Wonderstruck

Selznick, Brian. (2001). Wonderstruck. New York: Scholastic.

This a story of a boy who was born with one deaf ear, doesn't know about his father and loses his mother in an accident. He is left to live with his uncle and aunt.  One day during a storm he walks to his house, looks through his mothers things, and finds information about a man who he thinks might be his father. Then lightning strikes and hits his good ear through the phone line leaving him deaf and in the hospital.  While in the hospital he starts to remember about his findings of a man who could be his father. He runs away to go find him.and continues to follow clues. Clues lead him to kincaid’s books where he thought someone might know of his father.  To his surprise, an old woman called out his name and reveals who she is and who his father was. The old woman turned out to be his grandmother. His father never knew he had a son. His father’s heart condition led him to his death. But Ben’s mother had gone to the services when Ben was just four years old. Ben did not remember meeting the old lady but the old lady remembered him. With help of a new friend and the story from the grandmother he never knew he had, he finally discovers the truth about his father. This is a very cleverly written and illustrated book that lets you visually experience what the characters are going through as the story is being told. I really enjoyed the way the illustrations were presented. It captures the readers attention and just keeps you anxiously wanting to know what happens next. It can be used to help students analyze a story with conflicting messages.