Teaching Kids to be Criminals.

Clearly many wonderful things can be said about the innovative tale The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. They have been said and I am not going to waste your time by reiterating exactly how amazing this book truly is. Instead, I would like to impart this tiny pearl of wisdom I have gleaned from the book: if you want kids to read books, convince them they too can learn to commit misdemeanors and petty crimes. I am of course referring to a snippet found on pages 192-193:

Hugo watched as she fiddled with the pin inside the lock until it clicked and the door opened.

"How did you learn to do that?" asked Hugo.

"Books," answered Isabelle.

It is so subtle, yet brilliant! I know that if I were a ten year old boy reading this, I would want to keep reading books until I figured out how to do something as awesome as breaking into a door with only a hairpin (Though, if I really were a ten year old boy, would I have much access to bobby pins?). Heck, I'm an adult and I wish I read books that taught me how to open doors with pins. In fact, I'm feeling kinda ripped off. I've read how many books since I learned how to read and not one has given instructions on this important life skill?? I must be reading the wrong books.


Tangent: I got pretty curious about the film A Trip to the Moon and found it reminded me of one of my favorite videos in middle school by the Smashing Pumpkins. I always enjoyed the artistic elements of that music video, but now I can put it into context. Overall, I must give Selznick credit for such a thought-provoking/outside-source-seeking/hell-of-a-good book.