GENRE 4: Houdini: World's Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King by Kathleen Krull

Bibliography
Krull, Kathleen. 2005. Houdini: World’s Greatest Mystery Man and Escape King. Ill. by Eric Velasquez. New York: Walker & Company. ISBN 0802789544

Plot Summary
Like his acts, Harry Houdini was a mysterious and fascinating man. Houdini was born Erik Weiss in Budapest, Hungary. After discovering a book on the French founder of modern magic, Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdini, Weiss adopted the name of his hero and became Harry Houdini. As a young boy, Houdini and his family were always on the verge of hunger and homelessness. He began charging crowds to watch him perform daring and dangerous tricks that no one else was capable off. Houdini ran away from home when he was twelve in order to seek his fame and fortune. He married and continued to perfect various magic tricks. It wasn’t until he began focusing on daring, heart-stopping tricks that true fame and stardom came his way. He dedicated his life to training his body to withstand the dangerous and life-threatening demands of his elaborate acts. Houdini died at the age of fifty-two, but his famous feats of magic live on.

Critical Analysis
Kathleen Krull creates a picture book biography on one of history’s most successful showmen that is both engaging and, through its set up, a tribute to his life. Krull’s narrative is periodically interrupted by interludes that showcase one of Houdini’s famous tricks. The free-verse poems are narrated by an announcer and give the reader the sense of being an audience member at Houdini’s performance. The narrative itself is easy to follow and is organized logically, beginning with Houdini’s early years and ending with his death. Krull’s dedication to her subject is evident as she focuses on giving readers a good sense of Houdini’s commitment and dedication to his art. The “Behind the Scenes” note provided at the end of the narrative gives the reader some interesting information on how Houdini was able to perform some of his tricks. It is a fascinating read, and one likely to have readers eager to learn more.

The illustrations provided by Eric Velasquez are a complement to the narrative in this book. The oil paintings portray the sense of mystery that surrounds Houdini, yet they also highlight the showman’s sense of entertainment. Much of the artwork uses a black background to emphasize the idea that Houdini’s life is still shrouded in mystery. Other paintings, such as those depicting his performances, are done in bright colors that draw the reader in and to focus on the tricks. Velasquez makes sure to include details in his paintings to give better sense of Houdini’s life, such as posters used to advertise his performances and the books he studied relentlessly. The oil paintings are most effective in the sections that highlight Houdini’s daring tricks.

Though Krull’s biography is engaging, it is merely an introduction to Houdini’s life. Reader’s who wish to learn more about Houdini would be wise to take full advantage of the bibliography provided at the end of the book, as well as delving into more research on this fascinating showman.

Review Excerpt(s)
School Library Journal - “…this title will satisfy young Houdini fans.”

Kirkus Review - “…a tempting set of print and digital resources caps this perceptive and dramatic tribute.”

Connections
- Have students create a visual representation of Houdini’s life by constructing a timeline of Houdini’s life with symbols representing important events.
- Discuss Houdini’s personality traits and how those traits led to his success. Students can then write about what personality traits they feel they possess that will lead them to success.
- Research some of Houdini’s other death defying tricks. Have students discuss what made each trick particularly dangerous and what consequences would be suffered due to a major or minor mistake during the trick.