Abracadabra: The Story of Magic Through the Ages

Magic is the difference between the seen and unseen. Magic is performance. Magic is hard work and practice. But, sometimes, great magicians can make it into something truly mysterious.

The word "magic" has changed over time—first used for centuries to explain natural happenings like earthquakes and illnesses—but we still use it to describe things we see but don't understand. Now, H.P. Newquist explains how (nearly) all the famous tricks work in this nonfiction narrative of magic through the ages, from the legends and oracles of ancient Egypt, to the exploits of Houdini and David Blaine.

Illustrated with photographs and line drawings, this book will have middle-grade readers spellbound.