Hugo Cabret is an orphan who lives at a Paris Train Station. His job is to set twenty seven clocks pricely and regualry and this was his well kept secret. Among Hugo’s prized possession is a notebook full of his father’s drawings which was a present from him on his birthday. This was his connection to his father and he was passionate in completing and solving the mystery of the drawings.
When the toy store keeper whose store was at the train station catches Hugo for stealing a toy, he is forced to surrender every toy that was in his pocket including the notebook. Hugo persists in keeping his notebook but the toy keeper refuses to give it back to him, and threatens to burn it unless he confesses the name of whoever gave it to him. Both are stubborn and little did they know that their lives are interlocked. The mystery deepens and magical events reveal the lives of these two characters in every page of the book.
This book is enchanting, tender yet unpredictable. The glorious illustrations support the story and captures the essence of every page. This is a fiction story based on the life of pioneer movie maker, George Milies.
I recommend this book to anyone young or old. This is a 533 page book, half of which are bold, beautiful illustrations. This book deserves the Caldecott Award Medal and it will not surprise me if it wins the Newbery Award as well. I read this book to my mentally handicapped daughter and she enjoyed it as much as I did.
Lina Tidal
