For fans of Jerry Spinelli's *Maniac Magee*, Gary D. Schmidt's *The Wednesday Wars*, and Jack Gantos's Joey Pigza Books comes a hilarious and poignant slice-of-life novel from critically acclaimed author and poet Peter Johnson.

When an author comes to speak to his class in a rundown area of Providence, Houdini decides to make money by writing his own novel. Houdini chronicles his life as he and his friends start a leaf-raking business, befriend Old Man Jackson (a Vietnam War veteran with a seriously intimidating dog), and get even with the neighborhood bully, Angel. But it's hard to find a way to write about his dad losing his job or his brother, Franklin, who is first reported missing in action in Iraq and then still seems to be missing when he comes home.

No matter what, Houdini and his friends rely on one another to figure out how to do the right thing. And Houdini discovers that writing and thinking about his friends and family lets him get to know them in completely new ways.

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### From Booklist

Inspired by the prospect of money and comments made by a writer visiting his middle school, 13-year-old Houdini (nicknamed for his hero) decides to write a “kid’s novel” and finds that it enables him to understand the people around him differently. He has a pretty good handle on his two best friends, but he is less understanding of the people he fears in his working-class Providence neighborhood—namely a classmate with a bullying streak and a one-armed Vietnam veteran known as Old Man Jackson. A bit grittier and more believably boylike than most contemporary first-person narratives, this novel has a lot of heart as well. And while a narrator who makes lists is common enough, Houdini’s are decidedly more amusing than most. With Houdini’s concerns at school and in the neighborhood, not to mention his brother being missing in action in Iraq and his father’s fear of losing his job, the story extends in many directions at once, but Johnson pulls it all together in the end. A Harry Houdini–related bibliography is appended. Grades 5-7. --Carolyn Phelan

### Review

“A middle-schooler writes a kids’ novel; an author writes an engaging, amiable read-and, presto, a tale about a boy nicknamed Houdini turns out magical. . . . By turns poignant and downright hilarious, Houdini’s story/novel is delivered in a voice that’s wonderfully authentic.” (Kirkus Reviews **(starred review)**)

“Johnson (Loserville) delivers a strong contemporary urban novel with cross-gender appeal. . . . Johnson offers solid insights into the varied well-drawn characters, and readers will appreciate Houdini’s realization that ‘writing makes you think very hard about things.’” (Publishers Weekly)

“A bit grittier and more believably boylike than most contemporary first-person narratives, this novel has a lot of heart as well. And while a narrator who makes lists is common enough, Houdini’s are decidedly more amusing than most.” (Booklist)

“The perfect book for adolescent readers—especially boys—who like humor combined with characters that seem completely real. [A] satisfying novel that will leave readers happy they met Houdini.” (Providence Journal)