Ages 9+1-min guideMysteryHistory
The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
Good fitA great fit for most kids 9 and up. A beautiful novel told half in drawings. It includes the deaths of Hugo’s father and uncle, handled gently.
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What it’s about
Hugo is an orphan who secretly lives inside the walls of a Paris train station, keeping the clocks running. He tries to repair a mechanical man his father left him, hoping it holds a message.
The ending
What might come up
Death and lossSomeHugo’s father dies in a fire; his uncle disappears and is later found dead.
StealingA littleHugo steals food and parts to survive.
Scary momentsA littleA train nightmare, a near miss with a real train and the station inspector.
DrinkingA littleHugo’s uncle drinks too much.
ViolenceNone
LanguageNone
RomanceNone
Why kids like it
Hundreds of pages of drawings that feel like a movie.
Free printable quiz
- 1Where does Hugo live?
- 2What did Hugo’s father leave him?
- 3Who is the toy seller?
- 4What does the mechanical man do?
Read it, then watch it
Read the book first, then watch it together and talk about what changed.
