At a glance
Wonderstruck
Children's historical fiction
Wonderstruck
640 pages · First published 2011
In 1977, twelve-year-old Ben is grieving his mother's death and longing to discover the identity of the father he has never known. After a lightning-related accident leaves him completely deaf, a mysterious clue sends him from his Minnesota home to New York City, where he hopes to find answers. Fifty years earlier, in 1927, a deaf girl named Rose escapes her lonely life in New Jersey and travels to Manhattan in search of the famous actress she admires. As Ben's story unfolds through prose and Rose's through intricate black-and-white illustrations, their separate journeys lead them to the American Museum of Natural History and an unexpected connection between their lives. Blending historical mystery, remarkable artwork, and an emotional exploration of family, identity, and belonging, this inventive middle-grade novel is ideal for readers who enjoy interconnected stories, museums, historical settings, and the wonder of discovering where they belong.
Paired for this story
Jump to the pours ↓Moonlight Milk + Manhattan
Choose your bookseller
Find the Book
Print retailers offer a search when an exact edition is unavailable. Kindle links open a specific edition. Audiobook links may open an edition or a search.
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate, Book Bartender earns from qualifying purchases. Bookshop.org links also earn us a commission on qualifying purchases. Your price is not affected. Read the full affiliate disclosure.
No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Death of a parent in a car accident, discussed retrospectively, with significant grief and emotional isolation. A child loses his remaining hearing following an electrical injury during a lightning storm. Two twelve-year-olds run away to New York City without adult supervision; one has his money stolen. Frightening dreams involving wolves, threatening storms, and potentially unsettling museum imagery, including skeletons. Family estrangement, divorce, parental absence, and difficulties communicating across hearing and Deaf communities. References to smoking, including a teenager smoking cigarettes. Brief references to adult romantic relationships, including a relationship outside marriage, without depicted sexual activity.
Alcohol-Free Pour
Moonlight Milk
A little honey and starlit shimmer recall the wishes, celestial wonders, and unexpected discoveries that illuminate Ben and Rose's journeys.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Warm the milk gently with vanilla and honey until steaming. Whisk lightly and add only a tiny pinch of food-grade shimmer if desired.
- Garnish: Food-grade shimmer, optional.
- Glassware: Mug.
Cocktail Pour · 21+
Manhattan
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A classic Manhattan honors the city where two children's journeys, separated by fifty years, lead to an extraordinary discovery.
What you'll need
- 2 oz rye whiskey
- 1 oz sweet vermouth
- 2 dashes aromatic bitters
- Ice
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Stir with ice until chilled and strain into a chilled coupe.
- Garnish: Cocktail cherry or orange twist.
- Glassware: Coupe.
Shop glassware & tools
We earn a commission from qualifying purchases through these Amazon links, at no extra cost to you.
Coupe glass ↗Set up the bar cart
Shop the Barware
Find the glasses and tools for your next pour.