The Magician's Fire

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