five. I really do dislike it when my opinion of a book is impacted by others by the same author, but I always try to be as honest with my opinion and feelings with the book as possible, so unfortunately, Wonderstruck was not a High Five book. But I do agree with what you wrote, Sue! :)

Reply

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    The Kid Book Reviewers

    Hey there! We're Olivia (15) and Oscar (12), brother and sister, and we both have a giant love of books. 

    ​Find us on...

    Amazon and Goodreads

    Picture

    Subscribe

    Popular Reviews

    • Winter (the Lunar Chronicles #4) by Marissa Meyer 
    • Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate
    • An Author's Odyssey (Land of Stories #5) by Chris Colfer
    • The Hatchet by Brian Paulson
    • Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
    • The Ugly Teapot by Fred Holmes
    • The Breadwinner by Deborah Ellis

    Categories

    All
    10 And Under
    Adventure
    AGes 12 14
    AGes 12-14
    Ages 6 And 7
    Ages 8 12
    Ages 8-12
    Animals
    Beautifully Illustrated
    Beautifully Written
    Comic Book
    Dystopia
    Fantasy
    Fiction
    Fractured Fairy Tales
    Fun
    Funny
    Great Character
    Historical Fiction
    Mystery
    Myths
    Poetry
    Read W/ Parent's Permission
    Realistic Fiction
    Recommendation Of The Week
    Science
    Science Fiction
    Similar To Harry Potter
    Sweet Sixteen
    Thought Provoking
    True Story


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.