Orphan, clock keeper, and thief, Hugo lives in the walls of a busy Paris
train station, where his survival depends on secrets and anonymity. But
when his world suddenly interlocks — like the gears of the clocks he
keeps — with an eccentric, bookish girl and a bitter old man who runs a
toy booth in the train station, Hugo’s undercover life and his most
precious secret are put in jeopardy.
A cryptic drawing, a
treasured notebook, a stolen key, a mechanical man, and a hidden message
from Hugo’s dead father form the backbone of this intricate, tender,
and spellbinding mystery.
With 284 pages of original drawings
and combining elements of picture book, graphic novel and film, Brian
Selznick breaks open the novel form to create an entirely new reading
experience. Here is a stunning, cinematic tour de force from a boldly
innovative storyteller, artist and bookmaker.