The Houdini Box written and illustrated by Brian Selznick, 2008, New York: Atheneum Press. (1416968784)
Media: pencil
Awards and Honors:
The Texas Bluebonnet Award, 1993The Rhode Island Children’s Book Award, 1993
Author Website: http://www.theinventionofhugocabret.com/about_brian_bio.htm
Annotation: A young boy who longs to be a magician has a chance encounter with his hero, Harry Houdini, who promises to teach him the secrets of his tricks.
Personal Reaction: Selznick's first book for children tells the story of Victor, a ten year old boy who idolizes the feats of Harry Houdini. Victor tries to emulate his hero but is not nearly as adept as Houdini in escaping from locked trunks, walking through walls, or holding his breath under water. Victor's mother, worn out from Victor's hijinx, decides that a weekend in the country might calm him down. On his way to visit his Aunt Harriet, Victor meets Harry Houdini in the train station and the magician promises to send him a letter. Victor waits and waits (none too patiently) until he finally receives word from Houdini asking him to come to his house. When Victor finally arrives to meet his idol, he finds that Houdini has passed away but has left him a box. Believing that the box did not belong to Houdini, since it was inscribed with the initials E.W., Victor hides it away deep in his closet and vows to never think about Houdini again or to attempt any of his tricks. It is not until Victor is grown and has a child of his own (named Harry, "in honor of his Aunt Harriet") that he rediscovers the box and the magic contained inside.
Personal Reaction: Selznick's first book for children tells the story of Victor, a ten year old boy who idolizes the feats of Harry Houdini. Victor tries to emulate his hero but is not nearly as adept as Houdini in escaping from locked trunks, walking through walls, or holding his breath under water. Victor's mother, worn out from Victor's hijinx, decides that a weekend in the country might calm him down. On his way to visit his Aunt Harriet, Victor meets Harry Houdini in the train station and the magician promises to send him a letter. Victor waits and waits (none too patiently) until he finally receives word from Houdini asking him to come to his house. When Victor finally arrives to meet his idol, he finds that Houdini has passed away but has left him a box. Believing that the box did not belong to Houdini, since it was inscribed with the initials E.W., Victor hides it away deep in his closet and vows to never think about Houdini again or to attempt any of his tricks. It is not until Victor is grown and has a child of his own (named Harry, "in honor of his Aunt Harriet") that he rediscovers the box and the magic contained inside.
Young readers will connect to Victor's story as Selznick does a wonderful job of capturing a young boy's excitement in relatable prose. The story is at turns humorous, suspenseful and touching and the crosshatched pencil drawings lend a sense of mystery and age to the illustrations. Selznick enriches the story with a wealth of additional material, including an author's note, a biography of Houdini, research notes, early sketches, historical photographs, a list of further reading and personal anectdotes.
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