Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
Reviewed by CindyRatings
Content Ratings based on a 0-5 scale where
0 = no objectionable content and
5 = an excessive or disturbing level of content
LANGUAGE
VIOLENCE
SEXUAL CONTENT
ADULT THEMES
Ratings Explanation
Adult Themes: Ben and Rose are both deaf. Ben’s mother died in a car accident. Some characters smoked. Ben’s mother never told him the name of his father. Ben and Rose each had their own experiences in running away from home. Ben was robbed of his money. Rose’s parents have marital troubles. Ben’s parents were never married to each other.
Synopsis
The world is silent for young Ben Wilson having been born deaf in one ear, then later losing his hearing in the other ear due to a lightning strike. While in the care of his Aunt after having lost his mother in a car accident, Ben decides to risk it all and go in search of the identity of the father he never knew. He finds himself on a bus to New York City as he follows some possible clues to his father’s location. His quest leads him to the Natural History Museum where he discovers something about his father.
Fifty years beforehand, a young girl named Rose, who is also deaf, seeks out her mother in the same city. Ben’s and Rose’s stories become entwined in an unusual way. Will they be able to find the peace and happiness they both seek?
Author Brian Selznick tells his story through both word and picture in a captivating way. The book is big and beautiful! Ben’s story is told in words, while Rose’s story is told in picture with the two converging at the end. In this book a picture really is worth a thousand words! The sense of knowing who you are and where you belong were driving forces for Ben and Rose. They both longed to have their parents in their lives. I liked these quotes, “We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars.” Also, “Ben wished the world was organized by the Dewey decimal system. That way you’d be able to find whatever you were looking for, like the meaning of your dream, or your dad.” This second quote tugged at my heart! I would recommend this book for children 4th grade and up.