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Content snapshot
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Violence
Some
Death of parents and hardship depicted in illustrated sequences
Language
Barely any
Clean language
Sexual Content
Barely any
No sexual content
Substance Use
Some
Opium use depicted historically in illustrated sequences
Emotional Intensity
Some
Themes of grief, loneliness, and the search for belonging
What this book is about
Brian Selznick weaves two stories—one told entirely in pictures spanning 1766–1900, one in words set in 1990—about two boys whose lives connect across centuries in this stunning illustrated novel that explores belonging, grief, and theatrical wonder.
Notes for sensitive readers
Reader-flagged moments and themes that may affect your experience.
Themes of grief, loneliness, and parental death
Historical opium use in illustrated sequences
Some emotional intensity
Reader Verification
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