“Look at this life—all mystery and magic.”

Harry Houdini, born March 24, 1874, is arguably history's best known magician (sorry David Copperfield). For the anniversary of his birthday and, since many of us would like to be magically spirited away at the moment, we thought we'd share recommendations for fiction reads about magicians and magic. Our list below has ideas for adults, young adults, children and even a few picture books (all have digital versions you can access with your library card).

Don't forget to "return" your e-books and audiobooks when you're done—the sooner you return them, the sooner someone else can use them.

Adult

The Prestige by Christopher Priest

In 1878, two young stage magicians clash in the dark during the course of a fraudulent séance. From this moment on, their lives become webs of deceit and revelation as they vie to outwit and expose each other.

Their rivalry will take them to the peaks of their careers—but with terrible consequences. In the course of pursuing each other's ruin, they will deploy all the deception their magician's craft can command, the highest misdirection and the darkest science. Blood will be spilled, but it will not be enough. In the end, their legacy will pass on for generations to descendants who must, for their sanity's sake, untangle their puzzle.

The Magician's Lie by Greer Macallister

The Magicians by Lev Grossman

Quentin Coldwater is brilliant but miserable. A high school math genius, he’s secretly fascinated with a series of children’s fantasy novels set in a magical land called Fillory, and real life is disappointing by comparison. When Quentin is unexpectedly admitted to an elite, secret college of magic, it looks like his wildest dreams have come true. But his newfound powers lead him down a rabbit hole of hedonism and disillusionment, and ultimately to the dark secret behind the story of Fillory. The land of his childhood fantasies turns out to be much darker and more dangerous than he ever could have imagined.

Don't miss the rest of the series: The Magician King and The Magician's Land

The Disappearance Boy by Neil Bartlett

Using dexterity forged from years of using crutches, polio-stricken orphan Reggie Rainbow becomes a magician's assistant, and an encounter with a fellow illusionist compels him to search for missing people from his own life.

The Zig Zag Girl by Elly Griffiths

Investigating a murder committed in the style of a famous magic trick, Detective Inspector Edgar Stephens reconnects with an illusionist friend from World War II to uncover links to their special ops service.

This is the first of five books known as the Stephens and Mephisto novels.

Young Adult

The Magician by Michael Scott

Fifteen-year-old twins Sophie and Josh Newman continue their magical training in Paris with Nicholas Flamel, Scatty, and the Comte de Sant Germaine, pursued by Doctor Dee and the immortal Niccolo Machiavelli.

This is the second book in the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel series.

Iron Cast by Destiny Soria

In 1919 Boston, best friends Corinne and Ada perform illegally as illusionists in an infamous gangster's nightclub, using their "afflicted" blood to con Boston's elite, until the law closes in.

The Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

In an alternate version of present-day Manhattan, magic is dying and Esta, a Mageus, travels back to 1901, navigating gangs, secret societies, and her feelings for another magician to stop the destruction of a book that can possibly restore magic.

Childrens

Young Houdini: The Magician's Fire by Simon Nicholson

Young Harry Houdini spends his days chaining himself to train tracks and teetering on wires high above the city with his two best friends, Arthur and Billie. But when Harry's friend and magical mentor, Herbie, disappears, the three friends band together, determined to rescue the beloved magician. With nothing more than a mysterious puff of purple smoke, an ominous threat, and a menacing Bulgarian for evidence, Harry, Arthur, and Billie embark on a dangerously thrilling investigation that pushes their skill, and friendship, to the limits. But can Harry find Herbie before it's too late?

First in the Young Houdini series.

The Magic Misfits by Neil Patrick Harris

Six young magicians and illusionists team up to save their small town from a crooked carnival owner and his goons.

There's more: The Magic Misfits: The Second Story and The Magic Misfits: Minor Third

Midnight Magic by Avi

Night after night, a ghost appears in the royal castle of Pergamontio, terrifying the princess. Mangus the Magician doesn't believe in ghosts, but that doesn't stop him from being charged with finding this one. The King demands that Mangus free his daughter from the torment of the ghost. . . otherwise, the magician will pay with his life. Mangus's only hope is his faithful, street-smart servant boy, Fabrizio, who must solve the mystery of the ghost using logic and reason—and a bit of magic of his own.

Don't miss the sequel: Murder at Midnight

The Vanishing Coin by Kate Egan with Magician Mike Lane, illustrated by Eric Wight

A debut entry in an illustrated chapter book series that incorporates real magic tricks introduces a fidgety Mike, who reluctantly bonds with good-girl neighbor Nora while learning fun skills at the White Rabbit magic shop.

See more in this series.

The Magician's Apprentice by Kate Banks, pictures by Peter Sís

When sixteen-year-old Baz becomes apprentice to a powerful but kind magician, he makes a long journey across the desert and into the mountains, ultimately discovering himself by learning to dispel illusions.

Upside-Down Magic by Sarah Mlynowski, Lauren Myracle, and Emily Jenkins

Nory, Elliott, Andres, and Bax are just four of the students in Dunwiddle Magic School’s Upside-Down Magic class. In their classroom, lessons are unconventional, students are unpredictable, and magic has a tendency to turn wonky at the worst possible moments. Because it’s always amazing, the trouble a little wonky magic can cause…

First in a series.

Polly Diamond and the Magic Book by Alice Kuipers + Diana Toledano

Polly loves words, writing, and telling stories, so when she finds a fancy book on her doorstep labeled "Special Delivery from the Writing and Spelling Department for Polly Diamond" she is thrilled; and when she finds that anything she writes in it actually happens she is really excited--but Polly soon realizes that she has to be very careful what she writes because that kind of power can be dangerous.

Picture Books

The Magician's Hat by Malcolm Mitchell, illustrated by Joanne Lew Vriethoff

When a magician makes a suprise appearance at the library's Family Fun Day, the local kids are amazed when an invitation to reach into his hat provides each of them with books that inspire them to follow their dreams.

Rabbit Magic by Meg McLaren

When a magic trick goes awry, magician M. Lapin is transformed into a sad rabbit and loses the spotlight to his rabbit assistant, Houdini, who after gaining fame performs an amazing illusion to restore M. Lapin to his former self.

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Staff picks are chosen by NYPL staff members and are not intended to be comprehensive lists. We'd love to hear your ideas too, so leave a comment and tell us what you’d recommend. And check out our Staff Picks browse tool for more recommendations!

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.