Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini – An Astonishing Biography About the World-Famous Magician for Kids

by Sid Fleischman

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 astonishing Houdini—magician, ghost chaser, daredevil, pioneer aviator, and king of escape artists. No jail cell or straitjacket could hold him! He shucked off handcuffs as easily as gloves.

In this fresh, witty biography of the most famous bamboozler since Merlin, Sid Fleischman, a former professional magician, enriches his warm homage with insider information and unmaskings. Did Houdini really pick the jailhouse lock to let a fellow circus performer escape? Were his secrets really buried with him? Was he a bum magician, as some rivals claimed? How did he manage to be born in two cities, in two countries, on two continents at the same instant?

Here are the stories of how a knockabout kid named Ehrich Weiss, the son of an impoverished rabbi, presto-changoed himself into the legendary Harry Houdini. Here, too, are rare photographs never before seen by the general reader!

Genres: Biography, Nonfiction, History, Middle Grade, Audiobook, Childrens, Biography Memoir

210 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2006

About the author

As a children's book author Sid Fleischman felt a special obligation to his readers. "The books we enjoy as children stay with us forever -- they have a special impact. Paragraph after paragraph and page after page, the author must deliver his or her best work." With almost 60 books to his credit, some of which have been made into motion pictures, Sid Fleischman can be assured that his work will make a special impact.

Sid Fleischman wrote his books at a huge table cluttered with projects: story ideas, library books, research, letters, notes, pens, pencils, and a computer. He lived in an old-fashioned, two-story house full of creaks and character, and enjoys hearing the sound of the nearby Pacific Ocean.

Fleischman passed away after a battle with cancer on March 17, 2010, the day after his ninetieth birthday.

He was the father of Newbery Medal winning writer and poet Paul Fleischman, author of Joyful Noise; they are the only father and son to receive Newbery awards.

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

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, when he was a teenager. Needless to say, Fleischman gained some insights into the man Houdini. This book serves as an homage to his hero, but the author also seeks to debunk myths that surround the iconic escape artist. For me, as intriguing as were Houdini's magic acts, I thought Houdini's career as a"ghost chaser" in the 20s was even more interesting. He became dedicated to exposing the mediums who made a lucrative business of contacting the dead for their customers--and he did it by replicating their performances. Houdini's life was an unbelievable story in itself and Sid Fleischman does a good job here of bringing this amazing man "back to life."

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 him such recognition wasn't his birth name, most of his stage tricks, and his death. There were several things I didn't realize going into this biography- one, that he was such a narcissistic, egotistical man, and two, that he seemed to have massive ADD- swapping his obsessions regularly. I suppose it makes sense that he was full of himself. He outdid any other magician of his era, time and time again. Any challenge, he accepted, and beat. I think I might be a little full of myself too. What surprised me was his shameless self-promotion- which, ironically, is what made him the legend his is today. People know his name because he was constantly putting himself out there- on posters, in movies, and in the newspapers. He made sure he was never far from the limelight; which is why he stays there even today, 90 years after his death.
The pictures in this book are plentiful and fascinating. It even encouraged me to look up some clips on youtube featuring some of his escapes.
I have one gripe here. I did not care for how the author presented the information. It seemed to me as if this method of delivery would have been fantastic if orated- like an old crotchety uncle telling a story about his younger days- than written down in a book. The author wavers. Jumps around. Puts in his own two cents. Goes off on tangents. I understand that he knew Bess Houdini personally, which is why he tells the story the way he does. If nothing else, this author has inspired me to read another book on Houdini- one that isn't so tainted with opinions and doesn't have that old-man-long-story flair.

[Molly Grimmius · Rating 4 out of 5]

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 and did these feats and roused up
Out of nothing and poverty but what I found interesting is that he was that I think the author was making a case that his showman ship and ability to keep headlines and promote himself as the best is what was more amazing than maybe his magical skills. Yes he was a magician but he is the one we remember showing that he knew how to promote. He also had a huge ego, and did not like other magicians in his light and would do not nice things and definitely embellished all his stories.
He did have a great amazing wife and their story was great.

This is written by a well known fiction author because he also was a magician and actually knew Houdini’s wife! But it sometimes was a little hard to follow and he would have asides in there. But the pictures and info were great and overall a great non- fiction for elementary and up!

[Kiki · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the stories and finding out about Hudinni. While I’m not interested in magic, this biography was really detailed and showed both the good and the bad sides of Hudinni. Would recommend😊

[Brooke ♥booklife4life♥ · Rating 4 out of 5]

**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, thou he lied on his passport to say he is, which is kinda ingenious. I didn't know he was married either, and he was a very good husband to her, and she was a great support system. i didn't know he kept a diary either. I might look into checking the book out at the library to just see the pictures :D

[Ezra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I can't remember when I first learned of Houdini, but as a child, I was fascinated by him, and magicians in general - hence, why I first picked up this book at the library, when I was about eleven or twelve years old. At the time, three things from the book stuck with me: first, I was sad at the way in which he'd died, which I felt was unfitting for a magician and showman of his caliber with such a reputation. Second, I was equal parts immensely angry with Houdini's widowed wife for renouncing her Jewish conversion and re-embracing Catholicism, and heartbroken for them both, imagining that the two lovers might now be forever separated in the afterlife (I guess I thought there was a different afterlife for each religion?). And lastly, most strongly, I felt disappointed. Until reading this book, I had childishly believed that Houdini was a true magician, unbound by the rules and realities of our world - it was supremely disappointing at the time to realize that all his amazing feats weren't really magic, but stunts and tricks. Amazing stunts and tricks nonetheless, but not true magic. In fact, I was so disappointed at the time that I immediately lost all interest in Houdini!

Seventeen years later, I found the audiobook while perusing the Libby app and decided to give it a re-read (I've been looking to read more about Jewish circus history in the early 20th century as of late, so this one fit the bill). I'd long since gotten over that gut-punch of disappointment at the realization that Houdini wasn't really magic - as an adult, I could appreciate more the talent that would've had to go into performing those stunts and shows, and was much more interested in the history of it all, too. But with this reread, however, I felt disappointed by the quality of the book itself. It wasn't a bad read, but hard to follow at times.

[Rachelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

“No jail cells, mo chains, no manacles could hold the man… This powerfully built but diminutive young man was the most commanding wizard to burst upon the world scene, Houdini could have sawed Merlin in half” These were the descriptions the first two pages had to offer about “The King Of Handcuffs”, Harry Houdini. The Story of the Great Houdini explains the elaborate and difficult Harry Houdini went through to launch his famous career. The best part about the book was watching Houdini grow into the unquestioned magic legend we know him as today. Upgrading from “The King of Cards” to the "The King of Handcuffs", "Master Magician", "The Man Who Walks Through Walls", to "The Master of Magic" and even "The Man who Fooled Sherlock Holmes": Sir Author Conan Doyle was deceived by his tricks and accused Harry of using hidden powers. In his journey, there were many doubters and imitators, ready to sell the deepest of his secrets for a mere 50 cents; they were catching onto his tricks faster than Harry could conjure the next one up or enjoy his few moments of fame. Nevertheless, Harry kept going and because of this, he performed world-altering magic tricks and stunts that continue to baffle the world of magicians and people today on how he was able to create these in his time. Making a 10,000-pound elephant disappear as it it were to go up his sleeve was one of the ground-breaking tricks he has performed, leaving the world in awe of his abilities and
cunningness. Audiences and the world alike labeled and embraced the supernatural as the only possible explanation for the unbelievable events taking place right before their eyes. He received an immense amount of hate and distrust from critics and was constantly in jeopardy of being dethroned and figured out. Most of the book was a treacherous series of obstacles and trials Houdini had to go through to simply remain relevant in the industry and was a great test of his willpower to make it big. Great success makes great demands. Houdini discovered that he had to run as fast as he could to stay standing “And audiences were as troublesome as they are picky eaters.” -Page 115 Through all this, I was reminded that Houdini was still just a human too, a human who had the strength and the gall to keep fighting and proving the world wrong as he built himself up from poverty into what the world recognizes today as the greatest magical talents in history. Usually, because informational books don’t have characters or imaginary plots, it’s hard to read one fully without getting bored or finding it enjoyable. Reading about Houdini's transformation into the most recognized and successful magician in such a way was a journey. This was one of the first informational books that simply informed me in someone's life that kept me completely interested and entertained the entire time.

[Sarah Coller · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this easy to follow biography did not esteem Houdini in my eyes in the least, the author, Sid Fleischman, is superb, bumping up the rating from three stars to four. I easily moved through this book in just a few hours today, despite many distractions and interruptions. The only thing that bugged me about the author was his repeated use of the word, fakir. Is he misspelling "faker"? Is he repeatedly comparing the Jewish American Houdini or his rivals to Muslim or Hindu beggars? It's a weird choice of a word---especially when used over and over.

I think it's good to read biographies of legendary people because it helps us see them in an ordinary light. Houdini sure had his share of undesirable character traits. If Fleischman's research is to be believed, he was a very dishonest person---to the point of embellishing even his own journal to boost his ego! Makes me curious about his relationship with his wife---was she on to him and just loyal or was she ignorant and often mercilessly duped by him?

I resisted the urge to look up most of his tricks as I may someday find myself at a similar show and don't want to be let down knowing all the secrets. However, I just had to look up the disappearing elephant trick and found it to be simple but genius! Other than Houdini's general lack of integrity, I was also seriously disgusted by the story of the sea monster trick. It was hideous physically as well as ethically. Houdini really sounds like a creep.

[Wonbo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini. by Sid Fleischman, Genre: Biography, nonfiction, Pg.206

This book about Houdini's life. Harry Houdini, was surprisingly a name he created after the Great French magician Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin. [Houdini means like Houdin] To my surprise, Houdini was not born in America, but in Hungary.

Other parts that I liked in this book was the part where Houdini was lecturing to his wife about not to believe in superstitions and later, Bess - the wide, said "Houdini was so into Friday the 13th, that he would not even go outside" and the author wrote down. "Take that, Harry". This comment just made me burst into laughter.

The sad part of the book was his death. Harry, who was half dozing off after he had stayed several days up to nurse his sick wife, was weakened himself, and during a lecture, where he boasted about being in shape and able to take a blow in the stomach, was actually hit four times in the abdomen, which gave fatal damage to his appendix. It was sad watching his stubbornness not going to hospital because he was the great Houdini, which made him sick and killed him.

[JoLee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Featured in "Historical Nonfiction for Young Readers" on Intellectual Recreation.

Who isn't fascinated by Harry Houdini? He's become an American legend. In this delightful biography for young readers, Sid Fleischman takes us through the life of the great magician, from its humble beginnings to its sudden end.

Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini was one of the great children's author Sid Fleischman's last books, and I loved the personal touches he included in his biography of Harry Houdini. Fleischman was fascinated by magic and Houdini as a child, and as a young magician, he knew Houdini's wife Bess.

In Escape! the reader follows the Houdinis on their journey to success. Born Ehrich Weiss, the son of a rabbi, Houdini transformed himself into the showman that has become a household name.

[Christophe Ang · Rating 3 out of 5]

The biography was an interesting take from an aspiring magician/author. As per the magician's code, the author did not reveal any of Houdini's magic tricks, but rather (the whole purpose of the book itself), Houdini's life. It starts from the day Houdini came to Appleton, Wisconsin to his journey to Europe and back to America. From when he was dirt poor to a high-class magician.

I thought the biography was interesting in that I learned many new things about Houdini I had never known. People know the name, much like I did, and what he was great for, but not many know the full extent of what his life was really like, they didn't get to know the 'real' Houdini. From this biography I learned a lot about Houdini, such as that Harry Houdini was just his stage name and that his given name was Ehrich Weiss.

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

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.

[Liv · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty basic biography. It felt more so like reading a Wikipedia summary or a quick article on him, instead of a book. Here's his whirlwind background, here are all of his tricks and poof! Here's the demise.

[Cassandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting. The style is conversational not at all like the biographies I remember reading in elementary school. You really get a sense that the author has a lot of respect for the king of handcuffs.

[Chrissy · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this short biography of Houdini's life. I didn't know much about him before I read it, and I know there are much more comprehensive biographies, but I found it informative and enjoyable. 
It is definitely written for the young adult audience, but I appreciated it anyway!

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

We read this for our family book club over the summer. Super interesting, but I actually found the writing a little hard to follow at times.

[Esther Filbrun · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Although I’ve been fascinated by magic tricks for years, somehow I never managed to read a biography about Houdini until one of my brothers borrowed the audiobook for this book. I was between books at the time, and on a whim, decided to listen to it—and immediately got engrossed in the story. This is a well-written biography!

As I listened, I realized I hardly knew anything about Houdini. Even though he is a renowned magician, aside from a few of the more famous stunts he pulled off, I really had no idea who he was as a man or what came before his famous status. This book filled that in for me—pulling from what his family has said, the available documents, and other historical sources that all give clues into who this larger-than-life master of magic really was underneath.

Although this book tells about the stunts he pulls, that wasn’t the most interesting part of the story for me. I was intrigued by the story of how he became a magician—especially the years of failure he faced before finally making a breakthrough and becoming famous. I also found this peek into the socio-political climate during his lifetime fascinating; things like how people were especially drawn to his brand of magic before movies became a thing, or the way World War I pushed people toward diving into spiritualism as they tried to find closure after the loss of loved ones (and Houdini’s concerted effort to expose the charlatans he found who were faking hearing from the dead).

This is a short, fast read, but I came away from it appreciative of the effort and dedication Fleischman showed in bringing the story of one of the world’s greatest magicians to life. He claimed in the introduction that he’s best as a fiction author; be as that may, I think he did an excellent job in nonfiction as well. If you’re interested in learning more about Houdini, or enjoy magic tricks, or just like a good biography, I’d recommend you check this book out. It’s well worth your time to read it (and the middle graders in your life will likely enjoy it, as well).

[Nathan Whitmore · Rating 2 out of 5]

If you are interested in many haphazardly arranged biographical notes about Houdini’s life — and bad writing — then read this book. Sid Fleischman, a well-regarded children’s author, is out of his element as the biographer of his childhood hero.

His frequent and awkward employment of simile nearly caused me to quit reading only four chapters in. Imagine that “as voluptuous as a Valkyrie on a diet” was your best illustrative comparison, then imagine that similar unwieldy similes were found in nearly every paragraph. To employ two of Fleischman’s other overused techniques, I’d say his writing was as grating as nails on a chalkboard. (Cliche. That one was cliche. And a little hyperbole. It was bad, but maybe not that bad.)

His love for his subject shines through, however, and that kept me reading. 2.5 stars.

[Maggie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this one by accident on Libby, but I know I've had students who have read it and liked it. I liked it, too! Magic has always fascinated me because I truly have no idea how even the simplest of tricks is done, and I didn't know anything about the man who christened himself Harry Houdini, so I enjoyed this one on two levels.

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Okay, that was good. And for nonfiction, that was REALLY good. I wish I could have read it with all the pictures, but still fab.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

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 pictures. However, the author's extreme enthusiasm for Houdini becomes contagious. The author starts by giving Houdini's background. Most people know Houdini for his eccentric tricks but few think of him as being a devoted husband who came from a poor, humble family. As the author points out, everything about Houdini was a mystery. Houdini wouldn't even reveal his real birth place! Even the great illusionist's death seems a mystery. You would think that he would have died while doing some amazing, death-defying trick. However, he actually died from a ruptured appendix. Of course, the best part of the text is the description of Houdini's illusions. Whether you believe in magic or not, it is hard to imagine how anyone could manage to unravel themselves from thick ropes while under water or how they could squirm out of a straitjacket while being suspended upside down.
I would definitely include this text in my classroom as a way to get kids excited about biographies. Biographies are often boring but this one has a unique feel to it and will keep students on the edge of their seats. If you like this book, I would recommend The Original Houdini Scrapbook by Walter B. Gibson. It has a collection of Houdini's letters and pictures.

[Carsen · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Escape! The Story of the Great Houdini" by Sid Fleischman tells the story of Harry Houdini, the greatest escape artist ever known. He was born in Budapest, Hungary before his family traveled to Appleton, Wisconsin in search of more wealth. Later, inspired by the magician Jean Eugene
Robert-Houdin, he ran away from home to ease his family's financial strain and begin his career in magic. During his reign as the "King" of just about everything he could think of, Houdini married his wife Bess and the two traveled through the US and Europe together. Houdini pulled off stunts like the milk can escape and metamorphosis, as well as walking through solid walls and getting out of just about any lock or jail cell holding him.

I thought this biography was a particularly interesting one, partly because of the content and amazing stunts as well as it's writing style. Being written by a former fiction author, it seemed to have that touch of creativity when it came to recounting Houdini's life. His life as well was just very interesting and often raised the question of "how?" Overall, I enjoyed reading about Harry Houdini and his stunts, and would recommend the book to anyone who is interested in the topic of magic.

[Kai · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel tells the story of the author/magician, the Great Houdini. It starts with his back story, and how he came to great fame and getting into the magician business. Houdini is still recognized as one of historys greatest magicians. This man was one who could walk through brick walls and, with a snap of his fingers, vanish elephants.He was a magician, ghost chaser, daredevil, pioneer aviator, and king of escape artists. No jail cell or straitjacket could hold him! He shucked off handcuffs as easily as gloves. It was a good read, long enough to keep my attention but not too long to keep me bored. The pictures within the book helped give a better description of his tricks and moves.

[Bonnie McEwan · Rating 5 out of 5]

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 if he had lived another 40-50 years.

[Abdulla Almana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Harry Houdini's grand illusions and daring, spectacular escape acts made him one of the most famous magicians of all time. Houdini wanted to be the most spectacular escaper ever in history and he was successful, but his wealth of money kept him being pushed down. So one day he started practicing his skills. Then he got much better by practicing everyday and he was is now known as the best escaper ever.

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty good........... kind boring after a hwile

[Ariell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a lover of Houdini, especially his spiritualist-busting. This is a good and lively primer.

[Nick Boudreau · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was good but I would rather read it on my own time. It explains Houdini's life very well.

[Brandon Egress · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Escape!: The Story of the Great Houdini" is a book that kept me intrigued all the way from the beginning to end. For me, I didn't find myself getting lost at anytime. The book, overall, was a very pleasing and informing novel that I could not get enough of. I would recommend this book to anyone who's interested in the history of magic, the life of Houdini, or anyone looking for quick and simple read. I would also recommend this book to younger children as well as people who love the history of magic because of how it explains how magic was discovered and gives insight to the life of Houdini. Throughout the story, plenty of literary terms were used; but only a few really stuck out to me. The first being his use of metaphors. In one sentence he writes "life in a cement mixer" (Fleischman 29). We obviously know that he is trying to say that his life was all messed up, but the author takes it a step further to keep the reader interested. The metaphors really help the diction more interesting and complicated for the reader. The second literary device I found was imagery. The author says, "Only then would he muss himself up and pop through the ghost house curtains and face the audience" (Fleischman 96). He really makes it as if you are sitting front row in the 1920's getting prepared to watch the greatest magician ever do his work before your very eyes. He continues to do this throughout the book and keeps the reader in tact til the very end. My 3rd and final literary device that I found was very important was euphemism. He includes some humor when he says, "As a young man, Houdini fudged his height on passport documents, stating that he was several inches taller than he actually was. He also tried to look taller in photos by standing on his tip-toes" (Fleischman 25). Adding a little bit of humor to any type of story can spice up the plot. Adding small amounts like this keeps the novel rolling and keeps the reader intrigued, no matter how early the euphemism is thrown in. Everything from the diction to syntax in this book makes it an instant classic and a timeless read for people looking for a fun and informative non fiction tale about the history of Houdini's magic.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Escape! The Story of The Great Houdini by Sid Fleischman is a biography regarding the birth of Magic and its creator The Great Houdini! I found this book simply asking around because I generally don’t read non-fiction books. This one looked interesting so I gave it a go for the next six weeks.
Raised in Budapest, Houdini picked up a fetish for magic quite fast. His real name was Ehrich Weiss which easily translated to Henry Houdini with some touch of his own. Enrich was a big fan of Jean-Eugene Robert-Houdin from France and took on his same path of magic. Houdini quickly took on many magic acts including his most famous, the handcuffs, which later earned him the nickname “King Of Handcuffs.” He was an extremely odd but creative man, he once spent $4,000 on PJ’s with his initials for his new acts in New York. Houdini’s career carried him around the world and gave him a tremendous amount of fame. Despite having a small stature standing at 5 foot 6 inches, he was a big figure.
This book finishes off by stating the legacy left behind Houdini and honestly it couldn’t have been better. He is recognized along the Hollywood Walk of Fame as the great magician he was. It goes into little detail about his death given there are different theories. My favorite quote of the book is “The greatest escape I ever made was when I left Appleton,Wisconsin,” because it proves to everyone that you achieve your dreams if you get out there.
Personally I was surprised how well this book hooked me. I am not a non-fiction reader but would highly recommend this book to everyone. Those who are into magic will definitely enjoy this book, but also those who just want a different read.