Abracadabra

October 1, 2015

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

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

November 15, 2015
Grades 3-6 As promised, this title gives readers a tour of the history of magic and magicians, from an Egyptian painting of the classic ball-and-cup trick, through Europe's Dark Ages, and into modern times. Each chapter ends with an explanation of a trick with instructions for readers to practice on their own, with a few adjustments cutting a person in half, for instance, involves a paper doll. Injecting his text with ample enthusiasm, Newquist is clearly excited about the topic. He uses exclusively male pronouns, which may bother some readers, but he provides an informative note explaining the dearth of women in the field. Inset boxes provide further information about tools of the trade, such as lighting, mirrors, special boxes, and the all-important assistant, and well-executed spot art adds visual interest and helps illustrate the intricacies of some of the tricks. Extensive endnotes direct readers to resources elsewhere, including a few websites for learning more sleight of hand. There aren't many books for kids on the history of magic, and fledgling magicians will be spellbound.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)