Product Description

SCOOTER KING UNDERSTANDS illusions. In the midst of the Roaring Twenties, he performs them behind the scenes at his mother’s séances, giving the impression that Madam King communicates with the dead. Scooter also admires Harry Houdini and can hardly wait to see the famed magician escape from his razzle-dazzle Burmese Torture Tank. But when Scooter stumbles upon a dead body in the visiting Houdini’s tank, it’s no illusion. Who could the murderer be? And did he—or she—kill the right person?

As Scooter sets out to unmask the killer, the mysterious worlds of mediums, séances, and magic are revealed. No one is above suspicion, and appearances are deceiving. If Scooter doesn’t sort out the clues—and fast—he may end up as the next dead body.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1321818 in Books
• Published on: 2008-07-08
• Released on: 2008-07-08
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 272 pages

From School Library Journal
Grade 5–7—Lawrence explores Houdini's attempts to expose the spiritual fakery of mediums and séances in this novel set in June 1926. Thirteen-year-old Scooter King's mother is a medium; his hero is Houdini. When the great escape artist appears at the Orpheum, it is Scooter who finds a dead man in Houdini's Burmese Torture Tank. Certain that the killer meant to get rid of his idol, Scooter is determined to identify the culprit. Then, two more killings occur. The book is full of period references—to Stanley Steamers, flagpole sitting, the Charleston, etc., as well as slang, such as "the bee's knees," "the cat's pajamas," "the eel's hips," all of which at times bog down the story line. Houdini's eccentric personality is evident, and Scooter is a well-developed character. Secondary figures, however, are one-dimensional. Kids will enjoy learning how some of the illusions and tricks used by mediums work. Most touching is Scooter's coming-of-age awareness that mediums, even his mother, are likely fake. Tom Lalicki's similarly well-researched Danger in the Dark: A Houdini & Nate Mystery (Farrar, 2006) integrates history into mystery in a more lighthearted, entertaining way. An afterword explains how Lawrence became interested in Houdini and which parts of the story are true.—Connie Tyrrell Burns, Mahoney Middle School, South Portland, ME
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From Booklist
Lawrence takes a grand leap in time, place, and tone from novels like The Wreckers (1998). This book unfolds in New York City in the mid-1920s, during the height of the spiritualist craze. Protagonist Scooter King, 13, knows about mediums; he helps his mother with the “chumps” who attend her séances. Then Houdini arrives, determined to root out fakes, and murder follows. Readers accustomed to the High Seas Trilogy’s derring-do won’t find it here. However, the idea that Houdini used some of the same tricks as the fake spiritualists is definitely intriguing, and Lawrence does a pretty good job of conveying the magician’s quirky personality. He is less successful presenting the rest of the cast, though (Scooter is far too mature for his years), and his attempts to solidify the cultural backdrop by using expressions such as “all to the mustard” and “now he had a mash on my mother” will likely yank readers right out of the story. It’s Lawrence’s wonderful, detailed insight into the tricks of the medium’s trade that saves the day. Grades 5-7. --Stephanie Zvirin

About the Author
Iain Lawrence is the author of numerous acclaimed novels for young people. He lives on Gabriola Island, British Columbia.

Customer Reviews

Great Writer of Fiction for Young Readers
Writer Wellness: A Writer's Path to Health and Creativity

I discovered author Iain Lawrence a few years ago while perusing the junior room of our local library as my daughters searched for their own books. His 2001 title "Lord of the Nutcracker Men" caught my eye. I'm a dance journalist and have performed in hundreds of performances of "The Nutcracker" so you can guess why the book attracted me. It was not another rendition of the famous E.T.A. Hoffmann tale. It was a great book.

Hence, I have kept my eyes peeled for other I.L. books and have read everything he has published since. Love them all. He is a master at tension and story telling, and his use of metaphor and simile is captivating. Librarians, teachers, and parents looking for fiction suitable and interesting to young male readers should definitely look at I.L. books. His journalism background creates tight writing. His writing muscle is unique and strong. His voice is compelling but not beyond the scope of young readers. It's obvious he loves what he writes and believes his stories are worth it. They are.

I'm also a historical romance writer. (First book coming soon!) The question of writing about actual historical figures is a tricky one. Some writers get it and others don't. Lawrence writes his stories around young men (boys and teens) who engage with actual historical figures and he is able to pull off the chore. For "The Seance," Lawrence writes a mystical adventure for twelve year-old Scooter King who meets his idol Harry Houdini. Together they solve a mystery and survive a near-death experience. Again, Lawrence pulls this off masterfully. Believability is a tool he knows how to use.

Lawrence is smart. He provides a list of books at the back of "The Seance" for readers interested in doing their own research on the topics in the book.

I heartily recommend this book to young readers and adults interested in fiction for kids that engages their minds and their emotions in a healthy, literary sense.