The Houdini Inheritance

Emma Carroll needs no introduction, known, as she is as the queen of historical fiction for children. This thrilling adventure brings to life the biography of world-famous escape artist, Harry Houdini, for a young audience.

The story is told through the eyes of Glory, who, with her friend, Dennis, is an avid follower and fan of the enigmatic magician. When Houdini comes to perform in the small seaside town they call home, they are desperate to see him. However, when their wish comes true, in the most embarrassing of ways, they discover that Harry is in danger and his trunk full of trade secrets is the subject of great interest from his rivals. Entrusted with the precious suitcase, and pursued by Houdini’s enemies, Glory and Dennis must escape across the ocean and to Coney Island to restore the trunk to its rightful owner before it is too late.

In this sparkling story, I particularly enjoyed the portrayal of the friendship between Glory and Dennis, and the inter-generational bond between the children and Dennis’s grandmother, who abandons the safety of home and sets out intrepidly across the seas in the role of responsible adult. There are instances of seances in the book. Readers will also enjoy the diversity of characters in the book, and the exploration of the circus as an environment where people unaccepted in society in the 1920s could find a family and a sense of belonging.

As always, Emma Carroll’s writing and storytelling are perfect; never showy and always superbly crafted. Carroll excels at taking the accepted and weaving it into something quite unexpected. Excellent for Year 5 and Year 6 readers with or without an interest in history or escape artistry – if they don’t have the interest already, reading Emma Carroll will kindle it!