Spirit sleuths : how magicians and detectives exposed the ghost hoaxes / Gail Jarrow.
| Author/creator | Jarrow, Gail author. |
| Format | Book |
| Edition | First edition. |
| Publication | New York : Calkins Creek, an imprint of Astra Books for Young Readers, [2024] |
| Copyright Date | ©2024 |
| Description | 173 pages : illustrations (some color) ; 27 cm |
| Subjects |
| Portion of title | How magicians and detectives exposed the ghost hoaxes |
| Contents | A visit with ghosts -- Speaking to the dead -- Abracadabra -- Suspicious séances -- The magician and the spiritualist -- The spook hunt -- Undercover agents -- Capital spirits -- The woman with a thousand husbands -- The supernatural racket. |
| Abstract | "After millions of people died during World War I and from the 1918 influenza pandemic, the popularity of spiritualism soared. Desperate to communicate with their dead loved ones, the bereaved fell prey to extortion by fraudulent mediums and fortune-tellers. But magician Harry Houdini wasn't fooled. He recognized the scammers' methods as no more than conjurer tricks. Angered by the way people were exploited, Houdini set out to expose the ghost hoaxes. In his stage show, he revealed the fraudsters' techniques, and he used a team of undercover investigators to collect proof of séance deceptions. His head secret agent was a young New York private detective and disguise expert, Rose Mackenberg-a woman who continued her ghost-busting career for decades, long after Houdini's death in 1926"-- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references (pages 156-160) and index. |
| Interest age level | Ages 10-17. Calkins Creek. |
| Interest grade level | Grades 5-12. Calkins Creek. |
| Audience | 1020 Lexile |
| Awards note | Winner of the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction for Young Adults. |
| Awards note | School Library Journal Best Books, 2024 |
| Issued in other form | Online version: Jarrow, Gail. Spirit sleuths First edition. New York : Calkins Creek, 2024 9781662680243 |
| Genre/form | History. |
| Genre/form | Juvenile works. |
| Genre/form | Informational works. |
| LCCN | 2023045804 |
| ISBN | 9781662680236 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | 1662680236 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | (electronic book) |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | TRC Nonfiction | 793.8 J296S | ✔ Available | Place Hold |