Shots at Sea: A Houdini & Nate Mystery (Houdini and Nate Mysteries)

By Tom Lalicki

Young Nate Fuller is ready for adventure as he boards the Lusitania, the biggest, grandest ocean liner ever to sail the seas. Nate is hoping to sharpen his detective skills with some help from his mentor, Harry Houdini, and to rub elbows with Teddy Roosevelt, as both legendary men are also making the voyage. Everything seems set for a smooth journey to England. Then shots ring out A cunning would-be killer tries to assassinate the former president. As the waters become choppier, Nate and Houdini must race to find and foil their suspect before he makes a second attempt. With the fast pacing and clever historical detailing that made "Danger in the Dark" such a "thoroughly enjoyable" read ("Kirkus Reviews"), Tom Lalicki has created another first-class setting and suspense-filled story line, including revealing details of one of Houdini's famous tricks. "Shots at Sea" is a 2008 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0374316791
• ISBN13: 9780374316792
• Release Date: August 2007
• Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
• Length: 203 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.8" x 7.9"
• Age Range: 8 to 12 years
• Grade Range: Grades 3 to 7

Customer Reviews

Action and history in an exciting mystery

On board the Lusitania, Houdini and his protege, Nate, meet up with Theodore Roosevelt--and try to unmask the anarchist who's trying to bring him down. Shipboard action spiced with humor and a real sense of the vibrancy of history makes this a stand-out.

Another great read for "tweens" and their families

This second Houdini and Nate mystery is another page turner from Tom Lalicki. My 11 and 12 year-old children (a girl and a boy) enjoyed it but I think they would've gotten into it even at age eight or nine (they liked "Danger in the Dark," the first Houdini and Nate mystery). The story on its own is quite intriguing, but I really appreciated all of the information about how people lived 100 years ago being there as well. The kids were interested in that history, too. Issues are raised that are certainly relevant today as well, such as how different classes of people often don't get the same treatment. I enjoyed reading this book as much as my children. Nate is a boy both parents and children can admire . . . and we all did!