The Magician's Fire

September 29, 2014
British children’s TV writer Nicholson makes his U.S. debut with this launch to the Young Houdini series, which opens in 1886 Manhattan. Harry, who has been shining shoes since his recent arrival from Budapest, shows off his daring early on, escaping from padlocked chains seconds before a train screams by (and earning showers of coins from impressed onlookers). Nicholson smoothly blends Houdini’s prowess as an escape artist with his fictional hero’s sleuthing skills as he tracks down a missing elderly magician. Two well-drawn friends—Billie, an orphan from New Orleans, and Arthur, the neglected son of a wealthy banker—help Harry solve the mystery. Rebelling against Harry’s bossiness, the two set out to crack the case by themselves, a plot twist the author mines for humor as well as messages about friendship and teamwork. Nicholson works the theme of escape throughout the story: Billie flees from her job in a glue factory and Artie avoids being shipped off to boarding school. A cliffhanger ending will leave readers eager for the next installment. Ages 10–up. Agent: Eve White, Literary Agent.

September 1, 2014
A fast-paced mystery finds Harry, an aspiring magician, and his friends on a quest to find Harry's mentor, Herbie Lemster, who disappears from his dressing room backstage in a puff of purple smoke. In this British import, Harry and Billie are street kids, while Arthur is the neglected son of a wealthy businessman who wants to send him away to a boarding school. It's on Arthur's birthday that Harry tries his most dangerous magic trick to date, and the three go out to celebrate, intending to wind up at the show in which Herbie performs. Their search begins right after Herbie disappears. The task is made difficult by Harry's unfortunate habit of leaping into action, trusting that the other two will find him. And there are all too many sinister adults surrounding the three companions. The mystery does get solved, Harry learns a few things about friendship, and Arthur gives Harry his professional name of Houdini. Readers interested in actual information about Houdini should look elsewhere, as except for extremely broad background strokes, this character's childhood has been entirely fictionalized. Most notably, this character has lived alone in New York after being sent by himself across the Atlantic, instead of spending his boyhood in Wisconsin in an intact family headed by his father, a rabbi. Middle-grade readers in it for the story alone will gallop through this spellbinder; here's hoping they go so fast the historical license doesn't stick. (Adventure. 8-12)

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September 1, 2014

Gr 6-9-It's 1886 in Manhattan, and young Harry Houdini and his friends Arthur and Billie go all around the city performing daring acts of magic, including tightrope walking between 10-story buildings and escaping from manacles while chained to a train track. Harry works as a shoeshine boy and lives a penniless lifestyle, but he loves performing magic and learning new sleights of hand from his mentor, renowned magician Herbie Lemster. When Herbie mysteriously vanishes after a show-only a plume of purple smoke and a stranger with a snake brooch are left as clues-Harry and his friends intend to uncover the secrets behind the disappearance. This series opener is action-packed and fast-paced; each chapter ends with a cliff-hanger. Unfortunately, while Houdini is the main character, he is introduced to readers with no historical significance or background. Those without knowledge of the famous escape artist will want more information. Otherwise, the book is a fun and above-average read that will appeal to fans of the "39 Clues" (Scholastic, 2008).-Shalini Miskelly, St. Benedict Catholic School, Seattle, WA

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