Part graphic novel, part text, this is an enchanting story about a boy discovering his family history.
The first part of the story is told in nearly 400 pages of continuous pictures, the second in prose. The story begins in 1766, as a boy named Billy Marvel survives a shipwreck and finds work in a London theatre. Fast forward to 1900, when his descendant Leontes Marvel is banished from the stage. Zip ahead again to 1990 and start the prose, which tells of runaway Joseph Jervis seeking refuge in his uncle Albert Nightingale’s strange, beautiful London house. There, he is immersed in a search to discover more about the house, his family, and the past.
At the risk of spoilers, I’ll simply say that gay dads and a character with AIDS are featured, although the book is not “about” their queerness or illness, per se.
Author/illustrator Brian Selznick once again weaves a compelling story told through his signature blend of images and words. Enchanting.
