Wonderstruck

Ben and Rose live fifty years apart, but their lives intersect through a shared experience of deafness and a search for belonging. In 1977, Ben leaves Minnesota for New York City following his mother's death, hoping to find the father he never knew. In 1927, Rose escapes her restricted life in New Jersey to seek out a silent film actress. Ben’s story unfolds through written prose, while Rose’s narrative is told entirely through pencil illustrations. Their separate paths eventually converge at the American Museum of Natural History, revealing a hidden family history.

Middle-grade readers and fans of visual storytelling find this book effective for its unique dual-narrative format. It serves those interested in Deaf culture, museum curation, and the history of cinema. Readers gain an understanding of how people communicate across different sensory perspectives and time periods. The book provides a detailed look at the transition from silent films to talkies and the meticulous work behind museum dioramas, leaving the audience with a concrete sense of how personal heritage is preserved.

Clear-cut; an easy read.

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