Hugo Cabret

Hugo Cabret is the main character and principle protagonist in the novel “The Invention of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick. Hugo is twelve years old when the story opens, and is an orphan who lives in a dingy apartment over a train station in Paris where he works as a timekeeper, repairing, adjusting, and winding the 27 clocks in the station. Hugo is the keeper of an automaton, discovered by his father in an old museum attic. At Hugo’s insistence, his father worked on the automaton, during which time he was killed in a fire. Hugo carries guilt, believing had caused his father’s death.

Hugo was then taken in by his uncle, who managed the clocks at the train station, and he taught Hugo how to do the same – and to steal. Hugo is not thrilled about stealing, but understands it is necessary for him to...