The Magician's Fire

Young Houdini #1

by Simon Nicholson

Can young Harry Houdini use his dazzling trickery to find a vanished magician? Young Harry Houdini spends his days chaining himself to train tracks and teetering on wires high above the city with his two best friends, Arthur and Billie. But when Harry's friend and magical mentor, Herbie, disappears, the three friends band together, determined to rescue the beloved magician. With nothing more than a mysterious puff of purple smoke, an ominous threat, and a menacing Bulgarian for evidence, Harry, Arthur, and Billie embark on a dangerously thrilling investigation that pushes their skill, and friendship, to the limits. But can Harry find Herbie before it's too late?

Genres: Mystery, Middle Grade, Adventure, Historical Fiction, Historical, Childrens, Fiction

240 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2014

Reviews

[Adriana · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Magician's Fire was a very fast paced read. I enjoyed imagining Houdini as a kid with a group of friends who loved magic too. There was a very obvious lesson that Harry learned by the end of the book that was being repeated very often throughout the book. I liked what his friends contributed to the group and the story. This could have been a tad less obvious but I still enjoyed this for what it was. It makes me want to know more about Houdini.

[Sierra · Rating 4 out of 5]

While not quite historically accurate, and a tad dramatic, this was a fun story about the youth of Harry Houdini. It was fast-paced and interesting.

[Cristy (Quinnbook) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I saw this book in my local library and I just had to immediately read it. I’ve always been fascinated by Houdini’s work and life and this book although fictional was a breath of fresh air. It had everything I love in a middle grade book, adventure, friendship, secret societies and magic.

We immediately meet up with Harry as he’s performing a death defying trick along side his two best friends Billie and Arthur. The trio have such an incredible relationship even though they are from different walks of life. Harry has a mentor named Herbie, who teaches him magic tricks and looks after him. While heading to see him perform at the local theatre, Herbie mysteriously disappears, and it’s up to the kids to try and piece together his whereabouts. They find clues and a mysterious individual who will stop at nothing to cover up his tracks. I can’t wait to continue with the series because I was swept away by the imagination of the author and how he used one of the greatest magician as inspiration.

[Kelly Clingman · Rating 3 out of 5]

What a fun and fast paced book. The book follows a young Harry who is a novice magician. Harry, his female orphan friend, Billie, and his wealthy friend, Arthur, learn what it takes to be a team by solving a mystery of their mentor, magician Herbie Lemster. It seems perfectly suited that a young Harry Houdini solve mysteries. After all, magicians are very observant as they look for the how they did it...seems natural they would also look for The Who done it. Well-written, this first book of the series is a fun mystery. Reminds me of Nancy Drew books, as Nancy solves mysteries with her two good friends...just as Harry solves mysteries with his two good friends.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nicholson keeps up fast pace. Flee, chased,? trapped. 1886 NY. Shoeshiner Harry invents tricks with Art, girl Billie for crowds, cash. Trio seek old magician Herb, vanished in purple smoke-fire. Preview bk#2 takes them to her home town New Orleans.

[Jessa Franco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I don't typically enjoy middle grade novels. There isn't usually enough going on to immerse myself. But this one actually pulled me in. I just wish it wasn't such an obvious serious opener.

[Andréa]

Note: I received a digital review copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.

[Michelle Widjaja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Harry and his 2 friends Billie and Arthur wander around New York, doing part time jobs to earn a living. Till one day after seeing their famous friend Herbie Lemster perform his magic show they decide to go meet him in the back of the theatre. But when they get there, they hear someone threatening Herbie and then POOF! Herbie disappears. Knowing that Herbie didn't disappear mysteriously they decide to go investigate and save him.

This book teaches you about friendship and being there for your friends. Harry, Billie and Arthur have been through a lot together to save Herbie Lemster from the man behind it all. They nearly killed themselves a few times but that didn't stop them from saving Herbie. And that just shows great friendships.

I think my favourite part of the book is when harry meets the man behind it all and he traps harry in a water torture cell and harry was the only one who could save himself. At the end he does come out of the cell.

I would totally recommend this book to ages 11 to 14.
Amazing Book!

[Pop Bop · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way, Way More Than You Might Ever Expect

If you were to look at the blurbs for this book you could quite understandably suspect that all you would get is a kid adventure where one of the kids is supposed to be young Harry Houdini. Maybe some biographical facts slipped in; maybe an O.K. mystery; maybe some local color from 1886 Manhattan. Little more. Well, shame on you, (actually me, since that was my attitude), since it turns out that this book spins a colorful yarn that features ripping action and three terrifically engaging lead characters.

Our heroes are young Harry, who will ultimately become "The" Harry Houdini. He is a shoeshine boy with ambition, and that ambition is to become a great illusionist. Heroine Billie is an orphan escaped from New Orleans - street wise and devil-may-care. Our last player is Artie, the lonely and ignored son of a wealthy man, whose smarts, resourcefulness and reliability round out this solid, loyal and dependable gang of three. They are a remarkably appealing team and each plays a major role in all of the action and adventure.

The plot is deceptively straightforward. They all adore their old friend Herbie, the accomplished house magician at a creaky old theater. When Herbie disappears after a performance, (kidnapped?, murdered?), the three pals spring into action to solve the mystery of his disappearance.

Solving the mystery involves tracking down leads in old New York, as well as a few illusions pulled off by the team, and results in some colorful adventures. The action never falters and the tale leads up to a socko finish that ties everything up very neatly.

While this book seems aimed at a middle grade crowd, and properly so, it is written to a higher standard. The prose is direct and efficient, but dialogue is realistic, descriptions are engaging and evocative, plotting is careful, and characters grow and develop much much more than is usual for the middle grade action/mysteries that I've read. There are some touching moments shared among the friends, who each have their own burdens to bear, but the author never reaches for the angsty or maudlin. This is mostly upbeat and gungho stuff.

VERY MILD SPOILER. The ending is odd, (don't misunderstand - the mystery is fully solved), because the book ends with a suggestion that the kids will be invited by an unknown group to form some sort of 19th century youth Impossible Mission Team. That sort of comes out of left field, but if that represents the launch of a series, I'm all for it.

So, a truly happy surprise and a very satisfying read, with great characters and a restrained but authoritative touch on the author's part. A nice find.

Please note that I received a free advance ecopy of this book in exchange for a candid review. Apart from that I have no connection at all to either the author or the publisher of this book.

[Dawn Teresa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Originally posted on my blog, ReadLove .

Faster than they can say Abracadabra, Simon Nicholson has readers riveted and holding their breath during his opening sequence where young Harry Houdini chains himself to the train tracks in preparation for his next grand escape. At Harry’s side are his friends Arthur, the neglected son of a banker, and Billie, an orphaned, street-wise girl. In addition to immediately grabbing your attention, Nicholson wastes no time in demonstrating the special bond shared by this rag-tag group of young friends. Just after Harry and his assistants collect the coins showered on him for his dangerous stunt, we find Harry and Billie pooling their resources for a special birthday cake surprise for Arthur. It’s a warm, touching scene that endears you to these kids as they sacrifice to lavishly celebrate their friend.

The moment quietly but clearly sets a tone that will be important as the book progresses. Because, you see, once Harry’s magician friend and mentor goes missing, Harry’s wildly determined to find him. So much so that in his blind desperation, he strikes out alone, leaving his friends feeling jilted. Luckily, along the way, Billie and Arthur prove their mettle and Harry comes to the realization that nothing is more magical than good friends.

Verdict: 4 of 5 Hearts. Magical Mystery in Which Young Houdini Finds True Friendship is No Illusion.
Strong characterization and plotting make this adventurous mystery not only thrilling, but funny and full of heart. Nicholson has crafted a mesmerizing speculative boyhood history for the daring escape artist, Houdini. Readers who enjoy imaginative, fantasy-twinged fiction surrounding the exploits of close-knit friends will find plenty in The Magician’s Fire that enchants.

*Disclosure of Material Connection: I would like to thank Sourcebooks Jabberwocky and NetGalley for providing me a copy of this title. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

My Review:
I've had this book on my shelf for some time and I am a big fan of magicians and Houdini. I was looking forward to read this book to not only introduce to my kids but to find a fun series for myself to read. This was a cute book but I found it to be a bit slow and some of the story seemed rather choppy to me. I found it easy to follow along but Harry got on my nerves a lot more than I would have wanted. He was a bit spontaneous and would dart off without telling his friends where he was going. Even when they had a great plan that would work perfectly he would find some way to ruin it but something about this story just seemed not put together. Maybe I was expecting a lot more magic or escapes. The beginning was very exciting but as I got to the middle of the book it kind of just fell off and it was a lot of running around. I did enjoy the idea of the story and the twists were cool but like I said something seemed missing.

I have every intention of reading the next book in this series, the end was a To Be Continued so I can’t wait to see what happens to Harry and his friends, they look like they are about to go on a wild ride. This book would be great for kids and adults might enjoy it. I did like this book I think it just felt like it was missing something that I am hoping will be in book #2 :)

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Thank you so much for stopping by to check out my review

Hope you have a great day and Happy Reading!

This review was originally posted on Because reading is better than real life

[Tess · Rating 3 out of 5]

I got this book through Goodreads first reads.
Harry, Billie and Arthur run magic tricks. We first meet Harry as he’s trying to escape from being chained up before the train arrives. When Herbie, their magician friend, disappears after a show the three friends decide to save him and figure out what exactly happened and who took him.
Harry is a bit obnoxious; in fact I hated him about midway through the book. He really doesn’t listen to Billie and Arthur. If anything although I like Harry by the end, I’m not convinced that he’s really changed or learned to listen to his friends, he often does things and then has to explain himself afterword, but although he feels bad that he acted without listening or stopping to explain he does the same thing again. The friendship was cute, sorry that sounds like I’m making that sound like a bad thing, it’s not but you know how it is friendships are always kind of cute with that class gap.
I liked the book it was a pleasant enough read, even if I don’t remember why I wanted to read it. The ending surprised me; I did not expect the mystery to be explained or resolved in that way. I had also completely forgotten about Arthur’s problem. It was a good book, and so action packed, some times I felt like I should have been running to keep up with those kids.
I have one issue, and that is that it centres around a young Houdini, I can't help but think that the book would have been just as good if it had been about some random child instead of being so far from the truth about Houdini that it is best to just forget who he is. I understand the point but I can't help but think that a fictional account of the childhood a young Houdini should have a stronger link to his actual childhood.

[Sharon Tyler · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magician's Fire is the first book in the Young Houdini series by Simon Nicholson. Manhattan was a tough place for kids in 1886, especially when you are alone or feel that you are. Young Houdini spends his days practicing magic tricks with his two best friends, Arthur and Billie. At least when he is not making enough money to pay for his room and to eat. But when Harry's magical mentor, Herbie, disappears after a performance at the theater, the three friends band together, determined to rescue the beloved magician. With nothing more than a mysterious puff of purple smoke, an ominous threat, and a menacing Bulgarian for evidence, Harry, Arthur, and Billie embark on a dangerously thrilling investigation that pushes their skill, and friendship, to the limits. Can Harry find Herbie and learn what it means to be a true friend before it's too late?


The Magician’s Fire is an action packed mystery for the middle grade set. Harry is a shoeshine boy with a keen eye for magic and fine details. Billie works in a glue factory, and is very street smart and practical. Arthur has a father that pretty much ignores him, and has emerged himself in books, making him very smart and a great researcher. Together they make a fabulous team for creating and pulling of new magic stunts and for solving mysteries. However, astray search for Herbie and face the dangers of that mystery, they also face issues of trust and friendship. The combination makes for a great read, full of action and puzzling out who the culprit is and how the friends will come together to save the day.

I would highly recommend The Magician’s Fire to all middle grade readers because there is a little something for everyone. It is historical fiction, mystery, action adventure, coming of age and magical read.

[Sally Balboa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this novel from a Goodreads giveaway. This was an okay novel for me, considering it's for people way below my age group. Now that I've read it however I know I can give it to my little cousins and they'll like it. Had I been younger when I read then I probably would have liked it more.

The Magicians Fire (Young Houdini) starts off with a disappearance by a famous magician. Herbie Lemster disappears in a puff of purple smoke, and can not be found. It takes the city by storm. But more importantly it takes young Harry and his friends by storm. They set out to investigate their main suspect in the case, using the only means they have. Magicians acts and friendship.

This novel is indeed based on the pre-life of the famous magician Harry Houdini. It's a nice kids novel too, nothing too gruesome and definitely kid friendly. The biggest thing to contend with a near death experience and selective breaking of the law. But it is all in the name of friendship, and justice.

The book was a very quick read for me, easily read in a day.

I liked the magic acts in the book. it was interesting to see the mechanics of tricks, especially the last trick they perform in the book seeing as how it is based on their own experience and they had to quick think their way out of it. But the other ones were interesting too, like dangling from chains in front of trains.

For a child the writing will be okay but for someone older the writing can be a bit dull in places, but once again this is not for my age group.

[Amanda Northrup · Rating 4 out of 5]

Premise: Harry Houdini and his two best friends are starting to command a crowd for their escape acts. All's well until Harry's elderly mentor, Herbie, disappears in a cloud of purple smoke. Certain that Herbie is in danger, Harry is determined to find and rescue him even if it means risking his own life.

I wasn't expecting much out of this book. While the cover is exciting, there's something about it that seems kind of predictable. But I was still looking forward to reading it because year after year, my 5th graders love Harry Houdini.

Shortly into The Magician's Fire I was proven wrong. This book is fun, fast-paced, and well-written. Populated with magic tricks, illusions, sneaky villains, and death defying escapes, it was a really fun read.

The level of character development (quite a bit for 3 primary and 2 secondary characters) and plot complexity (one straightforward tale with some twists) makes it a great selection for the middle grades. The use of the iconic figure of Harry Houdini will also make it a grabber for less-confident readers.

Historical Fiction can be challenging for middle graders, but historic New York City was painted in clear details that made for a great backdrop.

My only complaint is that I kept wondering how much of young Harry's story was based on fact. An author's note to this effect would have been a great addition.

[Shilpa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Young Harry Houdini spends his days chaining himself to train tracks and teetering on wires high above the city with his two best friends, Arthur and Billie. But when Harry's friend and magical mentor, Herbie, disappears, the three friends band together, determined to rescue the beloved magician.

With nothing more than a mysterious puff of purple smoke, an ominous threat, and a menacing Bulgarian for evidence, Harry, Arthur, and Billie embark on a dangerously thrilling investigation that pushes their skill, and friendship, to the limits. But can Harry find Herbie before it's too late?

Young Houdini The Magician’s Fire is the first book in the Young Houdini series by Simon Nicholson. It’s an action packed mystery for middle graders…mysterious till the very end. Will the friends be able to solve the mystery and save the day?

I just read another book (Somebody In The Bus Is Going To Be Famous) and it was inevitable I compared the writing style. I found this one much more targeted to the age group (perhaps it would appeal even a bit of a younger demographic).

The book will appeal to the fans of Harry Potter. And the series is bound to be a favourite amongst the younger readers.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic book for kids! My boys (ages 11 and 9) LOVED it and begged me to read chapter after chapter aloud. It's historical fiction about the life of Harry Houdini as a boy and includes such fascinating tidbits as how he got his name and how he came to focus on disappearing/escape acts, as well as HOW he pulled off some of his escapes, foreshadowing some of the dangerous stunts we all associate with Houdini's name. Harry's two friends are charming: a brainy rich boy whose father works too much to be bothered by him, and a spunky girl who works in a glue factory, and are significant characters--more than just icing on the cake. The plot was well structured, the characters well developed, and I loved that while the kids made some mistakes and broke some rules, they were good hearted, loyal friends who wanted to help others and risked a lot to do so. The dangers are really dangerous, but not gritty--still appropriate for children. Exciting, creative, funny, tender, and morally sound. It's been a while since I read a recently published book for kids I liked this much. Highly recommend for elementary age kids, especially boys!

[Yomna]

Young Harry Houdini spends his days chaining himself to train tracks and teetering on wires high above the city with his two best friends, Arthur and Billie. But when Harry's friend and magical mentor, Herbie, disappears, the three friends band together, determined to rescue the beloved magician.

With nothing more than a mysterious puff of purple smoke, an ominous threat, and a menacing Bulgarian for evidence, Harry, Arthur, and Billie embark on a dangerously thrilling investigation and they need to find Herbie before it's too late


New York City, 1886. Harry Houdini is just a penniless street urchin dabbling with a few escape tricks. But when a well-known magician goes missing in mysterious circumstances, Harry and his friends, Arthur and Billie, are sucked into a deadly adventure.

Now Harry must put all his extraordinary skills into action - not just to solve the mystery - but to stay alive. Because when he falls into the clutches of some of Manhattan's most dangerous villains, his spectacular escapes won't be for show - they'll be a matter of life and death!

[Thager · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young Harry Houdini roams the streets of 1886 Manhattan with his best friends, street urchin Billie and neglected rich kid Arthur practicing magic tricks and working as a shoe shine boy for pennies. When their magician mentor Herbie mysteriously disappears, the kids race to try to find him. Sort of a cross between young Houdini and young Sherlock Holmes.

A fun romp through the gritty streets of late 19th century NY. If you know anything about Houdini's illusions, you will be amused to see the author's ideas as to how Houdini started performing some of his signature illusions.

The mystery is pretty straight- forward and the dialogue between the kids direct. I was surprised by the suggested level of School Library Journal's review. 6-9 grade level seems a little high. I can see my 4th-5th graders enjoying this. Many of them love to read the Houdini biographies we have.

The " to be continued " ending makes it clear it will be a series

[Ren nerdychampagne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an eARC review.

I. Need. The. Freaking. Second. Book.

Okay, magic ain't exactly my thing but this one is. just. Goodness.

I love the friendship and the unraveling of the tricks because while magic isn't my thing, mystery is. I lovelovelove that part.

And I'm complaining how Harry got too full of himself. Seriously.

The story's written in third person POV and in quite a bit of Old English style, which sort of confused me considering this was just published this year. But nonetheless, it's well-written.

Overall, I think this'll be better if they were a bit older than eleven because seriously? They're just eleven?

I liked it a lot and Harry's probably going to be an addition to my book boyfriends if and only if he was older.

Gogogogogo read this now.

[İdris Alp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kitabı bitireli 3 gün oluyor ama anca yorum giriyorum. @genctimas yayınlarından olduğu için 12-13 yaş aralığına daha uygun bir kitaptı .Ben beğenmedim mi derseniz eğer beğendim ama dediğim gibi çocuk kitabı olduğu için arkadaş olmanın üzerinde o kadar çok durdu ki bu beni biraz rahatsız etti .Yani daha çok rahatsız etmesinin sebebi bu dostluk ilişkilerinin önemini alttan vermek yerine göstere göstere söylemesi .Ama tekrar diyorum ki eğer 12 yaşımda bu kitabı okuyor olsam kesinlikle bayılırdım .Ve çok kötü yerde bitti devamını aşırı merak ediyorum ama 3. Kitap çıkmadan da devam etmek istemiyorum .Eğer kafanızı dinlendirmek isterseniz kesinlikle öneririm. Ve kapağı çok güzel değil mi? .Puan: 4,1
#younghoudini #simonnicholson #genctimas #timasyayinlari

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good mystery story with a lot of historical fiction thrown in. Harry has always wanted to be a magician and he has learned from the best. When he and his friends, Arthur and Billie, realize that Herbie has disappeared, they set out to find him. Harry learns that he doesn’t have to do everything alone and his two friends also grow a bit as the mystery starts to unravel. At the end, we learn that Harry is indeed Harry Houdini and we learn a bit about life in the 1880s in NYC.
A fast paced mystery that has a lot of action and three great characters the reader enjoys rooting for.
DRC from Edelweiss

[Kim McGee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Young Harry with his two friends, Arthur who is wealthy but ignored by his father and Billie an adventurous tightrope walker who hates her various factory jobs, team up to solve the mystery of a missing magician. This adrenaline rush adventure is hopefully a fictional account of the childhood of Harry Houdini with as many near misses as a kid as he had as an adult. Even though it does go into a few of his famous lock picking nail biters, much of this adventure involves the importance of friendship. A secret magic society, a missing magician and mysterious purple smoke is all the three need to solve this puzzle and cement this new series.

[Maggie Mattmiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

*I have to say that I won this in a Goodreads advanced reader giveaway!*

This was an exciting book, full of action! Something I would not have picked up had I not won it from Goodreads, but I'm SO glad I did! I have it in my classroom and am recommending it (and lending it!) to my students! The fast pace and adventure/mystery will surely keep them engaged. I love that there is also a lesson about not being selfish/working together. The strong friendship is something my students will be able to relate to, as will the idea of being an outsider.

I really enjoyed this one, and can't wait for the next! Thanks to the author and Goodreads!

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

ACTION!

I mean this book starts right out at 60 mph and accelerates from there!

And that’s not all; Young Harry Houdini – the makings of the world’s greatest magician – learns stuff too – like – what friends are for – and three heads always beat one head figuring out the best stuff to do.

But be ready for non-stop action – yup! Turn off that phone, hit the john, grab the snacks and jump into this!

This is one of the most action packed books I’ve read in a dog’s age – and that is one long time!

[Tiff · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magician's Fire is a delightful read. Harry, an aspiring magician, and his friends Billie and Artie team up to unravel the mysterious disappearance of their beloved friend and mentor Herbie. This is the first of series with more to follow. In this story, Harry learns to appreciate true friendship as well as the merits of working together as a team. This story is sure to keep young fifth to sixth grade readers up at night.

[Kkop12 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this a loud to my 9 year old. It was ok for me, but she really seemed to like it. I found some of it to be extremely slow (at one point it mentioned that an event had happened the day before and I was surprised because it seemed like it was at least a week before). But there were a few surprises and it was interesting to discuss the idea that children sometimes did not live with their parents, but rather made their own way (sometimes seperated by a continent) back in the early 1900's.

[Brianne Helaudais · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book received for free from GoodReads First Reads

I really liked this story. The characters were very likeable and the underlying mystery was a lot of fun. Even though it's a children's book, it was not written so simply that adults would not enjoy it. I look forward to reading the next book in the series.

[Angie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well. there were parts of this story I liked very much. Each individual character. Many of the tricks. The idea of a young Harry Houdini, even.
That said ... something still did not sit quite right. Not very helpful as a reviewer to be so vague but ... whatever the reason it took me months to sit down and finish.

[Elizabeth S · Rating 2 out of 5]

It could have been really good, but just wasn't. The characters were intense, but one-dimensional. Houdini is able to do so many tricks already when the book starts, it is hard to see room for growth and development.