Wonderstruck by Bryan Selznick

Just at the moment that Ben reveals clues about the father he never knew, he suddenly losing his hearing in a freak accident. Twenty years prior, Rose, who was born deaf, wishes she wasn't stuck with her father. When she reads a headline that says her movie star mother will be in New York, she takes off on an adventure to find her true place in the world, just as Ben does years later. Told through illustrations and words, their stories have uncanny similarities that lead to an unexpected ending. 

Selznick, B. (2011). Wonderstruck. New York, NY: Scholastic. 


Virtual Field Trip Assignment

1. Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
1. At first sight, this book might be greatly avoided by students because of the size of it. Tome-like, the book even intimidated me. But, after flipping through the pages, I quickly realized that half of the book was filled with elaborately detailed black and white illustrations. When a book has pictures, students are more willing to attempt to read it. This would be the first selling point. If that doesn’t hook them, explaining that the book is actually two stories weaved together, one done through pictures and one through the words. But, if that doesn’t convince a young reader to take the leap in reading this enormous book, the plot twist that brings the two stories together should convince them to take a chance with the book. Beyond the basic characteristics of Wonderstruck, sharing with potential readers that the young boy and girl who the two stories center on are searching for a place to belong and a chance to have a “normal” life, can show students that they may make a connection with these complex characters, pulling them into the beautiful stories of loss and searching that lead to love and belonging. 
2. Three other books written by Selznick are The Invention of Hugo Cabret, The Marvels, and The Houdini Box. All of these books are very similar to Wonderstruck. All four texts are combinations of text and graphics, which are part of his signature style. They also focus on characters who don’t quite feel like they belong and embark on adventures to find their own places in the world.