Axelrod,
Amy, & David Axelrod. The Bullet Catch:
Murder by Misadventure. Holiday House 2015 245p $17.95 ISBN 978-0-8234-2858-8 ms/hs
Historical fiction VG-BON
Leo and three orphans leave their orphanage and
strike out on their own. Leo is a
master pickpocket and secures money for the group, Murph is a master liar, and the other two
boys provide the brains and brawn to stay just a step ahead of the police. When Leo is betrayed
by his friends, he goes in search of a job that fits his area of interest, which is magic and
illusions. He becomes an apprentice
to the Great Barzini, who is about to strike it big. Could this master magician be even more duplicitous than Leo bargained for? This
novel includes a lot of historical detail about New York City, the magicians of the
era, the magic tricks of the era, and the ragtag existence of many young people with little
education, compared to that of
the wealthy adults around them. This book is a fascinating
read about illusions and the people who perform them, and it
provides a rich understanding of New York City
life in the early 1900s. The
mother/son writing team would do well to collaborate on other books, as this one is sure
to spark a lot of interest. The characters are
very believable and their motives ring true. Some of the issues explored are that of truth versus deceit, the nature of
friendship, and how people get by in a world in which they feel alone.
Summary: Leo is betrayed by one of his fellow orphans in New York City in
1917. He manages to escape the police and find legitimate employment in the
service of a magician who is about to strike it big. Great historical details
and a compelling story make this a book of note for grades 6-12.
Magic-Fiction, New
York City-History-Fiction --Lois
McNicol
