Houdini and Me

My 10yr old gravitates toward non-fiction and, as a result, it’s been hard to get him engaged in reading chapter books. He knew about Houdini, so I was able to hook him into reading this book. He loved it! The combination of history, adventure, and mystery was a hit. I hope that the author writes more books in this youth historical fiction/fantasy genre!

I really enjoyed the story of a boy who lives in Houdini's house and his adventures. I definitely recommend this book!

Eleven-year-old Harry Mancini is NOT Harry Houdini — the famous escape artist who died in 1926. But Harry DOES live in Houdini's old NYC home, and he definitely knows everything there is to know about Houdini's life. Both of them lived in 278 West 113 Street. Harry and his best friend Zeke are trying to put a penny on the train tracks. And Mancini’s foot got stuck and the train was coming. And he fainted. (Does this sound like "Fried Green Tomatoes", or what?) Harry is in the hospital and he doesn’t remember at all. What is he supposed to do then, when someone starts texting him claiming that they're Houdini, communicating from beyond the grave? Respond, of course! Chapter 10: In 1921 in Kansas City, both the Harrys were switched. And the boy (i.e. Mancini) was going to the “Metamorphosis” (what ever that means), and 3 other people are talking about Harry who is upside-down, wearing a straightjacket. Page 137: “But … I’m afraid of heights.” “I’m not joking … Get me out of here!” Can he do it? [I was afraid of heights AS WELL! I was strong, but when I went to gym class to do the “rope”, I could get half way up, but then I would get nervous and give up. DRATS!] Chapter 11: Now Houdini is switched in NYC in 2021(!), and he is a little hungry. And he sees a hot dog vender. “How much?” he asks the hot dog man.“Four bucks.”“Four bucks?! Are you out of your mind? In my days, a hot dog was a nickel.”Let’s see: a penny, a nickel, four bucks, a zillion, Infinity … What comes next? Dan Gutman: Is the book going to be a Movie? I hope so!!!

I really liked it, loved the shtick of communications via the old flip phone text msgs. It’s a definite page turner I got sucked in, there are little cliffhangers at the end of most chapters and I couldn’t stop reading. Touches on a lot of serious topics, death, hope, single parent but not in any heavy handed preachy way just matter of fact in the text. And most of the text is action packed. Speaking of action, lots of the text is filled with great facts and trivia about Harry Houdini that Gutman covers in a deftly skilled way interweaving it with the plot and action. The first person point of view is very well done and you really feel like you get to know the mind of the 11 year old boy going through some strange and magical times. Feels like a perfect read for the targeted age. Great stuff!

As an assignment, my son read and reviewed this book. Here it is from a 9-year-old's perspective:I recommend this book because it's super mysterious and you never know what’ll happen next. It's humorous and exhilarating. This book has many cliffhangers and if you like books like that, it's perfect for you! I enjoyed this book very much.I’m 9 years old, from Seattle,, in grade 3. I also enjoy Dan Gutman’s My Weird School Series (all of them). Thank you.

Read this with my 8 year old grandson. We both LOVED it. The Houdini museum is now on our "together bucket list", and my grandson is reading everything he can get his hands on about Houdini. I love this author: his My Weird School series was a wonderful and fun introduction to chapter books.... we both laugh! Highly recommend this book and this author.

My son likes mysteries and adventure books, and enjoyed this author's "Weird School Days" series, but this was his first big hard cover chapter book. He found it easy to read, and he's not a very advanced reader- right on target for 3rd grade. He liked the lead character being a young boy. It was a gift to support his "Read a Thon" going on at his elementary school!

Eleven-year-old Harry Mancini is obsessed with Harry Houdini, the great escape artist. Not only has he read every book he can get his hands on about Houdini, but he lives in the same house in New York where Houdini lived. There is a plaque on the outside of the building to prove it.Harry suffers a live threatening accident which leaves him in a coma. When he awakes he discovers an old-fashioned flip phone among the flowers, chocolates and get-well cards sent from his many friends and well-wishers. There is no indication who sent the phone and although Harry desperately wants a cell phone, he is embarrassed by it and hides it in his bureau drawer. That night the phone buzzes to reveal a text message from someone who says he is Harry Houdini. At first he thinks it’s a prank, but as time goes on the messages continue and the caller reveals more and more obscure facts about Houdini’s life. Can it be? Is he really communicating with the dead Harry Houdini? This book provides a fun romp combining magic realism with lots of true facts about New York City, Houdini, and his many feats of magic and escapism. Highly recommended middle grade read.