Author/Editor: Simon Nicholson
Publisher: Sourcebooks
Rating: WARTY!
DISCLOSURE: Unlike the majority of reviews in this blog, I've neither bought this book nor borrowed it from the library. This is a "galley" copy ebook, supplied by Net Galley. I'm not receiving (nor will I expect to receive or accept) remuneration for this review. The chance to read a new book is reward aplenty!
This young-adult novel sounded really appealing until I began reading it, and then the excitement drained away disturbingly quickly. It's clearly modeled heavily on Harry Potter (the name 'Harry" almost literally starts every other chapter), and he has two assistants: Artie, who stands in for Ron Weasley, and Billie, who stands in for Hermione Granger. The problem is that there's no magic here.
This story is very highly fictionalized and bears no relationship whatsoever to the real Harry Houdini. The original was named Erik Weisz, and didn't routinely call himself Harry until he was significantly older than the boy in this story. The closest he came to it was his nickname, 'Ehrie'. He was the son of a Hungarian rabbi, and he migrated from Europe with his family, eventually winding up in New York City. He began his career as a magician, migrating to escape tricks somewhat later.
The depiction at the beginning of this story of him escaping chains in the face of an oncoming train is not only inaccurate, it's an appalling idea to set before young, impressionable children. I sincerely hope no kid reads this book and decides to emulate this dangerous stunt.
The main story features the disappearance of a magician who is also a friend and mentor to "Harry". This is tame and limp stuff, which may or may not thrill the young children for whom this is written, but it was boring to me, so I never finished the novel. It is, however, short, so it has that going for it. I can't recommend this, however.
