I, Houdini: The Amazing Story of an Escape-Artist Hamster [Paperback]

Lynne Reid Banks (Author), Terry Riley (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1989 | Age Level: 8 and up | Grade Level: 3 and up

You may think Houdini is a strange name for a hamster, but if you've ever heard of the late Great Houdini, the most amazing escape-artist of all time, you'll understand how I got my name. I'm proud to say that there hasn't been a cage built that can hold me. I can climb, dive, wriggle, squeeze, or gnaw my way out of any prison they came up with. I have to admit that sometimes freedom leads to a bit of trouble--like getting cornered by the cat, ending up in the dog's mouth, or being trapped in the freezing cold of a dark refrigerator. But I won't be stopped! With a whole big world out there to explore, who wants to be held prisoner in a hamster cage?

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

An errant hamster and his quest for freedom are the subject of Banks's fast-paced story. Ages 8-12.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Lynne Reid Banks was born in London. After studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, she acted and wrote for the repertory stage. Later, she turned to journalism, becoming one of Britain's first female television news reporters. In 1962 she emigrated to Israel, where she married a sculptor, had three sons and taught for eight years in a kibbutz. She now lives with her husband in England. She writes, travels, and visits schools, at home and abroad, full-time. Among Lynne Reid Banks's popular novels for young readers are Angela and Diabola; Harry the Poisonous Centipede; The Fairy Rebel; The Farthest-Away Mountain; The Adventures of King Midas; The Magic Hare; Maura's Angel; and the award-winning Indian in the Cupboard books.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 8 and up
  
• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: HarperTrophy (June 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380706490
• ISBN-13: 978-0380706495
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 4.9 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,972,236 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars I, Houdini the amazing story of an escape artist hamster, April 9, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: I, Houdini: The Amazing Story of an Escape-Artist Hamster (Paperback)

My name is Ashley and I am sixth grader from New York. I am doing a book review on I, Houdini by Lynne Reid Banks. The main character Houdini, is a hamster. Houdini wants to experience life outside his cage. Freedom has Houdini experiencing many dangers and adventures like getting cornered by a cat and ending up in a dog's mouth.

I feel this book was easy to read and enjoyable. The reason why is because it is a fast moving book and there is a lot of action in it. Houdini's troubles causes the reader to keep flipping the pages to find out what happens to Houdini. When I read that Houdini ran straight into a dog's mouth I wanted to see what happened to him.

I recommend this book to kids who like reading stories about animals. Anyone who had a hamster would enjoy reading the adventures of Houdini. They could relate to how Houdini escapes from being caged. I feel both girls and boys between the ages of 9-13 would like reading this story. You may think Houdini is a strange name for a hamster but after reading this book you will understand how he got his name.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars War between the rats and the dogs 50000 ad, April 27, 2009

By 

R. Bagula "Roger L. Bagula" (Lakeside, Ca United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: I, Houdini: The Amazing Story of an Escape-Artist Hamster (Paperback)

Since all mammals seem to have come down from a few rodent like
animals, an intelligent hamster is possible:
just not real probable?
Again the story is well written, but just isn't one I like all that well.
Possibly because I don't like hamsters?
The idea of a dog not killing a prey animal
is pretty unique.
How many generations of litters of six or more before you are over run
by hamsters?
I don't like the book.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The book wasnt very believable, but it was exciting reading, September 3, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: I, Houdini: The Amazing Story of an Escape-Artist Hamster (Paperback)

Even though reading I, Houdini was summer homework, I thought it was a pretty good book. The story is told by a hamster whose name was Goldie until he finds his secret urge. This urge leads him into many adventures.

When Goldie is bought by a family with three boys, his owners put him in a wooden box. After a while living in the box, he gets bored. That's when he finds his urge--to get out and be free. His owners are very careless and leave a stack of books next to Goldie's box. Goldie jumps onto the books and gets free--the first but definitely not the last time.

Finally, his owners catch him. Instead of putting him back in the box, they put him in a waste basket. Because of the slippery walls, they think he cannot get out. But again, he gets the urge and escapes the same way.

Another time, he escapes and makes a nest under the floorboards, where he stores a food supply. But the problem with the nest is that it has no water supply. After a while, Goldie finds out that one of the lead pipes under the floorboards is a water pipe, so he starts gnawing on it. Finally he makes a hole in the pipe, and the house starts flooding.

While the family "defloods" the house, Goldie gets back into his cage. When the boys find Goldie back in his cage, they immediately think of their parents who will be very peeved to find out it was Goldie who made the hole and started the flood. So they take him over to their friend Ben's house and ask him if he can take care of Goldie and not let him out. But, of course, Ben does let him out, and he escapes again.

Goldie escapes so many times that his owners finally decide to rename him Houdini after Harry Houdini, the great escapologist.

The book wasn't very believable, but it was exciting reading.

Reviewed by Eli Schulman, age 10