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"Brian Selznick's latest novel, The Marvels, begins in 1766, with four hundred pages of uninterrupted illustrations spanning a century and a half in the lives of a theatre dynasty. Weaving together fantasy and mystery, historical and contemporary settings, The Marvels is suspenseful and intriguing. It was easy, as a reader, to fall in love with the characters, the ghosts, and the history, and I'm not ashamed to admit I shed a few tears at the ending. It fits in beautifully with the legacy begun in The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonder Struck-and is a strong contender for this year's Caldecott Award."
— Demi
"I say beautiful a lot when it comes to books I love – I can’t help it, they really are incredibly lovely when they reach through those black and white marks on the page and prod at your heartstrings. The Marvels is no exception – the first half of the book is told in a series of illustrations – cross-hatched and soft, like a dream where the edges are a bit blurry. Then the text starts, decades later and seemingly unrelated. As the stories intertwine, we learn the meanings of determination, family, loss, home, and especially love. If the cover alone weren’t enough to catapult this book to my favorites list, the imagination, heartbreak and hope within the pages certainly did it."
— Tomoko
"A dazzlingly illustrated marvel of a novel spinning a layered, epic story that's one part spectacle, one part family drama, and one part love story. Profound and surprising, this book begs to be read and discussed together, one generation with the next."
— Meghan
Description
Don't miss Selznick's other novels in words and pictures, The Invention of Hugo Cabret and Wonderstruck, which together with The Marvels, form an extraordinary thematic trilogy!A breathtaking new voyage from Caldecott Medalist Brian Selznick.Two stand-alone stories--the first in nearly 400 pages of continuous pictures, the second in prose--create a beguiling narrative puzzle.The journey begins at sea in 1766, with a boy named Billy Marvel. After surviving a shipwreck, he finds work in a London theatre. There, his family flourishes for generations as brilliant actors until 1900, when young Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage.Nearly a century later, runaway Joseph Jervis seeks refuge with an uncle in London. Albert Nightingale's strange, beautiful house, with its mysterious portraits and ghostly presences, captivates Joseph and leads him on a search for clues about the house, his family, and the past.A gripping adventure and an intriguing invitation to decipher how the two stories connect, The Marvels is a loving tribute to the power of story from an artist at the vanguard of creative innovation.
About the Author
Brian Selznick’s books have sold millions of copies, garnered countless awards worldwide, and been translated into more than 35 languages. He broke open the novel form with his innovative and genre-defying thematic trilogy, beginning with the Caldecott Medal-winning #1 New York Times bestseller The Invention of Hugo Cabret, adapted into Martin Scorsese's Oscar-winning movie Hugo. He followed that with the #1 New York Times bestseller, Wonderstruck, adapted into the eponymous movie by celebrated filmmaker Todd Haynes, with a screenplay by Selznick, and the New York Times bestseller, The Marvels. Selznick’s two most recent books for young people, Baby Monkey, Private Eye, co-written with his husband David Serlin, and Kaleidoscope, a New York Times Notable Children’s Book of 2021, were both New York Times bestsellers as well. He also illustrated the 20th anniversary edition covers of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Selznick and Serlin divide their time between Brooklyn, New York and La Jolla, California. Learn more at thebrianselznick.com and mediaroom.scholastic.com/brianselznick.
Praise For…
Praise for The Marvels:New York Times BestsellerNew York Times Notable Children's BookAn Indie Bound #1 National BestsellerGuardian Children's Book Prize FinalistPublishers Weekly Best Book* “Selznick continues his quest to shake up notions of illustrated novels, wordless storytelling, and the intersection of text and pictures in this newest volume . . . The novel as a whole is exactly the sort of theater that is so lovingly described within.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review* “Caldecott Medalist Selznick has been creating acclaimed illustrated novels for years now, and his latest takes his groundbreaking narrative format to new heights . . . [this] warm, affecting family tale is bittersweet, astonishing, and truly marvelous.” -- Booklist, starred review* “. . . epic theater celebrating mysteries of the heart and spirit.” -- Kirkus, starred review* “[A] powerful story about creating lasting art and finding family in unexpected places.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review* “Memorable, momentous.” -- School Library Journal, starred review
Praise for The Marvels:New York Times BestsellerNew York Times Notable Children's BookAn Indie Bound #1 National BestsellerGuardian Children's Book Prize FinalistPublishers Weekly Best Book* “Selznick continues his quest to shake up notions of illustrated novels, wordless storytelling, and the intersection of text and pictures in this newest volume . . . The novel as a whole is exactly the sort of theater that is so lovingly described within.” -- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review* “Caldecott Medalist Selznick has been creating acclaimed illustrated novels for years now, and his latest takes his groundbreaking narrative format to new heights . . . [this] warm, affecting family tale is bittersweet, astonishing, and truly marvelous.” -- Booklist, starred review* “. . . epic theater celebrating mysteries of the heart and spirit.” -- Kirkus, starred review* “[A] powerful story about creating lasting art and finding family in unexpected places.” -- Publishers Weekly, starred review* “Memorable, momentous.” -- School Library Journal, starred review
