Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared

by Anna Hays, Mary Kate McDevitt (illustrator)

Discover the amazing illustrated stories of seven women magicians who pulled off spectacular and death-defying illusions and acts, achieved global fame, and then simply...disappeared.

During the Golden Age of Magic from 1860 to 1930, seven women magicians in America defied Victorian conventions and created a unique place in history for themselves and future performers to come. There was Anna, the mindreader; Adelaide, who could float inhis mid-air; Talma, who could magically shower the stage with gold coins...and many more!

During a time when women were typically confined to the home, these trailblazers crossed oceans on steamships and traveled the globe bringing their imaginative brand of magic to audiences around the world. They followed their hearts and pursued their dreams of performing magic in the spotlight when women had neither a vote nor a voice in America.

They made history. Yet once their career ended, so did their legacy.

For decades their stories were hidden, or over shadowed by male counterparts, but now they've come to life in this vibrant and captivating book.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, History, Magic, Middle Grade

240 pages, Hardcover

Published September 9, 2025

Reviews

[Skye Elder · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an amazing book!!
It’s about seven women magicians who performed incredible illusions and death defying stunts!!
This one had me very excited and intrigued since the moment I started it!!

Thanks Random House for sending me this amazing ARC!!!!!!

[Bibliohiker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. It was great to shine a spotlight on women magicians and read about their lives and how they got into it. I like each chapter has photos as well.

[Jen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Vanished: Seven Woman Magicians Who Simply Disappeared by Anna Hayes. The book is a vibrant and engaging dive into the Golden Age of Magic, chronicling the lives of trailblazing women who defied Victorian norms to perform death-defying illusions and claim global fame. Hayes brings to life the remarkable stories of magicians like Anna, the mindreader; Adelaide, who seemed to float in midair; and Talma, who dazzled audiences by showering the stage with gold coins, among others. The detailed illustrations and historical context add a rich layer of depth that makes the narrative both informative and captivating.

However, I felt that the portrayal of Bess could have been more independent of her association with Houdini. Throughout the book, Bess seemed to exist in his shadow, which was a bit disappointing considering the book’s focus on celebrating these remarkable women as pioneers in their own right.

Overall, Vanished is a fascinating read that sheds light on a forgotten chapter of history, celebrating the resilience and creativity of women magicians during a time when they had little voice in society. I’m giving it 4.5 stars—a commendable tribute to these extraordinary performers, with just a minor shortfall in fully distinguishing Bess’s own legacy.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given an ARC of Vanished from the publisher since I am working on a book club guide. I have never read any books about magicians but was thrilled to read Vanished and learn about seven women magicians. Anna Hays is an incredible researcher and writer. Each chapter is dedicated to a different magician and Hays makes sure to add compelling details, define key terms, and add historical context for the reader. I learned so much about magic, the role of vaudeville, and the cultural impact of these performers as I read this book. This middle grade book is perfect for students who love history, magic, or learning about people of the past who have overcome huge obstacles to fulfill their dreams.

[YSBR · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kids interested in the history of magic will enjoy this attractive and well-researched book about female conjurers who have disappeared from our collective memory. Beginning with Anna Eva Fay, born in 1851, and concluding with the only Black woman among them, Ellen Emma Armstrong, who died in 1994, Hays follows a chronological path, examining the lives of seven women who each gained notoriety in their own eras. Several recurring themes stand out: many of the women rose from difficult beginnings, collaborated on stage with their spouses or relatives, and lived in ways that challenged prevailing ideas about gender. It’s fascinating to read about the different paths these women followed and how each pursued a unique focus for their performances. For example, Adelaide Herrmann combined her interest in dance and movement with her husband’s talent for sleight-of-hand in designing her act while Dixie Haywood claimed that the power of electricity had endowed her with superhuman strength. Hays dedicates about 25 attractively illustrated pages to each woman, featuring essays that trace her life from childhood to death. These are complemented by thoughtfully selected photographs, decorative details, and reproductions of posters and flyers that enliven the text and add visual appeal. Bold, stylized full-page illustrations, reminiscent of vintage trading cards, show a signature trick for each magician. Bess Houdini’s image, for instance, captures the setup and dramatic reveal of the famed Metamorphosis routine, in which she locked her celebrated husband in a trunk only to appear moments later having seemingly exchanged places with him. Attractive collages of more photographs and period ephemera close out each chapter. At the outset of the book, Hays acknowledges how difficult it was to uncover this information and describes how she pursued her archival research (with a shoutout to David Copperfield’s huge private collection), which will help kids get an idea of how writers conduct historical research. Back matter includes a helpful, succinct bibliography and a list of photo credits. Link to complete review: https://ysbookreviews.wordpress.com/2...

[Molly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Anna Hays, author of Vanished: Seven Women Magicians Who Simply Disappeared, unveils the mysteries, both on stage and off, of seven famous female magicians that in one way or another faded from the public eye in their later years. From the moment you pick up the book you’re pulled into the magnificent yet eerie world of turn of the 19th century magic.

Each mini-biography is lovingly crafted by the author. As an avid student of Anthropology I was immediately entranced by these bold women who refused not only to work outside the stereotypes of the role of women but who did it without shame and with a persistent refusal to be defeated.

Although this is a middle grade book, adults who are unfamiliar with these women, some contemporary with, and simply as audacious as Harry Houdini, the read is fascinating and engaging.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fun and informative quick read about female magicians during the golden age of magic.

I believe this was intended as a kids book, but it works well for adult readers too, helping to fill in some of the gaps in the history of stage magic and to shed some light on a few incredible women who are often ignored in histories of the subject.

The exact definition of magic varies here. Some of the entries are about more traditional stage magicians, but the book also spotlights spiritualists, and more physical performers who use the appearance of magic to showcase feats of strength and agility.

*I received an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

[Alexa Hamilton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Learn the stories of seven women magicians from the early 20th century! There will be a lot of similarities but it's also very interesting to see how they broke into the world of magic and their dedication to the craft. Of course, you'll find a lot of marriages to magicians they performed with but also a lot of divorce. This book would go extremely well paired with the Gail Jarrow book Spirit Sleuths. This one acknowledges that what the magicians did are tricks but does not reveal their secretes. Most of them were not spirit mediums, but a few dabbled so it's a good crossover plus it also includes Houdini.

[Karen Reeder · Rating 4 out of 5]

An intriguing history of 7 female magicians who have disappeared from the knowledge of too many people. Many of their stories I found fascinating and think that all types of kids will enjoy reading this book.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short engaging bios of female magicians. Perhaps readers will recognize the name Houdini (Beatrice Houdini) and other women worth remembering.

[Booklover927 · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much! It was really interesting and motivational, and the ALL of the magic tricks sampled amazed me!

[Melissa Koszer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very cute book about female magicians mostly in the vaudeville era. Informative and fun! I'm sure it's taboo but I wish the author revealed how the tricks are done!

[Andréa]

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