Abracadabra: The Story of Magic Through the Ages - Hardcover

Newquist, HP

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 031259321X ISBN 13: 9780312593216

Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR), 2015

Synopsis

Magic is a word we use to describe something amazing, awe-inspiring, or spectacular. Truly great magic makes us believe in things we know can't be real. In the hands of the greatest magicians, even a simple card trick can become truly wondrous.

Now, in this nonfiction narrative of magic through the ages, HP Newquist explains how the world's most famous tricks were created. From the oracles of ancient Egypt and the wizards of medieval Europe on to the exploits of Houdini and modern practitioners like Criss Angel, this book unlocks the secrets behind centuries of magic and illusion.

Fully illustrated and including step-by-step instructions for eight classic magic tricks, this book will have middle-grade readers spellbound.

About this title

About the Author

HP Newquist is the author of more than a dozen books for both children and adults, including For Boys Only and This Will Kill You. He has written hundreds of magazine articles and several documentaries, covering topics from medicine to music. He spends his time exploring the world and researching books with his wife and two daughters.

From School Library Journal

Gr 5–8—Newquist presents a thorough history of magicians and their feats. He traces the subject from the earliest known tricks by the ancient Egyptian Dedi to those by today's David Blaine and refers to famous (Merlin, Harry Houdini) and lesser-known performers (Giuseppe Pinetti, John Henry Anderson) alike. Interspersed between chapters are directions for executing various tricks and descriptions of the many devices employed to create the illusions. This offering stands out from similar books because of the amount of material it provides about various conjurers, illusionists, and mind readers. Newquist does not hesitate to give away trade secrets but also admits that there are some tricks that no one has yet figured out. Detailed black-and-white illustrations complement the text. Though this volume lacks the colorful illustrations found in Patrice Sherman's The Secret, Mystifying, Unusual History of Magic (Capstone, 2010) and Peter Eldin's Magic (Kingfisher, 1997), it's well written and should appeal to readers with a passion for the subject. VERDICT A good choice for libraries where there is a demand for in-depth information on magic and where existing titles focus on performing tricks.—Margaret Nunes, Gwinnett County Public Library, GA

About this edition

• Publisher: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
• Publication date: 2015
• ISBN 10: 031259321X
• ISBN 13: 9780312593216
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 160
• Illustrator: Ivanov Aleksey & Olga