Wonderstruck

Wonderstruck
Author: Brian Selznick
Published by Scholastic Press in 2011

Awards: 2012 Schneider Family Award
Suggested Delivery: Individual Read
Reading Level:
Grade level: 4^th – 5^th
Lexile Measure: 830L

Key Words:
1.      Graphic Novel
2.      Diversity
3.      Deafness
4.      Family
5.      Adventure

Vocabulary: droned (17), silhouette (57), listlessly (127), diorama (329), vista (329), cascading (359), Serengeti (407),

Summary: Set in 1927 and 1977 simultaneously, Wonderstruck follows the two characters of Ben and Rose along their journey of discovering themselves and finding family to be at home with. While Ben’s desire to meet his father is quite different than Rose’s dream to meet a famous movie star in New York City, both characters find themselves following similar paths and stopping at the same locations along the way. Through Ben’s narrative and Rose’s illustration, readers will see these two connected characters overcome obstacles to reach their ultimate goals.

Teaching Strategies
Before: Prior to reading the novel, students should quickly preview some of the illustrations in the novel. They should make at least three predictions about either the storyline or its characters.

During: Throughout their reading experience, readers should record two timelines for the characters of Ben and Rose. This will first, allow them to follow Rose’s plotline more easily, despite her lack of narration. Secondly, students will be able to see similarities between the characters clearly with a visual aid in front of them.

After: Students should look at their timelines closely and consider/highlight the similarities between the two characters and their journeys. A few aspects students should consider:

·  What are the obstacles both characters face?

·  Where in the city did both characters go to?

·  Who are some characters that both Ben and Rose are acquainted with?

·  What role did the wolves play in both storylines?

·  How did the loss of hearing affect Ben and Rose?

Writing: “How would Ben curate his own life? And then, thinking about his museum box, and his house, and his books, and the secret room, he realized he’d already begun doing it. Maybe, Ben thought, we are all cabinets of wonders” (574). Illustrate and describe what would be in your cabinet of wonders.

Electronic Resources:
This is an interactive website for students, which includes a video on meeting the author as well as activities that involve the illustrations of the story: http://www.scholastic.com/wonderstruck/

Brian Selznick speaks about his book:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9K2YaVxeTiM

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