Hugo Cabret learned about machinery from his father, a skilled clock maker. But when a fire claims his father's life Hugo is forced to live at the train station with his drunk uncle. All his left with is his father's final project- a broken automaton. Hugo knows if he can fix it the automaton will make his life make sense again. When he is caught stealing parts form the train station toy store Hugo's life takes a turn that will either end life as Hugo knows it or save it for good.
Hugo Cabret is a master piece of law fantasy. The setting of the book is an actual place. The train station in Paris is recognized by people the world over. Even some of the characters is the novel actually existed. Georges Melies was a real life French illusionist and filmmaker.
What makes this book so fantastical is the automaton. The robot is not just a piece of machine that Hugo tinkers with nightly. It is actually a piece of Hugo's father and Melies past come to life. Through the robot Hugo is introduced to Melies, a man lost in his own mind, who created his father's favorite films.
A film version of the novel was released in 2011 under the name of Hugo. While not a huge commercial success the film was widely acclaimed by critics and won five Academy Awards as well as many others. Clips from the film can be seen at http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0970179/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
There is also a website completely devoted to the novel at http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/index.htm
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