Spirit sleuths how magicians and detectives exposed the ghost hoaxes

"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....

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Jarrow, Gail (Author)
Format: Books Print Book
Language:English
Published: New York, NY : Calkins Creek, 2024.
Edition:First edition.
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Summary:"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"--
Physical Description:173 pages : color illustrations ; 27 cm
Audience:Ages 10-17
Grades 5-12
Bibliography:Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN:9781662680236
1662680236
Author Notes:Gail Jarrow is the author of nonfiction books and novels for readers ages 8-18. Her nonfiction books have earned the Sibert Honor, the Orbis Pictus Honor, the YALSA Award for Excellence in Nonfiction, YALSA Finalist, a Notable Social Studies Trade Book, Outstanding Science Trade Book, a NSTA Best STEM book, the Jefferson Cup Award, the Eureka! Gold Award, as well as Kirkus Reviews , Booklist , and School Library Journal Best Books and VOYA Honor Book distinctions.