Harry Houdini

Kjartan Poskitt

Book - 2019

Shares the life story of the famous escape artist, including his immigrant origins, how he began his career doing card tricks for extra cash, and how he became the world's most well-known magician.

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Subjects
Genres
Biographies
Illustrated works
Published
New York : Abrams Books for Young Readers 2019.
Language
English
Main Author
Kjartan Poskitt (author)
Other Authors
Geraint Ford (illustrator)
Physical Description
146 pages : illustrations ; 21 cm
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (page 143) and index
ISBN
9781419738623
Contents unavailable.
Review by Booklist Review

This entry in the First Names biography series will appeal equally to those unfamiliar and familiar with Houdini and his death-defying stunts. It covers his birth in Hungary, arrival in the U.S. at age four, marriage, worldwide success, and death, in 1926, from a ruptured appendix. Houdini, known as the Handcuff King because of his lock-picking ability, was also a contortionist, film star, and debunker of fake mediums. The book reveals that he slept only four hours a night, wrote an estimated 100 letters a week, had an amazing daily workout routine, and was the first person to fly a plane over Australia. Cartoon illustrations show how Houdini accomplished many of his tricks, and one, of his New York City mansion with its 26 rooms, trick front door, secret panels, and hidden microphones, is particularly fun. This informative biography is a chatty and engaging read for the uninitiated as well as for those who thought they knew everything about one of the greatest magicians of all time.--Sharon Rawlins Copyright 2019 Booklist

From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by School Library Journal Review

Gr 3--7--This series presents a lighthearted and easy look at some of the world's most famous celebrities. The informal tone and accompanying cartoon illustrations give these texts the feel of biographies that can be read for pleasure, while the level of detail ensures that the information is accurate. The first two books are written in a narrative style, and because the text is broken up with frequent illustrations, they do not come off as intimidating, textbook-heavy reads. The writing is also supported with time lines, glossaries, and bibliographies in the back, should readers want further information. The main weakness of the series is the lack of primary source material. Because there are no photographs or portraits, the stories come off as a little disingenuous. Nonfiction books can be especially impactful when they are accompanied with beautiful, full-color pictures, letters, and maps. Since these books have only cartoons, readers may feel disconnected from the real historical figures and the times in which they lived. The illustrations may prove to be comforting for fiction readers who enjoy diary style series like Jeff Kinney's "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" and Rachel Renée Russell's "Dork Diaries." VERDICT While telling interesting stories, these books could be better supported with higher quality, varied visuals. The reading experience would be enhanced with photographic depictions of the people being described, instead of exclusively using exaggerated caricature.--Sara Kundrik, Gilbert Paterson Middle School, Alta.

(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review

The life and eye-widening feats of a showman who was "always hungry for adventure, challenges, fame, and success."Warning would-be imitators away as needed ("Absolutely Do Not Try This!") Poskitt offers an animated account of Houdini's career and lifelong devotion to topping his own seemingly impossible tricks and escapes, punctuating it with explicit side explanations of how many of them were done. Along with helpful diagrams and cutaway views, Ford adds frequent depictions of gobsmacked crowds, despairing rivals, and scenes of the "very strong and very bendy" performer hung about with shackles or posing with his closely knit family. (With the exception of the occasional child of color in a contemporary scene, characters depicted are white.) In line with the series premise and overall informal tone, the author refers to him throughout as "Harry" (his stage name). Andrew Prentice does likewise for his free-spirited subject in the co-published Amelia Earhart (illustrated by Mike Smith), taking "Amelia" (or, in childhood chapters, "Millie") from homemade backyard roller coaster to final disappearance. Both profiles open with fictive but revealing introductory exchanges, and both focus as much on conveying the distinctive characters of their subjects as on their public achievements. Prentice adds a closing gallery of renowned women aviators, from African-American Bessie Coleman to Jerrie Mock, who, like Earhart, was white.Together with its companion, stimulating portraits of two colorful, driven historical figures. (timelines, glossaries, reading lists) (Biography. 10-12) Copyright Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.

Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.