It’s the only way they will figure out the history behind it all! Hugo invited Etienne and Monsieur Tabard (the teacher) over to Isabelle’s apartment.

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This is an historical fiction, which means that even though it's made-up, it's based on a real time and place in history.

He works on his automaton (a little mysterious machine) and avoids the Station Inspector who treats Hugo cruelly. Wait. When he finishes his story, Isabelle thanks him for telling her. A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality study guides that feature detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, quotes, and essay topics.

She sits down and starts to cry, saying that she’s sorry about Hugo’s fingers and about not telling her godparents that she stole the notebook. Hugo says that things are going to be okay, and shows her the book. Then Isabelle asks Hugo how he got the mechanical man and he tells her the whole, sorry story about his father and the automaton. By entering your email address you agree to receive emails from Shmoop and verify that you are over the age of 13.

This joint perspective shows that Hugo's progress comes from finding authority, and Georges's progress comes from finding fun, mischief, and play. When he finishes his story, Isabelle thanks him for telling her.

The novel revolves round 12-year-old orphan, Hugo Cabret, who lives in an old apartment above a train station in Paris, where he tends to the 27 clocks in the building each day. Hugo tells her to come to the booth after school the next day because he has a grand idea. Oh, Hugo. Then Isabelle asks Hugo how he got the mechanical man and he tells her the whole, sorry story about his father and the automaton.

So…. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The Invention of Hugo Cabret is technically Georges' invention, another good reason to view the characters jointly. We see a close-up of Hugo and Isabelle’s faces as they look at each other.

For a kid who doesn’t go to school, he sure reads a lot! Thanks for exploring this SuperSummary Plot Summary of “The Invention Of Hugo Cabret” by Brian Selznick. There’s a knock on the door—it’s Isabelle. He’s the kind of scrappy, smart kid that adults are constantly chasing after while they stomp around all Elmer Fudd-like, calling him a “wascally wabbit.” He is a twelve-year-old boy who lives in a train station.

Hugo goes back to his room having borrowed the book from the library. Prepare yourself for a bummer: our guy's an orphan, and his uncle, who's supposed to be taking care of him, is an unpredictable drunkard who … He tells her that Etienne knows the truth, too.

JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. The Invention of Hugo Cabret Summary. He's an orphan, escaped from an alcoholic uncle.

With the toy booth closed, they don’t have the money to get him medicine. Why?