Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes; Nick Bertozzi, ill. New York: Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. ISBN: 978-078683902-5

 

This biographical graphic novel chronicles events in the public and private life of the man widely believed to be the greatest escape artist of all time.

 

Medium: pen and ink

 

Rating: 3Q/2P

 

Literary device utilized: onomatopoeia

 

Example: “TICK TICK TICK” (to represent the sounds made by a stopwatch)

 

Curricular connection: U.S. History, middle school level

 

submitted July 2009 by Josh Mitchell  

 

 

 

 

Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes, Nick Bertozzi, Ill. NY: The Center for Cartoon Studies in conjunction with Hyperion Books for Children, 2007. ISBN-13: 978-0786839032. Q5/5P.

            This historical interpretation of Houdini and his love both for entertaining and for his wife will inspire children and young adults. It is a resource for 5^th-8^th grade students in showing them how entertainers became famous around the world without TV, the internet or twitter! There is a well-written introduction and panel discussion in the book that gives readers a biography of Houdini and a history of the time. This books illustrations are done in black, white and blue and portray the young magician and his lovely wife in their daring feats.

-Christina Gendron, 7/27/09

 

 

Houdini the handcuff king by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi. New York: Hyperion, 2007.

            ISBN: 9780786839025

            Annotation: this book is a biography about Houdini but it only tells about on of his many stunts. When he jumped from the Harvard bridge at Cambridge Massachusetts. It is a great graphic novel.

            Media: pen and brush

            Rating 5Q/5P

Subject: History, Biography. Grade 7-12

Armando Rivera 7-24-09

 

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 Houdini: The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi, ill. New York: Hyperion, 2007. 

 

 Summary: A day in the life of Harry Houdini, and some of the secrets behind his famous ability to escape from the most perilous situations.

 

Rating: 5Q, 5P

 

 ISBN: 0786839023

 

 Medium: Pen/brush (black/white/blue)

 

 Curricular Opportunities: 

• Great for Creative Writing; English curriculum

 

 Age Group: 5th- 9th Grades

 

 E.K. 7/8/09

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Lutes, J. (2007). Houdini: the handcuff king (N. Bertozzi, Illus.). New York: Hyperion. ISBN 980786839025 5Q/4P

Summary: Historical fiction detailing an event in the life of Harry Houdini. Depicts the key role his wife may have played in his work, while providing insight into the historical details of the area and the time.

Media: Pen and ink, digital coloring.

Metaphor: Houdini refers to his stunt as stepping into “the icy jaws of death.” Acknowledges his handcuffed plunge into the near frozen river as a chance at dying.

Artwork: Bertozzi uses color to create areas of focus within the composition. The book’s images consist of black, white and pale blue areas. In the final jump scene Houdini and his wife are differentiated from the surrounding black-clad police and audience by Bess’ white dress and Harry’s white skin. Houdini’s plunge into the near-frozen river shows a solitary body in pitch-black surroundings, depicting his isolation as a perfectionist.

Curricular connections: Grades 8-12. History, biography.

 

 

Teacher: Katharine Miller

Subject: History

Grade Level: 8-10

Date: April 29, 2008

 

VIII. Content

I want my students to be able to locate primary resource documents for research.

 

IX. Prerequisites

Basic computer skills; researching and web searching skills; experience with a scanner, microfilm, or microfiche.

 

X. Instructional Objective

Student will construct a presentation with correct citations for primary resource images and text.

 

XI. Instructional Procedures

The class will read Houdini: The Handcuff King. Using the text’s Panel Discussions at the rear of the book, I will introduce the concepts of primary and secondary research. Provided this knowledge students will search out primary resource materials through old newspapers, magazines, and archives that depict the place and period where Houdini performed. Text and images will be gathered in a presentation, format to be determined by the student. Students will present their work to the class in a general gallery display.

 

XII. Materials and Equipment

Computer, Internet access, library newspaper and archival resources, printer, photocopier, MLA manual, poster board, LCD projector

 

XIII. Assessment/Evaluation

Teacher will provide classroom display space, LCD projector, screen and computer. Students will mount presentations to wall or place on available shelves/tables. Presentations will contain at least 3 elements and proper MLA citations for all facts and images.

 

XIV. Follow-up Activities

Students will gather primary resources for other historical fiction texts they are reading. Resources will be properly cited and presented in a notebook available to the class for browsing. Extra credit will be given to students who build on others’ presentations with additional primary resource documents.

 

Lesson plan format borrowed from Dr. Bob Kizlik’s “Six Common Mistakes in Writing Lesson Plans,” http://www.adprima.com/mistakes.htm

 

KEM 4/29/08

 

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Lutes, Jason, & Bertozzi, Nick (2007). Houdini, The Handcuff King.New York: Hyperion. Illustrated by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi. ISBN: 078683902-3.

 

 

Houdini’s professional life and marriage is briefly unveiled in this book that describes and illustrates his jump in handcuffs and leg cuffs into the Charles River.

 

 

This graphic novel is drawn using the colors of black, white and blue. The drawings are clear with lots of detail and they depict the story so well. Also there is additional historical information in the panel discussion provided in the back of the book.

 

 

Rating: 5Q/5P

 

MWood

 

Houdini, the handcuff king by Jason Lutes and Nick Bertozzi, ill. New York: Hyperion, 2007.

ISBN 13: 9780786839025

Illustrator: Bertozzi, N.

Media: Pen and Inks

4Q/4P

Curricular connection: Biographical Studies. Studying the lives of others gives the reader an inroad to the eras and specific worldviews of numerous subjects.  Students will have the opportunity to learn from the individual’s personal experience and gain insight to their own life’s meaning. 

Age level:  8th grade

Annotation:  The historical anecdotes about Houdini and Bess depicted in this graphic novel show in intimate detail the performances that made Houdini the enigma he remains still 100 years later. 

 KRF 6/14/09

 

Houdini:  The Handcuff King by Jason Lutes & Nick Bertozzi.  New York:  Hyperion, 2007.  Describes one of Houdini’s acts where he jumps into a river handcuffed and releases himself.  Story also focuses on his relationship with his wife.  Book includes introduction and biographical essay.  

ISBN:  0786839023

Medium:  Pen and ink

Q/P: 5/4

FBoggs 6/26/09