The Invention of Hugo Cabret

A Book Review by Mary Elizabeth
in Michigan

Right at the beginning of the book, you feel obliged to read more. It shows a letter from the mysterious Professor Alcofrisbas, whose true identity is revealed at the very end of the book.

The professor prepares you for the story of Hugo Cabret, an orphan boy living in a trainstation in 1931, stealing food to survive. He may have a place to live--in his late Uncle's apartment, but he has to work his Uncle's previous job as the clockskeeper so that the Station Inspecter won't get suspicious. If the Inspector gets suspicious, he'll investigate. If he investigates, he'll inevitably find out that Uncle Claude is dead, and Hugo will be taken to an orphanage.

You might say that that is a much better option than living in a dingy apartment all alone. But that's exactly why Hugo has to stay hidden. He is not alone.

Before he died, his father had been working on an old automaton--a machine magicians used to build for their shows and surprise the audience with it's "magical abitlities"--that he had found in the mueseum attic where he worked. He figured out it was meant to write something, according to the miniture pen in the automaton's hand. But before he or Hugo could see what the mysterious letter read, Hugo's father died in a tragic accident, and Hugo was handed over to Uncle Claude.

Hugo was just as good with machines as his father was, and just had to finish the machine, but as he was nearly done with the repair of it, he's thrust into an adventure that you'll just have to read about yourself.

If you like Mysteries, Historical Fictions, or Adventures, I would definitely suggest reading this book.