Escape!, Sid Fleischman
Escape!, Sid Fleischman
List: $14.95 | Sale: $10.47
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Escape!
The Story of the Great Houdini

Author: Sid Fleischman

Narrator: Sid Fleischman, Taylor Mali

Unabridged: 3 hr 29 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download

Published: 04/30/2010

Synopsis

Harry Houdini, born Ehrich Weiss, never did anything by half measure. Once he decided to become a magician, he became the King of Cards, the Prince of Air, the Genius of Escape, and Professor H. Houdini. And why not? He could walk through walls, defeat any lock, make elephants disappear with the snap of his fingers, and pick up needles with his eyelids! Or could he? Fact or fiction? Legend or liar? We will never know for sure. But here in all its riveting glory is Sid Fleischman's witty and insightful biography of magic's greatest showman, daredevil, and escape artist ever—the Great Houdini!

About Sid Fleischman

Sid Fleischman (1920–2010) wrote more than sixty books for children, adults, and magicians. Among his many awards was the Newbery Medal for his novel The Whipping Boy. The author described his youth as a magician and newspaperman in his autobiography The Abracadabra Kid.

About Taylor Mali

Taylor Mali is the former president of Poetry Slam, Inc., and one of the most well-known poets to have emerged from the poetry slam movement. He is the author of two books of poetry, What Learning Leaves and The Last Time as We Are, and four CDs of spoken word. He has appeared on the first two seasons of HBO’s Def Poetry Jam and won the jury prize for best one-man show at the United States Comedy Arts Festival. A passionate advocate of teachers, he travels the country recruiting the next generation of teachers with his 1,000 Teachers Campaign. Taylor lives in New York.

Reviews

Goodreads review by Jim

Sid Fleischman (1920-2010) was mainly a childrens' book author and this book published in 2006 is for Young Adults. But I learned a lot of things in this book about Ehrich Weiss, the man who became known as Houdini. Fleischman was a professional magician who actually befriended Houdini's widow, Bess......more

Goodreads review by Natalie

My father always spoke of Houdini with reverence- as if he had known the man or witnessed one of his death-defying escapes. The man is a legend, to be sure. One can hardly breathe the word 'magician' without referencing the escape artist. I knew Harry Houdini's basic story- that the name that gave h......more

Goodreads review by Molly

After my daughter read, from a recommendation on everyday reading blog, I wanted to read this non-fiction story on Houdini. It is hard not to know what Houdini was known for… escape artist… I mean we say it with toddlers who get out of cribs or clothes, “oh you little Houdini!” And he was impressive......more

Goodreads review by Brooke

**Short Review** I guess there is pictures in the book but seeing as i listen to the audio i missed out on those :( I will admit i knew almost nothing about Houdini before reading this, i knew about his magic tricks but that's it. So i learned a lot, i really thought he was American, but he's not, tho......more

Quotes

“An accessible, witty, and fascinating ride.” Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred review)

“What do you get when you put two prestidigitators, one a spellbinding escape artist, the other a magician with words, into a black hat and wave the wand? Abracadabra—a feat that’s pure magic.” Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

“Fleischman looks at Houdini’s life through his own eyes, as a fellow magician. Guarding the secrets, yet entertaining readers, he tells the rags-to-rags story of a poor Jewish boy named Ehrich Weiss, who longed to be like his idol, French magician Robert-Houdin…Fleischman’s tone is lively and he develops a relationship with readers by revealing just enough truth behind Houdini’s razzle-dazzle to keep the legend alive…Engaging and fascinating.” School Library Journal (starred review)

“In this breezy biography, Newbery medalist Fleischman, himself a former magician, pays homage to Harry Houdini—the man and the myth…A now aged and raspy-voiced Fleischman reads the preface and last chapter, bookending an engaging narrative.” Publishers Weekly (audio review)

“As a child magician, Fleischman thrilled at spending time with Bess Houdini, wife of the great escape artist. These early experiences gave him admiration, curiosity, and insider information about his subject. As author, Fleischman, like narrator Taylor Mali and Houdini himself, grows more excited when the magician’s career takes off. Though he won’t reveal any magic secrets, Fleischman’s writing fascinates listeners with vivid pictures. Mali adds his own magic, especially a fine sense of timing. Like the showman himself, Mali fascinates with renditions of Houdini’s jail breaks and straight-jacket escapes. He expertly relates the mysteries of a man who still intrigues the world.” AudioFile

Awards

  • Boston Globe-Horn Book Award
  • ALA Best Book for Young Adults
  • Publishers Weekly Best Book
  • School Library Journal Best Book
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