BookBright
ABOUT THE BOOK
NO SPOILERSHugo Cabret is a twelve-year-old orphan living secretly inside the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, winding and oiling twenty-seven clocks every day to keep up the appearance that his uncle, the station's Timekeeper, is still around. Hugo's uncle disappeared months ago, and if the Station Inspector finds out Hugo is alone, he will be sent to an orphanage. Hugo's only real purpose is to repair a mysterious mechanical man, called an automaton, that his father discovered in a museum attic before dying in a fire. Hugo believes the automaton, once fixed, will write him a message from his father. But when the old man who runs the station's toy booth catches Hugo stealing small parts and confiscates his father's notebook full of the automaton's drawings, Hugo must find a way to get it back before his whole fragile life falls apart.
Free Battle of the Books questions for The Invention of Hugo Cabret
SPOILERSEvery one of these has the same answer, and that is the point. In a real battle the question is read aloud with a dozen other books in play, and students have a few seconds to place it. Here is what a battle might ask about The Invention of Hugo Cabret. Use them as a quiz, a trivia round, or BOTB practice.
Where in the book they come from
- Early in the book
In what book does a boy get caught stealing a small blue windup mouse?
✓ Answer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Hugo tries to steal a blue windup mouse from the toy booth, but the old man (Papa Georges) pretends to be asleep and grabs him. The mouse falls and cracks on the floor, setting the whole story in motion.
- First half
In what book does a boy nervously rub the buttons on his jacket until one comes off in his hand?
✓ Answer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Hugo has a habit of nervously rubbing the buttons on his jacket. When he enters the bookstore for the first time, he rubs a button so hard it comes off in his hand, and he slips it into his pocket. This small nervous habit comes up throughout the story.
- First half
In what book does a girl say she learned to pick a lock from books?
✓ Answer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
When Isabelle uses a bobby pin to pick the lock on the theater's rear door, Hugo asks how she learned to do that. She simply answers, "Books." Isabelle is an avid reader who puts her book knowledge to practical use.
- Second half
In what book does an old woman's glance at an armoire give two children an idea to search it?
✓ Answer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
Before leaving the bedroom, Mama Jeanne briefly glances toward the large wooden armoire. Both Hugo and Isabelle catch the look and realize something must be hidden inside it. This leads them to discover a secret compartment full of drawings.
- Second half
In what book is a boy told he is "too small and too dirty" to use a library?
✓ Answer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
When Hugo arrives at the Film Academy library, the woman at the front desk refuses to let him in, saying he's too small and too dirty and must be accompanied by an adult. Hugo realizes he hasn't thought about how he looks in a long time.
- Near the end
In what book does a man say his parents were shoemakers but he hated shoes?
✓ Answer
The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick
As Georges Méliès finally opens up about his past, he tells the children that his parents wanted him to work in their shoe factory. The only part he liked was the machinery. He dreamed of escaping and becoming a magician, which is exactly what he did.
