Hugo - The book or the movie, I say both!

Want a great book to read and a fabulous movie to watch? Check out “The Invention of Hugo Cabret “by Brian Selznick or the wonderful movie, “Hugo” directed by Martin Scorsese.

Hugo directed by Martin Scorsese

Throughout his extraordinary career, Academy Award-wining director Martin Scorsese has brought his unique vision and dazzling gifts to life in a series of unforgettable films. This holiday season the legendary storyteller invites you to join him on a thrilling journey to a magical world with his first-ever 3-D film, based on Brian Selznick's award-winning, imaginative New York Times best-seller, "The Invention of Hugo Cabret." Hugo is the astonishing adventure of a wily and resourceful boy whose quest to unlock a secret left to him by his father will transform Hugo and all those around him, and reveal a safe and loving place he can call home. – Paramount                 

The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick                 

“Paris in the 1930's, a thief, a broken machine, a strange girl, a mean old man, and the secrets that tie them all together... Welcome to The Invention of Hugo Cabret.” – author Brian Selznick

The story is about Hugo, a young orphan boy, living in the walls of the Paris train station in 1931 where he tends to all of the clocks in the station. Hugo continues his father’s job once of winding the clocks and keeping them running in the train station. His father, once a clockmaker and museum curator, died tragically in a fire. Now that his father is dead, 12-year-old Hugo must continue his work in the station without being caught and sent off to an orphanage. But that isn’t all Hugo must do. He also continues to work on an automation (a mechanical imitation of a human being) that his father had brought home from the museum. Now he is obsessed in making the automation work in memory of his father. To do this he must steal parts from the grumpy old toy maker in the train station. But in the process of stealing  the parts and trying not to get caught, Hugo befriends the toy maker’s granddaughter (also an orphan who was much more fortunate than Hugo). Together the two unlock the mystery of filmmaking.

This is more than a story about a young orphan boy. It is also about the beginnings of filmmaking and the life of the real French filmmaker George Melies (who is played fabulously by Ben Kingsley in the movie).  Melies was a magician before he became a filmmaker in the 1900’s.  Author Brian Selznick says that this book was inspired by one of Melies first movies in 1902, “A Trip to the Moon;” a film about a rocket that zooms towards the moon that has a human face on it. Once the rocket hits the face squarely into the eye, a liquid oozes from the moon.

“Hugo” can be seen in 3-D. Why 3-D? Because Scorsese wanted depth added to his film and he wanted to make it real by having the story come to life for the audience. Scorsese wanted the audience to actually be a part of the film, and he did so successfully.

Personally, I think the movie portrays a different part of this story, the history of filmmaking. This movie isn’t only for kids (probably not the young ones as the movie is a bit too long) but also a great one for adults too. Can you imagine watching some of the history of filmmaking in 3-D by one of the most infamous filmmakers of all time? While the movie is long, both the movie and book are highly recommended for ages nine and up.

The book itself is a beautiful piece of work, winning the Caldecott Award in 2008. Brian Selznick created a story that is half pictures and half words. This 500 plus page book is half text and half finely penciled illustrations that tell the story in turn. A must read book for all middle grades.

Read the book first and then go see the movie, or see the movie first and then read the book. Either way, I promise you won’t be disappointed.  Rarely does a movie live up to the expectations of the book. Kudos to Martin Scorsese for making a magnificent film while also staying true to the book. This film is truly a moving tribute to filmmakers everywhere. Both Scorsese and Selznick should be commended for helping us to remember the past.

Meet Laura Resau

I just recently discovered this amazing author, Laura Resau. I was reading a review on her most recent book, Queen of Water when I decided to check it out of the public library. I couldn’t put it down and finished the book within days. After reading this fabulous, intriguing book I decided to do some research on the author to see what other books she might of written. I tend to do this when I find an author that I truly enjoy.  In the midst of my research on Laura Resau I discovered her fabulous website that also includes a writing blog. It really is a wealth of information about her as a writer, her life and her many books. http://www.lauraresau.com/

Laura Resau is an aspiring author with real messages. Her writing is not only beautiful but poetic. She uses rich language and imagery and researches much of what she uses in her books. Most of her stories are about life in Latin America.  Here is her bio from her website:

With a background in cultural anthropology and ESL-teaching, Laura Resau has lived and traveled in Latin America and Europe - experiences that inspired her books for young people. Her latest novel, The Queen of Water (cowritten with María Virginia Farinango) was praised as "riveting tale... by turns heartbreaking, infuriating and ultimately inspiring " in a starred review by Kirkus. Her previous novels - Star in the Forest, The Ruby Notebook, The Indigo Notebook, Red Glass, and What the Moon Saw - have garnered many starred reviews and awards, including the IRA YA Fiction Award, the Américas Award, and a spot on Oprah's Kids' Book List. Acclaimed for its sensitive treatment of immigration issues, Resau's writing has been called "vibrant, large-hearted" (Publishers' Weekly) and "powerful, magical" (Booklist). Resau lives with her husband and young son in Colorado. She donates a portion of her royalties to indigenous rights organizations in Latin America.

To date I have only read two of her books and in the middle of a third one. I can tell you from the two that I have read I will continue to read her other books and will definitely follow this prolific author. She has much to say about the world of immigrants from Latin America and I believe she will continue to write and receive starred reviews on her books. Here are two books that I have just finished reading.

What the Moon Saw (published in 2006)– This is a story of a young girl, Clara Luna, who has been invited to visit her grandparents in a small village of Mexico. Clara Luna, means ‘clear moon’ in Spanish. She receives a letter written in Spanish from grandparents that she has never met before. Her father had run away from home as a small boy to escape life in the small village to find a better life for himself. For many years he was an illegal alien in the United States. He held many small jobs before meeting his wife and starting his family. Now Clara, age 14, has been asked to go and visit this family she knows nothing about for an entire summer. She doesn’t know how she will survive without her friends, her TV, her iPod and her family. Instead what she finds in the village of Yucuyoo with her grandparents and their fabulous bird holds many surprises. She can’t believe her grandparents live in a simple shack in the mountains of Southern Mexico where most people speak Mixteco, an indigenous language. But instead Clara has a summer full of adventures and hears many stories of how her grandmother became a healer. Now Clara believes she has the same power too. A beautiful story of discovering your true self in the most unexpected place. (Recommend reading for ages 10 and up)

Queen of Water is her most recent book (published 2011)

Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her large family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her village of indígenas, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta—stupid Indian—by members of the ruling class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her village to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds. In this poignant novel based on a true story, acclaimed author Laura Resau has collaborated with María Virginia Farinango to recount one girl's unforgettable journey to self-discovery. Virginia's story will speak to anyone who has ever struggled to find his or her place in the world. It will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately, it will fill you with hope. (Recommended reading for ages 12 and up)