March 2, 2021
Holiday House
ISBN: 9780823445158
Ages 8-12
Also available as an audiobook
EXTRAS
Educator’s Guide
Read an excerpt
from Houdini and Me
Houdini and Me Bookmarks
ABOUT THE BOOK
Harry has always admired the famous escape artist Houdini. And when Houdini asks for help in coming back to life, it seems like an amazing chance…or could it be Houdini’s greatest trick of all? Eleven-year-old Harry Mancini is NOT Harry Houdini—the famous escape artist who died in 1926. But Harry Mancini DOES live in Houdini’s old New York City home, and he definitely knows everything there is to know about Houdini’s life. 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.
It’s hard for Harry Mancini to believe that Houdini is really contacting him, but this Houdini texts the secrets to all of the escape tricks the dead Houdini used to do. What’s more, Houdini’s offering Harry a chance to go back in time and experience it for himself. Should Harry ignore what must be a hoax? Or should he give it a try and take Houdini up on this death-defying offer?
AWARDS AND LISTS
New York State Great Read
PRESS
The Nerd Daily: “Q&A: Dan Gutman, Author of ‘Houdini and Me’”
KidLitTV: “StoryMakers with Dan Gutman HOUDINI AND ME”
The Guest Book Podcast featuring Dan Gutman
REVIEWS
“Diverting” — New York Times
“Entertaining” — Publishers Weekly
“Entertaining” — Publishers Weekly
“A fast-paced, amusing tale” — Booklist
“Enjoyable” — School Library Journal
“An amusing adventure that may well entice readers to further Houdini investigation.”
— Bulletin for the Center of Children’s Books