Who was this man who could walk through brick walls and, with a snap of his fingers, vanish elephants? In these pages you will meet the astonish... read full description
reviews
Nov 15, 2011
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini
Sid Fleischman
This biography gives readers a deeper look into the already incredible life of Harry Houdini. The already completely mysterious man is brought to a new light through this novel. The biography begins with basics of his life, but then the author adds more content that is commonly unknown which provides a more humanly character for the mystery man known as Houdini. Throughout this biography we constantly see the mystery involve More...
Sid Fleischman
This biography gives readers a deeper look into the already incredible life of Harry Houdini. The already completely mysterious man is brought to a new light through this novel. The biography begins with basics of his life, but then the author adds more content that is commonly unknown which provides a more humanly character for the mystery man known as Houdini. Throughout this biography we constantly see the mystery involve More...
Mar 31, 2010
Bethany
rated it: 
Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini
Sid Fleischman
Harper Collins, 2006, 215 pages, $8.99
Biography
ISBN 9780060850968
This biography gives an in depth look at Harry Houdini's magical life. The author actually met Houdini's widow and has included many pictures that she personally shared with the the author so the book has a unique feel to it. At first, I thought the book would be too elementary to keep my attention since it has large font and many picture More...
Sid Fleischman
Harper Collins, 2006, 215 pages, $8.99
Biography
ISBN 9780060850968
This biography gives an in depth look at Harry Houdini's magical life. The author actually met Houdini's widow and has included many pictures that she personally shared with the the author so the book has a unique feel to it. At first, I thought the book would be too elementary to keep my attention since it has large font and many picture More...
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Mar 24, 2010
Shivering William
rated it: 
Houdini's life is fascinating enough as is. Add Fleischman's punchy prose and you've got yourself a bonafide entertaining bio.
Biographies kind of bore me though, and even Houdini can't escape the drudgery and repetition of life. Had the book been shorter, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Here were a couple of my favorite passages:
Houdini could saw Merlin in half.
Great and gifted men are, after all, human. They commonly harbor flaws an More...
Biographies kind of bore me though, and even Houdini can't escape the drudgery and repetition of life. Had the book been shorter, I think I would have enjoyed it more.
Here were a couple of my favorite passages:
Houdini could saw Merlin in half.
Great and gifted men are, after all, human. They commonly harbor flaws an More...
Feb 28, 2010
Stephen
rated it:
Until the very last page, I couldn't decide if this was a childrens book or not.
The book is just informative enough to make you feel like you read a biography, but the author writes with such wonder and awe and lack of significant detail at the magician that it really does feel like a book for little kids. That and I'm not sure if it's just the library copy I got or if they're all like this, but the print was huge.
Anyways, this book is quick to read and will give you a fe More...
The book is just informative enough to make you feel like you read a biography, but the author writes with such wonder and awe and lack of significant detail at the magician that it really does feel like a book for little kids. That and I'm not sure if it's just the library copy I got or if they're all like this, but the print was huge.
Anyways, this book is quick to read and will give you a fe More...
Jun 24, 2011
Christina
rated it: 
Kids in grades 5-7 will love this entertaining biography about escape artist Harry Houdini! The author's enthusiasm for his subject is contagious. As a budding teenage magician himself, Fleischman met Houdini's widow Bess, and he includes in his book several rarely-seen photos of Houdini that Bess shared with him. Fleischman never reveals Houdini's secrets although he repeatedly assures his readers that any magician today would know exactly how they were done. I found chapters about Houdini'
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May 16, 2009
Bonnie
rated it: 
I enjoyed reading about Harry. He was one of those men driven to accomplish his goals. I was surprised (and somewhat disappointed) that they were able to write such detail about his life without exposing the secrets of any of his magic tricks. I had been hoping to learn how to disappear. I had read about the circumstances of his death in the past, and in reading this account, I was reminded of how unnecessary and premature it was. I wonder what other magic tricks we would be enjoying today
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Apr 21, 2011
Sara
rated it:
The positive: Fast-paced, lively language; Fleischman was a magician himself, and his side-notes about various tricks and myths are informative and entertaining. Wonderful photographs and large, spacious type make this a quick and easy read. The bibliography is annotated well, and the organization of the text makes sense.
The negative: Nothing, really. Fleischman's refusal to give away trade secrets is frustrating, but in a good way.
The summary: A wonderful read and a good int More...
The negative: Nothing, really. Fleischman's refusal to give away trade secrets is frustrating, but in a good way.
The summary: A wonderful read and a good int More...
Jul 26, 2008
Kelly
rated it:
Curious about how Houdini made an elephant vanish? Want to know how he walked through a brick wall? How did he manage to make all those great escapes? Unfortunately the author of this biography is a magician himself, so he has taken a vow not to reveal any of Houdini's magic tricks. However, Sid Fleischman, who is accustomed to writing fiction, does an excellent job of captivating the reader. Fleischman tries his best to keep the story honest, but I think he had a hard time telling the truth abo
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Jun 29, 2009
Brady
rated it:
I like how at the start of the book, the author says it is easy to write a non-fiction book because the plot and charecters are "already served up" . But he also says that non-fiction is not easy to write because you can't make up a coversation. You have to tell the truth.
Then you learn about some of Houndini's tricks. I found it annoying that we don't ever learn how he did some of these tricks. I think it would have been more fun to see the tricks.
Then you learn about some of Houndini's tricks. I found it annoying that we don't ever learn how he did some of these tricks. I think it would have been more fun to see the tricks.
Jan 30, 2011
Not much to say about this book since it was for informative purposes than entertainment purposes.
I learned a whole lot more things about Houdini than I knew before(which is still a lot), but some of the stuff in here are really shocking.
Houdini's stubbornness towards the end of his life made me proud.
I felt really bad for his wife Bess, but it was really sweet how young they married and stayed with each other throughout.
I learned a whole lot more things about Houdini than I knew before(which is still a lot), but some of the stuff in here are really shocking.
Houdini's stubbornness towards the end of his life made me proud.
I felt really bad for his wife Bess, but it was really sweet how young they married and stayed with each other throughout.
Mar 05, 2011
Mark
rated it:
Let me be honest: I am rapidly running out of free audio-books to read from my library that hold any promise for me. I would not normally have picked this book, but there wasn't much else available. That having been said, it was quite enjoyable and informative. I'm glad I read it. Houdini was certainly a singular character in our nation's history, and the story is quite lovingly told by a fellow magician and true fan.
Oct 06, 2010
Kendall
rated it:
Love this "readable" biography about Houdini's life. It's a nice departure in non fiction...readable biographies for the tween and teen set. The "young bios" of old that pretended to be story books were appropriate for the time but seem strange today--these are readable but factual and are not told in historical fiction form. Others like it..Mark Twain (Fleischman), Barnum.
Dec 01, 2008
Lauren
rated it:
this was a wonderfully told true story about the life of harry houdini. i had no prior knowledge about houdini so i became enraptured within the first few pages. he did not have an easy life for sure. the message to me was: to be famous, one needs to constantly reinvent oneself. not unlike today's madonna.
Mar 14, 2009
J
rated it:
This is the wonderful story of Houdini's life, but it is tarnished by the author who frequently draws attention to himself by talking about himself as a magician and about how he got to know Bess. Any Houdini book is good, you just have to find the right author and Sid Fleischman isn't the one.
Jun 19, 2011
Margie
rated it:
I really enjoyed Fleischman's well-researched (take a look at his bibliography) and entertaining biography of Houdini. It was interesting to find out that Fleischman was an amateur magician himself and knew Houdini's widow when he was a teenager. Some of the photographs are from his own collection and the collections of magician friends.
Jan 11, 2012
James
rated it:
This is not my typical read, but hey, who doesn't love them some Harry Houdini stories? This book does a good job of delineating between man and legend, fact and fiction between Houdini's actual accomplishments and braggadocio. This book was not life changing but an interesting diversion.
Nov 03, 2011
Jen
rated it:
This is Sam's book he is using for his biography project. I picked it up one morning and got sucked into harry Houdini's fascinating life. I wouldn't say the book is well written--although it's written by Newberry award winner for The Whipping Boy--but the story is sure interesting!
Nov 29, 2008
Kris
rated it:
Really interesting non-fiction from a writer whose fiction I like. The topic is interesting anyway, but Fleischman knows how to spin a biography into an adventurous story. Good especially for kids who have to read a biography and don't know what to choose.
Mar 03, 2011
Lorri
rated it:
I enjoyed reading this and although the style of writing wasn't magical, I though the author gave a clear picture of Houdini and was able to add insights through his own magic career. I have nothing to complain about, hence the 4 stars.
Jul 12, 2010
Alice
rated it:
Houdini was such an interesting character that I could hardly put this book down. I really enjoyed the author's comments because he was formerly a professional magician. One of the gems of this book are the many rare and interesting photographs of Houdini from many stages of his life.
Oct 17, 2011
Stacy
rated it:
I loved Houdini as a kid, and so does this author. I read this with my 5th grade reading group and the kids LOVED it. it is well written and a great biography for kids of all ages. Boys and girls, everyone really enjoyed it.
Jul 19, 2010
Aubrey
rated it:
Great juvenile non-fiction that's enjoyable for adults too. Houdini was a fascinating person to learn about. Apparently he had an ego the size of Jupiter, which is probably why he attempted what he did and became so famous.
Jun 11, 2009
Tania
rated it:
I found it interesting and not too heavy--good summer reading. My Dad would like it. It was interesting to hear about his very public attack on those who claimed they could communicate with the dead.
Feb 22, 2008
babyhippoface
rated it:
Though dead more than 80 years, Harry Houdini remains the premiere icon of magic. Moving from one anecdote to another rapidly, revealing telling details about the egotistical, talented, and fascinating man who rose from a childhood of poverty to unrivaled fame and wealth in the world of magic, this terrific new middle-grade profile of the world’s most renowned escape artist reads more like an extended conversation with a Houdini enthusiast than a typical biography. Playbills and engaging photog
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Nov 03, 2011
Alec
rated it: 
Escape is a book on harry houdini. houdini is a 20th century escape artist. the book is mostly on the ups and downs of houdini's life. from his rise to fame to his downfall from his mother's death. to his marige, to his own death. i really didn't like this book, but anyone with magic in there future, its a good book.
Jan 04, 2011
Susan
rated it:
This book bored me which is not what I expected when dealing with Houdini. I felt that Fleischman's book about Charlie Chaplin was a much better read.
May 11, 2011
Noellebastian
rated it:
I really enjoyed listening to this on tape. It was so interesting to learn more real life details about the real Houdini. I would read this again.
Dec 26, 2010
10-11 Isabella
rated it:
I really loved this book! It is about Houdini, who many people think was the greatest magician ever. The book tells about all his greatest escapes and how he died. Even if you don't like magic, I recommend this book. It was really interesting.
Aug 03, 2009
For book club. Showmanship in both authorial style and subject matter. What's real and what isn't? Not your typical biography.
Jan 10, 2010
Bre
rated it:
This book was extremely boring. It was like one fact after another. I wouldn't want anyone else to read this.
