Book Review: Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini
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What Parents Should Know
Parents need to know that there is little to be concerned
with in this biography other than the possibility of kids
trying to reproduce Houdini's feats.
Families who read this book could discuss magic and Houdini's legacy. Why is he still so famous? Why was he so determined to debunk spiritualists? Why are these kinds of tricks so appealing? Kids may want to see modern magicians such as David Copperfield, and may want to learn some tricks.
Common Sense Media Review
Biographies written for kids is one of the more dismal
categories in children's literature, so when a well-known
novelist decides to do one, it's cause for some celebration.
But Sid Fleischman brings even more to the table for this
particular biography -- he has been a professional magician,
and he knew the subject's wife. So he has both a personal and
professional connection to his material, and it shows on nearly
every page.
In this lively, entertaining biography Fleischman does more than just retell the major events of Houdini's life, and even more than separate myth from fact (a tricky job in this case). He carefully walks readers through the evidence and his own reasoning process, making good use of his insider knowledge along the way. He includes numerous photographs, some from his personal collection published here for the first time. And he uses his well-known humor and some novelistic writing techniques to make this bio what all of them ought to be: an engrossing story.
Put this one on that special shelf -- so far it's way too small -- of biographies that kids will actually get excited about.
Common Sense Media is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing information to help parents make media and entertainment choices for their families.
