Age rating and parents' guide:The Invention of Hugo Cabret
by Brian Selznick
Ages 9–14
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick is best for children aged 9–14. It has no violence, a few mildly scary moments, no romance and no bad language. Worth knowing: Orphan hardship.
Orphaned Hugo lives hidden inside the walls of a busy 1930s Paris railway station, secretly winding the massive clocks and surviving on stolen food. His most precious possession is a broken mechanical man left by his late father, which he desperately tries to repair. Encourages gentle, guided conversations about challenging feelings and experiences.
Content ratings
How much of each a parent can expect, from none to strong.
- Violence
- None
- Scary moments
- Mild
- Romance
- None
- Bad language
- None
Worth knowing: Orphan hardship
Content checked by Dhiraj Bodade, co-founder of Bookstaken, on .
At a glance
- Novel
- A steady start that picks up quickly
- Mostly text
- Emotionally light
- A good pick for reluctant readers
Great for kids who like
- Science
- Robots & inventions
Reading mood
- Curious
Good to talk about
- Science
- Robots & inventions
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